The Surprise City Council voted 4-2 to appoint Mayor Lyn Truitt to replace Sharon Wolcott on the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council, a group that meets regularly to establish long-range planning and policy development on a regional scale.
Truitt was also appointed to the WESTMARC transportation committee during the vote, although dissenting council members Richard Alton and Mike Woodard were more concerned about the mayor’s MAG appointment.
During the meeting, Truitt asked for nominations among the now six-member council — Wolcott resigned last week and launched a campaign to become mayor.
Councilman Skip Hall recommended the mayor, who previously served on the regional council from 2008 to 2010.
Wolcott, a former Minnesota state legislator, became the city’s appointed MAG representative last year in a contentious 4-3 council vote after concerns were raised about the number of times Truitt attended meetings by telephone or missed them altogether.
With a lack of east-west roadway options and no complete transportation connection to the rest of the Valley, council members have said they want someone who will represent the city’s best interests and ensure Surprise has a place at the table concerning future regional transportation efforts.
On Tuesday night, after Truitt asked for a motion to second Hall’s request and the matter went to a vote, Woodard asked to nominate Alton.
Truitt said the council already had a name before it, and the vote was taken.
Zach Colick can be reached at 623-876-2522 or zcolick@yourwestvalley.com.
