Turning Point Flexes Muscle in Mesa City Council Recall

The political arm of Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point network aims to prove that its national grassroots power can translate into local steam as they continue efforts to recall Mesa City Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury. Turning Point COO Tyler Bowyer announced on X that the group was more than halfway to its signature goal.

Signatures are FLYING to recall Julie Spilsbury.

It’s only taking about 2 hours to get a full petition sheet.

Hundreds and hundreds are being collected today! People are very upset! Easiest conversations I have ever had! https://t.co/8KBb9mk8On

— Tyler Bowyer (@tylerbowyer) March 1, 2025

Spillsbury put the city of Mesa in an awkward spotlight when she leveraged her nonpartisan position to participate in “Republicans for Harris” campaign events during the 2024 election cycle. While that decision isn’t the only catalyst for the recall effort against her, a juggernaut like Turning Point Action wouldn’t be involved if not for such a blatant display of adversarial politics.

Despite Spilsbury’s support for Harris, the group pointed to her dismal voting record as its chief reason for involvement.

In an exclusive statement to the Arizona Globe, a Turning Point representative stated, “Spilsbury campaigned as a fiscal conservative but she hasn’t even been remotely centrist. Not only has she voted to increase utility rates of Mesa residents, but she voted to raise her own salary while supporting policies that bring radical agendas into Mesa schools.”

The representative added that removing Spilsbury would “prevent further damage to a city with a bright future.”

Turning Point Action also highlighted her support of a $260M bond measure and a city ordinance called “Mesa Loves Everyone” backed by LGBTQ+ groups but opposed by state conservative advocacy organizations including the Center for Arizona Policy.

Spilsbury, representing District 2 (central-eastern Mesa), called the effort an “attempt to overturn the will of the voters.” She told the Globe. “I was resoundingly reelected. It’s apparent the group has ulterior motives; they are not being honest.”

Antonnette Andruzzi, a Mesa mother actively recruiting volunteers for the signature-gathering stage of the recall, disagrees with the councilwoman’s assessment. She stated that Mesa voters are now “hip to the true intentions” of Spilsbury.

“By the time she became a national embarrassment it was too late to replace her,” Andruzzi said. “She may have avoided accountability for violating the oath of her office but the might of a few determined mama bears is unbreakable, and Mesa parents are all in on this recall.”

According to the Mesa city handbook, city council members are prohibited from participation in partisan political campaigning activities. However, Spilbury has employed a loophole in the rules allowing elected officials to participate in so-called “public forums.”

“I took these votes because I believed they were in the best interests of the City and my constituents,” Spilsbury said.

Turning Point Action fired back, saying, “the dozens of Mesa volunteers staring down higher utility prices and property taxes who signed up for this weekend’s signature collection event say otherwise.”

This is a continuing story.