By admin 
GLENDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — A Glendale City Council member removed from office last month is headed back to his position after a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ordered him reinstated.
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The judge ruled in favor of Lupe Conchas, who sued the city after the council voted to remove him from his seat. The controversy stems from a specific line in the Glendale city charter.
“I’m ecstatic that the Cactus District residents have their duly elected council member back,” Conchas said.
Dual position dispute
In May, the council voted 4-3 to oust Conchas, arguing he violated the city charter, which bars elected officials from holding multiple paid public positions.
Robert McWhirter, a constitutional lawyer, said there are most likely two reasons behind the rule.
“One is you don’t want to ask somebody to have a conflict of interest,” McWhirter said. “It could also be a conflict of time.”
Conchas was voted to the SRP board in April, a position that pays $60 per day when there are in-person meetings.
“What the court basically said was, well, wait, a per diem is not compensation. It’s reimbursements,” McWhirter said.
The judge ordered Conchas back on the council, ruling the SRP payment “is a per diem payment that reimburses Directors for an amount that reasonably approximates their actual expenses in attending Board and committee meetings,” not a salary.
“I did not violate the city charter whatsoever and neither did these $60 per diem payments and that’s shown in the ruling today,” Conchas said. “And so, if we’re going to talk about amending the city charter, what we do need is we need term limits.”
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Conchas said he ran for the SRP board to tackle electricity rates and energy sources.
Arizona’s Family asked him how he plans to balance his role on the Glendale City Council and the SRP board at the same time.
“I have shown in my record in my time on council that I’m high functioning. I get things done and I’m able to make time for my residents because they are my priority,” Conchas said.
Conchas said he will work with the four members of the council who voted to remove him.
“I’m going to work with them every single day to improve the lives of the people that we serve in Glendale. I’m going to be professional,” Conchas said.
The City of Glendale has reviewed the Superior Court’s ruling and is taking the necessary steps to complete the reinstatement of Councilmember Lupe Conchas to his position representing the Cactus District.
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