A complaint filed recently in Maricopa County Superior Court has sparked questions about whether Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke was ever eligible to run for that office, citing language in the city’s charter that arguably could have prevented him from being elected. KJZZ Phoenix interviewed election law expert and Partner Andy Gaona to break down the legal complexities of the situation while detailing what this could mean for the City of Chandler.

Andy explained that under Chandler’s charter, anyone who has served two consecutive terms — regardless of whether on the City Council or as Mayor — is ineligible to hold office again until a four-year break has passed. Despite this rule, Hartke ran for Mayor in 2018 after serving two terms on the Council. He went on to win that election and was later re-elected in 2022.

Hartke’s 2022 opponent, Ruth Jones, recently filed the complaint nearly three years after the election. Andy noted that an issue with eligibility like this could have been caught many times, from the moment Hartke filed his nomination petitions to after the election through a formal contest of the results, making the true motive for the filing unclear. With the next mayoral election taking place in 2026, there are still many questions as to how this issue could shape the city’s leadership for the remainder of the year.

With extensive experience in political, election, and constitutional law, Andy has played a critical role in the practice’s biggest cases. His litigation expertise has earned him repeat recognition from Southwest Super Lawyers, Chambers USA, and The Best Lawyers in America. In 2022, he secured a spot on Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list.

Check out the full KJZZ interview and learn more about Andy Gaona.