Change seems to be theme of Yuma's election

People usually have a variety of reasons for deciding whether to vote for candidates in an election, including the just-concluded city of Yuma election for mayor and council, so care needs to be taken in interpreting what it all means.


But it seems pretty obvious that change seems to be in the air.

Only one current incumbent up for election survived the General Election - Councilman Paul Johnson. He received the highest number of votes among council candidates from the more than 8,000 city voters who cast ballots with 4,621 or about 56 percent. The next closest council victor, Jerry Stuart, received about 45 percent.

The fact that Johnson tallied so many votes is an indication it is was not incumbency alone that mattered to voters, even though other city incumbents were removed. Clearly, voters saw something different in Johnson's actions on the council - perhaps an independence of thought that we have seen from him.

The only truly new face on the city council will be Bobbi Brooks-Gurrola, although she probably has some familiarity with council operations since her father, Bobby Brooks, was a past council member.

Stuart has previously served on the body in the past and will bring that experience with him.

Similarly, the new mayor, Alan Krieger, has served in the past, but as a council member rather than mayor.

Perhaps the biggest surprise, at least to observers we have talked to, is the margin of victory of Krieger over long-time mayor Larry Nelson. There was a clear rejection of the current mayor - he received only 40 percent of the votes while Krieger received nearly 57 percent. Krieger had predicted his victory from the beginning and he was
right.

Nelson became the focus of dissent in the city over various controversies in recent years, and it appears this view of him stuck during this election. Voters decided it was time for a new direction.

Krieger promised that new direction during his campaign, including changes in city management. That, of course, will require the cooperation of members of the city council, and we will have to wait to see if that happens.