Linda Gray, Senator and Ethics Committee Chair, Explains Her Information Request to the City
She's concerned about the integrity of the Prescott City Council’s vacancy appointment process
Prescott Pulse had a very interesting interview with Linda Gray, a former Arizona Senator and Ethics Committee Chair, where she explains her motivations for submitting a public records request to the City of Prescott Clerk on June 20, 2025. Concerned about transparency, adherence to oaths, and the integrity of the Prescott City Council’s vacancy appointment process, Linda seeks to uncover the circumstances surrounding the controversial selection of a non-Republican candidate to replace a Republican council member. Drawing on her extensive experience in public office and her commitment to Prescott’s community, she raises critical questions about governance, accountability, and the influence of political affiliations in local decision-making.
Question 1: What prompted you to submit this public records request to the City of Prescott Clerk on June 20th regarding the city council vacancy appointment process?
Answer: On May 20, 2025, I attended the city council voting session during which time the council would interview and ultimately vote for one of the final three candidates to fill the open seat left by Cathey Rusing. Council asked Patrick Grady, Sherrie Hanna and Rex Mason the same set of six questions before moving into a closed executive session to deliberate. Sherrie Hanna was by far the most prepared, answering all interview questions and reflecting Republican values and platform. Some questions went unanswered by Grady and Mason, who said they would study the issues.
During the executive session, a respected friend came up to me and stated that executive session was called because two council members, who were elected Republican precinct committeemen, had sworn an oath to only vote for Republican candidates. He told me that Rex Mason is registered as an Independent and Patrick Grady is a Democrat, making Sherrie Hanna the only Republican candidate, and a vote for Hanna would be a vote for four other people, like that was a bad thing. (for details, click here) He also mentioned contacting Mason the day before to see if he would change his registration to a Republican, but Mason declined. That was my first red flag.
I was shocked and mystified when council members returned from executive session and voted for Patrick Grady. How did six registered Republican council members elect a Democrat to replace Republican Cathey Rusing? That was my second red flag. I couldn’t help but wonder who would have orchestrated or colluded with council members to achieve this, and whether there was a grudge against Hanna because she was clearly the most qualified. I submitted the records request to help find these answers.
Question 2: Linda, are you willing to disclose who this gentleman is?
Answer: Yes, it is Phil Davis, my precinct captain and husband to RWOP (Republican Women of Prescott) President Sue Davis.
Question 3: Why would Phil Davis want Rex Mason to change his party registration from Independent to Republican a day before the vote? What purpose would that serve? Is that what made you wonder who orchestrated or colluded with council members to achieve this?
Answer: Yes, the conversation with Phil raised serious red flags. With years of experience in politics, I have seen my share of questionable backroom deals, and this discussion felt deeply unsettling. That is why I filed a records request to uncover the full truth about what happened, who was involved, and their true intentions.
Question 4: Your request mentions concern about a "legal issue of bias" tied to Republican affiliations. Can you explain what led you to focus on this particular issue?
Answer: After the executive session, Mayor Goode stated, "Both Lois Fruhwirth and I are elected members of the Republican Party, and we have taken an oath of office not to vote for any candidate who is not a registered Republican. So therefore, we cannot participate in a process in which we are biased in our vote. So, Lois and I will recuse ourselves from this vote." I believe that neither this precinct committeeman oath, nor the city council oath, qualify for an executive session under Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS). It’s not a personnel issue, land purchase, or contract matter, and oaths are not listed as a reason for executive sessions. This should have been discussed publicly. These two Republicans chose to recuse themselves instead of keeping their oath.1
Question 5: As a former Arizona Senator and Ethics Committee Chair, how does your experience in public office inform your interest in this matter?
Answer: My husband and I chose Prescott to retire and have lived here for 20 years. I served 8 years in the Arizona House and 8 years in the Senate, where I voted on the governor’s appointments for administrative positions. If I had cited a precinct committeeman oath to avoid voting due to bias, it would have been unthinkable, an oath is a commitment to your word.
The Prescott City Charter, Article II, Section 12, states: "The council, by a majority vote of its remaining members, shall fill the vacancies in its own members as follows: Except for the office of mayor, council shall by a majority vote of its remaining members fill a council vacancy..." With two recusals and one abstention among the six remaining council members, you don’t have a majority, that requires four yes votes, not three.
Also in the Prescott City Charter, Article II, Section 06, which states: "The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary to adopt any ordinance, resolution, or other action, except as otherwise provided in this Charter." An affirmative vote is a yes vote, and there is nothing that I can find in the Prescott City Charter that states an abstention is an affirmative vote. ARS 38-386 - Quorum and vote requirements of state and local legislating bodies, are almost identical to our charter: affirmative vote of a specified proportion of the members of the legislating body would otherwise be required for approval of a bill, resolution, ordinance or for any other action,
Mayor Goode and Lois Fruhwirth attended roll call, the interview process, and executive session. Simply stepping away from the dais during the brief voting period after recusing themselves doesn’t exempt them from their role as remaining members who declared “present” at roll call.
The announced vote was 3-0 with one abstention and two recusals, yet Grady was declared elected. This was incorrect; the motion should have failed. All votes by Mr. Grady should now be null and void. The council should call for another vote or await guidance from the Attorney General’s office on non-compliance with the City Charter.
Question 6: Once you obtain the requested records, what are your plans for analyzing or using the information?
Answer: Phil Davis obviously knew about the “legal issue” on Monday before the meeting. If he knew, which other council members were aware, and why wasn’t an executive session with this issue listed to the May 20th agenda? The public deserves specific notice of the executive session’s purpose, not a generic listing of statutory reasons.
