Pinetop-Lakeside council appoints David Halls to vacant seat

The Pinetop-Lakeside Town Council appointed David Halls to fill a vacant council seat and unanimously approved Resolution 26-1813, establishing his term through November 2028.

Town clerk Lisa explained the council’s selection process before ballots were collected: each council member named one candidate, ballots were tallied publicly, and a candidate receiving four votes would be nominated; if no candidate reached four votes, the lowest vote-getter would be removed and ballots repeated. After the first ballot, the clerk announced that David Halls had received a majority.

The announcement of individual votes, as read aloud by the clerk, showed Council Member Heisler, Vice Mayor Buse, Council Member Fernau and Council Member Phillips voting for David Halls; Mayor Irwin voted for Catherine Doyle; and Council Member Smith voted for Lynn Kriegbaum. "So, we do have a majority for um David Halls," the clerk said as the result was declared.

Following that nomination, the council considered Resolution 26-1813, "appointing David Halls to fill the vacant council member seat on the Pinetop-Lakeside Town Council with a term ending November 2028." The Vice Mayor moved to approve the resolution; another council member seconded the motion (the transcript does not identify who seconded). The council then voted by raised hands, and the chair announced that the motion carried unanimously.

After the resolution passed, the meeting briefly paused when Judge Higgins was reported to have forgotten his Bible and stepped out to retrieve it. Judge Nations then administered the oath of office to Halls. Halls recited the oath, including the pledge to "support the Constitution of the United States and laws of the state of Arizona" and to "faithfully and partially discharge the duties of council member for the town of Pinetop-Lakeside." Council members congratulated Halls after the swearing-in.

With the oath completed, the council concluded its business and adjourned the meeting.