Pima – The Pima Town Council elected C.B. Fletcher as its new mayor at its meeting Tuesday night. The night was also the debut of two new council members.
The Pima Town Council swore in three council members at the meeting. Sherrill Teeter and Jesus Cabrera, who were voted in during the last election, accompanied returning council member Fletcher in the swearing in ceremony. Fletcher was appointed to the council in February, 2016, to fulfill Don Carter’s term after he moved from the area. Fletcher then won election to his seat during the primary, along with Teeter and Cabrera. After the swearing in, the council voted to elect Fletcher to be Pima’s new mayor. Former Mayor Tom Claridge and Councilor Russell Woods declined to run for re-election. Teeter, Cabrera and Fletcher all ran unopposed.
“I would like to thank the council for their sustaining votes and their approval,” Fletcher said. “I’ve been in Pima since 1946, and it’s a great place to live. I was raised here, and I’m a Roughrider through and through. Especially when we’re playing Thatcher.”
Fletcher is a lifelong resident who attended and graduated from Pima schools. He also is the former Pima Police chief, having served from 1994 to 2001.
“I’m deeply honored and a bit emotional, this is a great responsibility and I’m very pleased to have served on the council,” Fletcher said. “(I) would ask the council to always give me your advice, your counsel, and work together to make the town of Pima a good place to raise our families, our children, and be friends with each other. Congratulations to our two new members of the council.”
The Pima Town Council also presented a commemorative plaque, thanking Woods for his eight years of service on the council. Woods was first sworn into office in 2008, after receiving the most votes during that year’s election and, ultimately, was voted by the council to become its mayor. He held that title until he stepped down to be just a councilor and George Lemen became mayor in 2010 – a post he held until he had to resign in September, 2014 for health reasons. Sadly, Lemen passed away last year.
Claridge served as interim mayor until he was elected in December, 2014. For the last six months of Claridge’s term, Vice-Mayor Dale Rogers had filled in for him at the gavel as Claridge was away on business in Nevada.
Brooke Curley Photo/Gila Calley Central: Former council member Russell Woods, left, receives a plaque of appreciation from Pima Town Manager Jeff McCormick while Vice Mayor Dale Rogers watches the scene unfold.
