{"id":2163,"date":"2026-06-17T05:34:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T05:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=2163"},"modified":"2026-06-17T05:34:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T05:34:29","slug":"judge-rules-that-removal-of-glendale-city-council-member-was-illegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=2163","title":{"rendered":"Judge rules that removal of Glendale City Council member was illegal"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

GLENDALE, AZ (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

Read more Mesa family gets unwanted surprise after ordering urn on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ecstatic that the Cactus District residents have their duly elected council member back,\u201d Conchas said.<\/p>\n

Dual position dispute<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Robert McWhirter, a constitutional lawyer, said there are most likely two reasons behind the rule.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne is you don\u2019t want to ask somebody to have a conflict of interest,\u201d McWhirter said. \u201cIt could also be a conflict of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conchas was voted to the SRP board in April, a position that pays $60 per day when there are in-person meetings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the court basically said was, well, wait, a per diem is not compensation. It\u2019s reimbursements,\u201d McWhirter said.<\/p>\n

The judge ordered Conchas back on the council, ruling the SRP payment \u201cis a per diem payment that reimburses Directors for an amount that reasonably approximates their actual expenses in attending Board and committee meetings,\u201d not a salary.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not violate the city charter whatsoever and neither did these $60 per diem payments and that\u2019s shown in the ruling today,\u201d Conchas said. \u201cAnd so, if we\u2019re going to talk about amending the city charter, what we do need is we need term limits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Man charged after teen shot during house party featuring underage drinking<\/a><\/p>\n

Conchas said he ran for the SRP board to tackle electricity rates and energy sources.<\/p>\n

Arizona\u2019s Family asked him how he plans to balance his role on the Glendale City Council and the SRP board at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have shown in my record in my time on council that I\u2019m high functioning. I get things done and I\u2019m able to make time for my residents because they are my priority,\u201d Conchas said.<\/p>\n

Conchas said he will work with the four members of the council who voted to remove him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to work with them every single day to improve the lives of the people that we serve in Glendale. I\u2019m going to be professional,\u201d Conchas said.<\/p>\n

\n

The City of Glendale has reviewed the Superior Court\u2019s ruling and is taking the necessary steps to complete the reinstatement of Councilmember Lupe Conchas to his position representing the Cactus District.<\/p>\n