Get to know Michael Shelton
Incumbent Michael Shelton is hoping to keep his seat on the Yuma City Council this election season.
“Well, I want to be part of the city council again essentially to renew my contract,” said Shelton.
Shelton said if he remains on council he wants to continue working with the mayor on future developments.
” I want to continue supporting mayor Doug Nicholls as he looks to expand our profile, expand businesses coming to Yuma and improve the profile Yuma has. I want to continue being a bridge of communication between residents and businesses. I want to continue to serve on council to continue to ask a question for direct answers, ” said Shelton.
Shelton came to Yuma after finishing grad school and mentorship in New York.
He also had previous experience doing some political work in California.
” To accept a position as assistant to the city administrator for the City of Yuma. That’s what brought me here. What’s kept me here is that I love the community. I love the things that are going on here. I love where I can make a difference, ” said Shelton.
One issue he wants to focus on are the streets.
” We need to get the funding we need to deal with our streets, a majority of our streets. It’s going to be difficult, but I believe we can do that, ” said Shelton.
He also wants to address mass shootings, a controversial topic that has affected the entire country.
” The way you do that is to make sure you have a fully functioning police department, but even more so to support community organizations that are youth-oriented like kids at hope, but supporting the Yuma Union High School District in its counseling and other serving, reaching out to school resource officers. Something I’m working on is a comedy club venue for teens and under, ” said Shelton.
Aside from all the politics, anyone who knows him knows one of his well-known hobbies is Star Trek.
” I love Star Trek. Star Trek is an optimistic view of the earth. Where it ought to be in 200-300 years. When the earth is one country, and we have no war, no hunger, no poverty, and We’re driven by the things that don’t drive us now, but we’re driven by a desire for personal and outer exploration, ” said Shelton.
However, Shelton has been a part of big decisions like the pay plans for first responders and will also finish out his term by helping pick a new city administrator.