Question 7: Will there be any YAVGOP or RWOP discipline for not keeping their oath of office or RWOP for violating bylaws?
Answer: That’s a good question. Will RWOP follow its bylaws? Article III, Sec. 7 states: "No RWOP Club, RWOP elected officers, Active or Associate member who, in their official capacity: A. Publicly advocates for a candidate other than a Republican, including in non-partisan races, shall be admitted to, or continued in membership."
The Yavapai County GOP Executive Board should convene a special meeting to address violations of the oath of office by its members. This meeting must include a transparent discussion and propose appropriate penalties, subject to a vote by the precinct committeemen, to uphold the integrity and accountability of our leadership.
Question 8: Do you intend to share the findings publicly, such as through media, community forums, or other platforms?
Answer: Yes, when I receive and analyze the information, I will share it with the community.
Question 9: Are you considering any legal or formal actions based on what you might uncover, such as filing complaints or advocating for policy changes?
Answer: I have contacted and filed a complaint with the Attorney General Ombudsman’s office. I’m have filed with the OMLET (Open Meeting Law Enforcement Team) and will send a request to YavGOP and RWOP to uphold their oath requirements and bylaws.
Question 10: Other than the Attorney General and the Prescott Pulse, have you shared your concerns in writing with any other entity?
Answer: Yes, following the May 20, 2025, council meeting, I documented my conversation with Phil Davis and detailed the procedural issues I believe were mishandled by the council members. I formalized these observations in a signed statement of facts, which I shared with several individuals in positions of authority. You have permission to include this with the interview. Click link for Statement of Facts
Question 11: Your request emphasizes transparency to the public. How do you envision the information contributing to public understanding or accountability in Prescott’s governance?
Answer: The Prescott City Council should include the specific reason for an executive session within the agenda, rather than a recital of statutory provisions. ARS 38-431.02(B) requires that executive session notices state the legal provision authorizing the session and be provided to the public body and general public. ARS 38-431.02(I) mandates that the agenda provides more than a statutory recital, without compromising the session’s purpose, privacy, or attorney-client privilege.
Question 12: Why did you choose to request such a broad range of communications, including private devices used by city officials, and how do you justify this scope under Arizona’s public records laws?
Answer: People communicate in numerous ways, so the request includes all methods of communication to ensure thoroughness.
Question 13: What message do you want to send to the Prescott community through this public records request and its outcomes?
Answer: As a former state senator and ethics committee chair, I want to use this public records request to find out what really led up to the council’s decision on May 20th. I was not the only one at that meeting who was shocked by the process and the vote. Prescott residents deserve the unfiltered truth. And they need to hold our leaders accountable!
Our Conclusion:
Former Senator and Ethics Committee Chair, Linda Gray’s public records request and this interview underscore her dedication to ensuring transparency and accountability in Prescott’s governance. By pursuing answers about the council’s decision-making process and sharing her findings with the community, she aims to foster public awareness and trust. Her actions reflect a broader call for adherence to legal and ethical standards in local government, urging the Prescott City Council to uphold its charter and provide clear, open communication with its constituents. The Prescott Pulse thanks Linda for her time and courage in coming forward to address what she sees as a miscarriage of justice in this process.
For reference, the Yavapai County Precinct Committeeman Oath of Office (effective March 11, 2025) includes: "I, (say your name), ...6. Help recruit capable Republican leaders to run for public office and to support the election of Republican candidates in national, state, and local elections (including partisan and nonpartisan elections)."
The ARS 38-231 (E) Oath for political subdivisions states: "State of Arizona, county of do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of Arizona, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and defend them against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of according to the best of my ability, so help me God (or so I do affirm)."
Fascinating article! Im still not totally clear on the motives here behind abstaining from the vote? Why didn't Phil and Lois simply vote for the Republican candidate… Am I missing something? Also, what were the motives behind Mr. Davis trying to persuade the independent candidate to become a republican, why wouldn't he want to support the Republican candidate? I'm looking forward to the findings by Linda Gray and I truly appreciate her knowledge and hard work to bring this information to the community.
Thank you, former Senator Linda Gray, for your true integrity. I wonder if anything gets slipped into a pocket under the table for arrangements like this to be made in our beautiful city? Sounds like we have some imposters or traitors in the midst of Prescott Republicans. "we have taken an oath of office not to vote for any candidate who is not a registered Republican. So therefore, we cannot participate in a process in which we are biased in our vote. So, Lois and I will recuse ourselves from this vote." This is the most ridiculous "oath" I've ever heard. Why would it have to be given in the first place, if you're a real Republican? According to my research, the Republican Men and Women of Prescott organizations require no oaths, so, to WHOM was that oath made? Who are you subservient to that coerces you to stand down from your elected duties? And then to claim to use that "oath" to self-righteously to "recuse" yourself from a vote in a forced confession of "bias" is the epitome of leftist brainwashing. Of course you're BIAS, that's why Republicans, who believed you were a "true" Republican voted for you, because we VALUE your Republican moral BIAS, to which Republicans base on PRINICIPLES of constitutional freedom, rule of law, fiscal responsibility, economic prosperity, traditional values in education, etc. You are NOT to lay down your bias at the altar of "go along to get along" or "can't we all just get along" liberal hooey arm-twisting. If you claim to be a Christian, then Jesus said to be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world". If you aren't being salty, BIAS, you're worth nothing. If you hide your light, what good are you? We need city leaders who are unashamed to live by their principles, who will not cower in compliance to liberal shaming for having principles. Nor should any OATH force an elected official to forfeit the civic duty, for which they were elected to fulfill, as a representative of Prescottonians. Thanks again, Senator Gray, for taking up the investigation of this matter and seeing it through to hopefully reverse the wrong that was done.