Potter back on the campaign trail
By DAVID YANKUS | Maricopa Monitor
This time around, Leon Potter said he is in it for the long haul.
The former Maricopa City Council member, who resigned in 2014 after serving two years, is throwing his hat back in the ring for another run.
Potter stepped down halfway through his first term because of Council member Bridger Kimball’s alleged DUI and Mayor Christian Price’s lack of speaking out against such actions.
“Mayor Price wanted to wait and see how the process played out, he didn’t want to publicly come out and denounce a public official for drinking and driving,” Potter said. “I completely respect the mayor and what he’s done, but I felt that it wasn’t leadership in that instance.”
Potter, 45, felt the incident was a very serious matter and he wanted to make a statement by giving up his council seat and running against Price for mayor in 2014. Although his bid for mayor failed, Potter said he thinks the statement he made resonated with the public.
“It wasn’t the mayor’s fight, per se, he didn’t get the DUI,” said Potter. “But I felt that it was our duty as far as council members to denounce that.”
If elected to council again, the 11-year Maricopa resident said his intention is complete a four-year term. Potter said his 2014 resignation was a one-time statement.