Tusayan did not elect Greg Bryan as Mayor. He was elected to the council and the council named him Mayor. The Mayor has a four year term limit. That power structure could change if Tusayan voters approve a ballot item.

Early in July a group called The Committee in Support of the Direct Election of the Mayor submitted petitions for an initiative that would give Tusayan voters the power to pick the mayor. It would also change the term of office to two years instead of four.

There are no restrictions on the number of terms which is the current policy.

There are also restrictions that would require a councilmember running for mayor to resign from his or her office unless the councilmember were in the final year of his or her term. This is commonly known as the resign to run law.

The Town Council has taken no action which means the item will be placed on the November ballot.

The leader of the initiative drive is Robb Baldosky of Robbco Construction. Baldosky has usually been friendly to the Stilo gang of which Mayor Bryan is a member. This voter initiative represents an unusual division in the Stilo front. It also indicates that folks who once supported the old power structure can and do change perspectives.

Below is the text of the proposed ordinance.

Be it enacted by the People of the Town of Tusayan:

1. OFFICE OF MAYOR.

A. ELECTION. BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST REGULAR ELECTION FOR TOWN COUNCIL AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THIS MEASURE OR AT A SPECIAL ELECTION THAT SHALL BE CALLED IN THE EVENT OF A VACANCY ON THE COUNCIL, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF TUSAYAN SHALL BE DIRECTLY ELECTED BY THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE TOWN.

B. TERM. THE TERM OF OFFICE OF THE MAYOR SHALL BE TWO (2) YEARS OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS ELECTED AND SWORN-IN.

C. LIMITATION ON FILING FOR ELECTION BY INCUMBENT. EXCEPT DURING THE FINAL YEAR OF THE TERM BEING SERVED, AN INCUMBENT COUNCIL MEMBER MAY NOT FILE FOR ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR UNLESS THE INCUMBENT FORMALLY RESIGNS FROM ELECTED OFFICE. ONCE AN INCUMBENT FORMALLY RESIGNS FROM ELECTED OFFICE, THE OFFICE IS DECLARED VACANT.

D. LIMITATION ON RUNNING FOR MULTIPLE OFFICES. A PERSON MAY NOT RUN FOR TOWN COUNCIL AND THE OFFICE OF MAYOR AT THE SAME TIME.