Latest news with #Hartke
Axios
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Judge tosses lawsuit over Chandler mayor's eligibility
A judge dismissed a lawsuit arguing that Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke is ineligible to hold office due to disputed language about term limits in the city charter. State of play: Questions emerged in May over whether Chandler's city charter permits people to serve two consecutive four-year terms as City Council members and then another two as mayor, or if they're limited to eight total years for either office. Hartke and former Mayors Boyd Dunn and Jay Tibshraeny served two terms on council before their two mayoral terms. Driving the news: Maricopa County Superior Court Judge David McDowell in late July dismissed a lawsuit filed by Ruth Jones, who ran against Hartke in 2022, seeking to have him removed from office. The judge ruled the suit was a challenge to Hartke's qualifications for office, which, under state law, must be filed within 10 days of submitting nomination papers. The judge added that lawsuits under a different statute challenging the eligibility of winning candidates must be filed within five days of an election's certification. What's next: Voters will have a chance to settle the term limits question before next year's Chandler election. The City Council referred Proposition 410 to the November ballot, which would amend the city charter to clarify that people can serve a total of 16 consecutive years — two terms as a councilmember and two as mayor. Anyone who serves 16 consecutive years wouldn't be eligible to hold office again until at least four years after the end of their last term. Prop. 410 will be on a special election ballot with several other measures. What she's saying: Jones told Axios the ruling was an "unfortunate result" and said her lawsuit wasn't an election challenge. "I neither seek to challenge that election or become mayor," she said, adding she hasn't decided whether to appeal. The other side: "I'm glad to get it behind," Hartke told Axios. The intrigue: The special election could clarify the eligibility of at least one mayoral hopeful — two-term City Councilmember Matt Orlando, who is running for Chandler's top office. If voters approve the charter language, it would head off a potential lawsuit challenging his eligibility. But if the measure fails, it could leave Orlando's candidacy at the mercy of the courts. He told Axios he's confident voters will approve the change.
Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Arizona Officials Commemorate World Falun Dafa Day
Cities across the Grand Canyon State are joining a global wave of officials marking more than 30 years since the public introduction of Falun Dafa. World Falun Dafa Day honors both the birthday of the practice's founder, Li Hongzhi, and the practice's global impact on health and morality. The day also highlights practitioners' efforts to defend their freedom of belief amid ongoing persecution by the Chinese communist regime. To mark the celebration, the mayors of five Arizona cities—Phoenix, Chandler, Glendale, Prescott Valley, and Casa Grande—issued proclamations recognizing May 13, 2025, as Falun Dafa Day in their cities. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego issued a proclamation ahead of the global celebrations, recognizing the values of Falun Dafa. '[I] encourage residents to reflect on the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance and honor the contributions of those who strive to bring peace, Health and harmony to our communities,' Gallego said in her proclamation. Phoenix has recognized the occasion since 2021. Related Stories 5/13/2025 5/9/2025 The three principles—truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance—are the core moral beliefs behind the teachings of Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, a spiritual practice introduced to the Chinese public in 1992. In just a few years, the practice's popularity grew exponentially, reaching at least 70 million by 1999, according to official estimates. The practice was introduced to Arizona in 1998. Mayor Kevin Hartke of Chandler has been issuing a proclamation to recognize May 13 as Falun Dafa Day for several years since assuming office in 2019. Hartke declared the celebration in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025. Hartke acknowledged the diversity displayed among Falun Gong practitioners, saying the practice 'transcends cultural, social, and national boundaries.' As stated in the proclamation, meditation exercises and teachings of the practice have been offered to the public by volunteers for free around the world, spreading to tens of millions of people in over 100 countries. Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, who has been supportive of the practice since assuming office in 2013, also acknowledged the health benefits that it brings to the community through free workshops in local libraries and parks. Weiers also shed light on the Chinese communist regime's brutal persecution of Falun Gong since 1999. According to 'Falun Dafa practitioners' determination and courage to stand up for Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance while facing severe persecution from the Chinese Communist Party has shown the world the value of life and the preciousness of human dignity,' Weiers's proclamation reads. Joining the three cities in the celebration this year are Prescott Valley and Casa Grande, located in the northern and southern parts of the state, respectively. Like his southern colleagues, Prescott Valley Mayor Kell Palguta also commemorated the benefits that Falun Gong brought to the community with its peaceful principles and exercises, while praising practitioners for bearing the years-long persecution with great fortitude. Casa Grande's newly elected mayor, Lisa N. Fitzgibbons, likewise declared May 13 as Falun Dafa Day prior to the celebration in April. Fitzgibbons' predecessor, former Mayor Craig H. McFarland, did the same for the 25th World Falun Dafa Day in 2024.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Yahoo
Southport man gets jail time, probation for weapon charges
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — A Southport man was sentenced to jail time and probation for having illegal weapons. Chase Hartke, 25, was sentenced to six months of incarceration and five years of probation, according to the Chemung County District Attorney's Office. Hartke will get credit for an unspecified amount of time he has already served in the Chemung County Jail. Hartke's sentence stems from a February 2024 weapon arrest. He was initially charged with 11 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Original story: Southport man arrested on multiple weapons charges Members of the Elmira Police Department and the New York State Police searched Hartke's Southport home on Feb. 17, 2024, and found a loaded AR-15 rifle, a loaded AeroPrecision M5, high-capacity ammunition magazines, ammunition in multiple calibers, and 3D-printed ghost gun parts. A picture of the weapons police found can be seen below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
