The Tusayan Town Council has approved new language on the way it will conduct elections. that language still must be incorporated into the Town code. 

There has been considerable controversy over a voter approved initiative that requires the direct election of the mayor and how to replace the mayor should there be a resignation. The voter approved initiate says the Town Council has to call a special election. that's a problem because state law prohibits municipal special elections. Instead the language was changed to say a new mayor would be elected at the next possible election.

This did not sit well with Councilman Fitzgerald who believes this change goes against the wishes of the voters. Fitzgerald voted against the language stating, "This is a vote for amending the initiative."

Here is the language of the ballot item. 

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.