Councilwoman Spilsbury Defiant Despite Recall

Turning Point Action delivered on its bold promise to aid an effort to remove a Republican who bucked her party to join Kamala Harris’s big-money Presidential campaign. Representatives for the powerhouse advocacy group arrived at Mesa City Hall earlier this week, claiming to have surpassed the 3,070 mark needed to initiate a recall of Mesa Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury. Spilsbury told the Arizona Globe that she remained proud of her positions, even in the face of the “unfortunate” recall.

The last successful recall in the city of Mesa took place nearly 10 years ago. Given the guidelines for recalls, achieving it was challenging. Only registered voters within District 2 were eligible to sign the petition, and electronic signatures weren’t allowed, meaning the entire process had to be executed on paper. However, on Tuesday, city activists, disgruntled parents, and former Spilsbury voters joined Turning Point Action representatives as they submitted boxfuls of signed recall petitions to City Hall.

Spilsbury told the Arizona Globe that there was nothing left to say, because “Mesa voters have spoken.”

The recall effort was filed by Mesa resident JoAnne Robbins and bolstered by Turning Point’s grassroots mobilization. The recall effort stems from dissatisfaction with her participation in “Republicans for Harris” campaign events during the 2024 election cycle, despite her nonpartisan position. Local groups, such as Mesa Concerned Citizens, argue that Spilsbury violated the spirit of Mesa’s city handbook, which prohibits council members from engaging in partisan political campaigning. However, it allows participation in “public forums.”

Additional grievances include Spilsbury’s 2023 votes to convert a Main Street hotel into a permanent emergency homeless shelter, approve a 7% pay increase for the mayor and council members, and support utility rate hikes.

“Voters have had enough,” said former Arizona State Representative Anthony Kern on X, highlighting Spilsbury’s vote to allow transgender individuals access to facilities matching their gender identity as a particular point of contention.

“I’m proud of how I have represented my constituents, my work and the votes I’ve taken as a nonpartisan city member,” said Spilsbury in a comment to the Arizona Globe.

Former Mesa Mayor John Giles, a Republican who also supported Kamala Harris, criticized the recall as a “misuse” driven by partisan motives. The recall election, expected to be held in the coming months, will likely field a wide range of candidates. As Mesa prepares for an official announcement of the special election, it’s clear the outcome will have broader implications for how nonpartisan officials navigate political divides in an increasingly polarized environment