Mesa to set special recall election for City Council member

The Mesa City Council will look at a resolution to set the date for a recall election. The recall effort seeks to remove Councilmember Julie Spilsbury from her seat after residents accused her of not representing her constituents.

Mesa resident JoAnne Robbins filed a petition with enough signatures to recall Spilsbury, citing dissatisfaction with the councilmember's decision to vote in favor of converting a hotel into homeless housing, increasing council salaries and increasing utility rates.

Robbins also accused Spilsbury of participating in partisan politics not aligned with conservative values.

Robbins says the recall effort serves as a warning for other city officials.

“Not only do we need to make a change with the seat with Julie Spilsbury, but we want to put the council on notice that, hey, you've got a big constituency here that is not happy," she said.

Spilsbury criticized the recall for receiving support and funding from Turning Point Action. Spilsbury also responded to the recall on her website.

“They don't like that I am a Republican and I'm not the right kind of Republican in their eyes. But for me, I was elected nonpartisan. I try to serve nonpartisan," Spilsbury said.

Robbins says the recall effort is a grassroots initiative despite Spilsbury criticizing the involvement of Turning Point Action.