Yuma Mayoral candidate Karen Watts gears up for next weeks primary election
YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - With just one week until the Arizona Primary Election, mayoral candidate Karen Watts shares how she is gearing up for the election and why she feels she deserves to be Yuma's next mayor.
Local nurse practitioner and councilwoman Karen Watts says it's time for a woman to lead in Yuma.
For the last five years on city council, Karen Watts says she has been a strong voice for the citizens of Yuma.
Watts says she has been going door to door canvasing in yuma neighborhoods to reach locals.
“Yuma needs a new leadership and I’m ready to lead. And I think it’s time for women to be represented at the leadership table. There has only been one female elected in the past 100 plus years, so my team and I are making that final push," said Watts.
She says her top priorities if elected next week are public safety and conserving water.
Watts says her commitment to public safety is why she’s endorsed by united firefighters.
“Fire gets about 4.6 percent increase in calls every year, yet their staff has not changed since 2015,” said Watts.
She also says the Yuma Police Department has been losing about 7 officers per year for several years now.
“So that means when a citizen calls for an emergency, there’s an increased response time. That’s not good,” said Watts.
On the water front, she says our local farmers have been leaders in reducing water consumption while increasing production, so the city needs to do its part.
“So we really need to form a climate action committee composed of our local experts and our business leaders to create sustainable solutions because this problem isn’t going away,” said Watts.
Watts is running against Yuma’s current mayor, Doug Nicholls, for the seat.
Early voting in person will continue through this Friday.
And if you don’t make it out to vote before then, you can vote at any of the eight voting center locations in the county on August 2nd from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
