Payson Roundup

Government Information

Payson

Payson has a council-manager form of government. Councilmembers are elected to four year terms. Mayoral terms are for two years. The mayor's vote is equal to that of one councilmember. The mayor conducts town council meetings and serves as an ambassador for the council and the community.

The Payson Town Council meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Payson Town Hall.

The council appoints a town manager, town attorney, and other town staff. The staff reports to the council.

Payson Town Hall is located at 303 N. Beeline Highway.

To phone a Town Councilmember, call Town Hall at (928) 474-5242, then key in that individual's extension number:

Current Officeholders

Mayor Bob Edwards - Ext. 222 - Email: bedwards@ci.payson.az.us
Councilmember Ed Blair - Ext. 201 - Email: eblair@ci.payson.az.us
Councilmember Su Connell - Ext. 203 - Email: sconnell@ci.payson.az.us
Councilmember Tim Fruth - Ext. 205 - Email: tfruth@ci.payson.az.us
Councilmember Andy Romance - Ext. 202 - Email: aromance@ci.payson.az.us
Councilmember Mike Vogel - Ext. 204 - Email: mvogel@ci.payson.az.us
Councilmember John Wilson - Ext. 206 - Email: jwilson@ci.payson.az.us
Town Manager Fred Carpenter (928) 474-5242 - Ext. 262
Town Attorney Sam Streichman (928) 474-5242 - Ext. 287

Star Valley

To contact councilmembers from the neighboring community of Star Valley:

Town of Star Valley, HC5 Box 49-90, Payson, AZ 85541, Telephone: (928) 472-7752

Mayor Chuck Heron: Home (928) 474-4196

Vice Mayor Randy White: Cell (928) 595-1317

Bill Heath: Home (928) 468-6161

Chuck Heron: Home (928) 474-4196

Mary Ann Kotelnicki: Home (928) 472-9650

Art Lloyd: Office (928) 474-6727

Del Newland: Home (928) 474-5345

Bill Rappaport: Cell (928) 238-0161

Gila County

The unincorporated areas of Gila County that do not come under state or federal jurisdiction are governed by a three-member board of supervisors. Supervisors are elected by district to four-year terms. Payson is in District One. The county seat is Globe. A county administrator is hired by the supervisors to oversee the day-to-day operations of county government.

District One Supervisor Tommie Cline Martin: (928) 474-2029

Schools

Schools in Payson are supervised by a superintendent and a five-member school board. Board members are elected to four-year terms. The board meets the second Monday of each month at the district office.

Payson Unified School District
Superintendent Sue Myers: (928) 474-2070

Schools in Pine/Strawberry are also supervised by a superintendent and a five-member school board. Board members are elected to four-year terms. The board meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Pine/Strawberry school conference room.

Pine School Board
Principal//superintendent Michael Clark: (928) 476-3283

Payson Unified School District Statistics

As of June 2005:
- total enrollment in Payson Unified School District was 2,790
- Payson Elementary has 347 students
- Julia Randall Elementary has 441 students
- Frontier Elementary School has 413
- Rim Country Middle School has 642 students
- Payson High School has 895 students
- Payson Center for Success has 52 students

Payson Unified School District employed a staff of 400, including 175 teachers as of May 2005.

Pine-Strawberry Elementary School Statistics
- total enrollment of 156 students as of May 2005.
- facility was designed to support a maximum enrollment of 400 students
- Strawberry is home to the oldest schoolhouse in Arizona, which is open to the public year-round

Children in the Pine-Strawberry area (approx. 15 miles north of Payson) attend preschool through eighth grade at the Pine Strawberry School and then attend Payson High School or a charter school of choice.

State

Gov. Janet Napolitano
Arizona State Capitol
1700 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(800) 253-0883
(602) 542-1381

Rep. Bill Konopnicki
R-District 5
bkonopni@azleg.state.az.us
(602) 926-5409

Sen. Jake Flake
R-District 5
jflake@azleg.state.az.us
(602) 926-5219

Sen. Jack Brown
D-District 5
jbrown@azleg.state.az.us
(602) 926-4129

Toll-free number for state legislators: (800) 352-8404

Federal

Rep. Rick Renzi
R-1st District
418 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0301
(202) 225-2315
Fax (202) 226-9739
Web: www.house.gov/renzi

Sen. Jon Kyl
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0304
(202) 224-4521
2200 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 120
Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 840-1891
Fax (602) 840-4848
Web: kyl.senate.gov

Sen. John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0303
(202) 224-2235
5353 N. 16th Street, Suite 105
Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 952-2410
Fax (602) 952-8702
Web: mccain.senate.gov