Surprise, AZ News blog

The Arizona RepublicAug. 6, 2004 12:00 AMSurprise Vice Mayor Bob Vukanovich doesn’t believe he has done anything to deserve being recalled from office.

But Vukanovich will face a recall election on Sept. 7 nonetheless.

He will face two challengers for his District 5 council seat: Sharon Antes, a 54-year-old public works administrative assistant, and Joe Johnson, a 41-year-old business owner.

Vukanovich says he believes he has done a good job as a councilman. But, he says, the voters will decide that.

“If they think I’m doing a good job, then they will keep me,” Vukanovich said. “If they want a change, then they will vote for a change.”

Antes said her motivation for running for Vukanovich’s seat is she wants to serve. She says she has no political connections, no ax to grind and no agenda.

She said she doesn’t know Vukanovich and has nothing against him.

“I saw an opportunity to participate, and that motivated me,” Antes said.

Antes says some new faces on the council would be a good thing. She says there is too much negativity around the council.

Antes said the use of the council’s discretionary fund must be looked at so that it can be determined what its intended use is and what the guidelines for its use are and what the current policy is.

Antes also says Surprise needs an identity.

“You think of Scottsdale and you think of golf and spas and arts,” she said. “You think of Glendale, you think of antiques, chocolate and balloons. I would like to find an identity that we can say ‘This is what Surprise is about’ and draw people to Surprise.”

Vukanovich became the target of a recall after a group called Save Our Surprise began collecting petition signatures to remove him from office. Save Our Surprise accused Vukanovich and two other council members, Don Cox and Gary “Doc” Sullivan, of eroding staff morale and seeking personal power.

Lyn Truitt, who lost a mayoral run against Mayor Joan Shafer, was the chairman of the recall committee. Truitt said Surprise residents had to band together to stop the councilmen from transferring the power to hire and fire three department heads from the city manager to the council.

Vukanovich calls Truitt a loose cannon who has just made the jobs of the councilmen being recalled more difficult.

“It’s pretty tough,” Vukanovich said. “I believe it (recall) does interfere with the work we do for the city.”

Johnson says he doesn’t have anything against Vukanovich either. He says Vukanovich is a great guy whose health is not too good right now.

He said the demographics of Surprise have changed but that the council is still made up mainly of retirees. He said he believes parents with children in school need more representation.

“I think I can do the job,” Johnson said. “I volunteer my time at the school. I know what parents want out there. It’s time for a change.”

Johnson also said he believes some on the council have been misusing their discretionary funds, saying that at least two council members facing recall are using the funds to run for re-election by sending letters to their constituents telling them what a great job they are doing.

“That’s one example of the shady ways they get around things,” Johnson said. “They are not supposed to be using city funds for their election.”
Johnson said he will support the residents of Surprise and vote for what is best for them.

Councilwoman Martha Bails nominated Bob Vukanovich for Vice-Mayor 06/10/04, she would not have nominated him if he had done anything wrong.

Joe Johnson has been whistling dixie ever since being elected