9/13/2007 6:14:00 AM
Wilson wins mayor's race
Challenger hangs onto lead to become Prescott’s mayor-elect
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| The Daily Courier/Les Stukenberg |
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The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT - When Jack Wilson entered the race for Prescott mayor this past spring, he knew he faced a daunting challenge.
"It was clear to me that I was up against strong odds," Wilson said, noting that his opponent, Rowle Simmons, was a three-term incumbent mayor with solid name recognition.
Wilson, a retired information technology executive from Chicago and seven-year resident of Prescott, determined that he needed to play to one of his strong suits: Organizational skills.
For the past several months, Wilson headed a sophisticated election campaign that featured regular Internet newsletters, a cadre of volunteers, and extensive voter-registration research.
The strategy paid off: On Wednesday, the City of Prescott and the Yavapai County Recorder's office released unofficial election results showing Wilson to be the mayoral winner in Prescott's Sept. 11 primary.
The day after the primary, both mayoral candidates acknowledged that Wilson's campaign efforts likely made the difference in the outcome.
"It took an amazing amount of effort to pull this off," Wilson said, adding that his group stuck to a campaign plan and worked right up until 6 p.m. the night before the primary.
In addition, Wilson out-spent Simmons in the primary season by nearly $10,000. While Simmons spent about $7,200 on the primary campaign, Wilson spent about $17,000 of the $19,000 he collected, of which about $13,250 came from the candidate himself.
On Wednesday, Simmons agreed that Wilson's campaign likely was a major factor in the outcome.
"That is what separated him from the council candidates," Simmons said of the fact that none of the three council challengers fared as well as Wilson in the primary.
Even so, Simmons said he is satisfied with his own campaign efforts.
"I'm not second-guessing myself or my committee," he said. "I felt like we did a good job."
Simmons also attributed the result, in part, to the controversy that ensued over the Lowe's construction site and hillside-cut on Highway 69, which the City Council approved.
"I'm sure that Lowe's played a part (in the election results)," he said. "But it is very disappointing when - with all of the positive things that this council has done - people take a look at one thing like that."
By Wednesday afternoon, Wilson said he was awaiting a concession call from Simmons before moving ahead with his preparations for taking on the mayor's post on Nov. 27.
"I'm looking forward to a smooth transition," he said. In the weeks leading up to his swearing-in, Wilson said he expects to meet with city officials to review information that he said he has been unable to access as a resident of Prescott.
For instance, Wilson said he wants to review pending city open space acquisitions, pending litigation, and plans for the Big Chino water pipeline - all things that he maintains the city government has been less than "transparent" on.
For Simmons, the next several months will be a time for completing ongoing projects. "I'll just do my job, move along and get as much completed as I can," he said. "Life goes on."
For instance, he said he hopes to see the completion of the proposed Fann annexation - a move that would bring about 1,100 acres of ranchland northeast of Prescott into city limits.
"I would like to see that through," Simmons said.
Contact the reporter at cbarks@prescottaz.com
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Posted: Friday, November 16, 2007
Article comment by:
cody newport
NOT JACK! this guy is a creep show I met him and he is not a good people person, this just shows the ignorance of a changing prescott!
Posted: Friday, September 14, 2007
Article comment by:
Darin
thank god. a new mayor. i couldnt be happier! this town has been destroyed slowly for the last few years due to our excuse of a council (blair, what have you actually done for us except for that elk on elks theater? the road block on willow creek? wasting our time.) hopefully things can change and growth can slow and things can be "prescott" again. not "quazi scottsdale".
Posted: Thursday, September 13, 2007
Article comment by:
Tom Steele
Congratulations, Jack Wilson. No nicer man than Rolie Simmons lost a narrow election. A clean election from a city with class. Too bad I can't say the same for Prescott Valley.
Posted: Thursday, September 13, 2007
Article comment by:
Keith S.
I hope Mr. Wilson is as loveable, caring, and compassionate to Prescott, as our once beloved Daiton Rutkowski.
HE ROCKED ! ! !
Posted: Thursday, September 13, 2007
Article comment by:
Richard Clark
Congratulations Jack and your campaign workers! Credit is due both candidates for the quality of the campaign that was run. It concentrated on issues and not personalities. In spite of the closeness of the returns it indicates that the voters of the City were ready for change. Those of us that live outside of the City (but who spend much time and money there) look forward to it.
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