Springerville Mayor Resigns After Recall Effort Exceeds Threshold

Springerville Mayor Shelly Reidhead submitted a resignation effective November 17, 2025, after a recall petition advanced in October that collected more than 100 signatures, exceeding the 79 signatures required to trigger formal action. Residents had been working on the recall for several weeks, and the mayor chose to step down before the recall reached a vote.

The resignation activates Springerville local succession procedures. Town officials must appoint an acting mayor or assign responsibilities to the vice mayor until the town council determines a permanent replacement. Council members will also need to address a series of governance and administrative questions that were left unsettled by the mayoral departure, including continuity of municipal operations, pending personnel decisions, and the timeline for selecting new leadership.

Under town policy, Springerville will need to produce a leadership succession plan to clarify temporary authority and outline steps for filling the vacancy. That plan is expected to specify who will exercise mayoral duties in the near term, identify any interim staffing adjustments, and set a schedule for council consideration of a permanent appointee or special election if required by local rules. The council faces a practical imperative to move swiftly to avoid disruptions to public services and to reassure residents that municipal business will continue without interruption.

Community reaction to the resignation reflected the mobilization that produced the recall petition. Organizers gathered well over the signature threshold in October, signaling sustained civic engagement and active scrutiny of local leadership. Other residents have expressed concern about the abrupt transition and want clarity from the council on how decisions will be made in the coming weeks.

For Apache County and Springerville voters, the episode underscores the power of participatory democracy at the municipal level and the importance of clear succession policies. The town council meeting schedule and formal actions on appointment and succession will determine how quickly a steady leadership structure is reestablished, and residents should expect public notices about council deliberations and any steps toward selecting a permanent mayor.