The Arizona RepublicOct. 18, 2007 12:48 PMSurprise Mayor Joan Shafer said Thursday she wants City Manager Jim Rumpeltes fired before she steps down at year’s end.”I’m not the best mayor, nor the worst, but I love my city,” Shafer said. “I feel now that this city manager is tearing us down.”Rumpeltes was unavailable for comment. Councilwoman Gwyn Foro said he is traveling in UgandaShafer said her issue with Rumpeltes started with his public lambasting of the City Council back in June.In public, Rumpeltes accused his council of violating the Arizona Open Meeting Law and operating through “threats and coercion.” He called them the most dysfunctional group he had worked with in 30 years of public service.

After that announcement, the City Council pledged to move forward positively. The mayor herself said she held no ill will towards the manager, noting his action “took guts.” Shafer continues to admit she has broken the Open Meeting Law in the past, though vague on the circumstances.

The Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation concerning potential Open Meeting Law violations.

Shafer has decided to revisit Rumpeltes’ contract because she said she has been consumed by the controversy.

“I lay awake at nights,” she said. “I’m about sick.”

Foro criticized the mayor for again making Rumpeltes’ job an issue.

“Jim’s got 30 years of experience. He knows what he’s doing and so does his city staff,” Foro said. “Joan is, in essence, a high school graduate who thinks she knows a lot more than she does.”

Foro added, “It’s a cheesy way to blindside somebody that’s out of the country.”

Just before and after Rumpeltes’ June comments, Councilman Joe Johnson was seeking support from council members to terminate the contract of the city manager, who has served in the top position since 2003. Johnson was unable to get a second signature to get the issue on the agenda.

Reach the reporter at (602) 444-6912 or tony.lombardo@arizonarepublic.com.