Independent Newspapers
The Apache Junction City Council has voted to squash an investigation into the residency of Apache Junction Councilman Joseph Severs.
The council voted 4-2 at its March 18 meeting against furthering the investigation, with some council members believing the debate is having a "negative effect" on the community.
The debate involving Mr. Severs isn’t the first time a member of council’s residency has been questioned.
Former Apache Junction Council member Virginia McClain resigned her political seat in 1998 because she was found to be living outside city limits.
She vacated her post May 5, 1998.
Ms. McClain spoke with the Independent last week about the residency controversy.
She says it should be "fairly simple" to determine if Councilman Severs is an Apache Junction resident.
"He is either living here or there (Gilbert)," she pointed out. "That was the same problem I had. Either he is or he isn’t."
Vice Mayor R.E. Eck, who was appointed to council in early 1997, compared Ms. McClain’s resignation circumstances to Councilman Severs’ current predicament.
The vice mayor asked March 3 that Councilman Severs’ alleged Gilbert residency be put on a city council agenda. Mayor John Insalaco followed that request with a motion to have the residency issue put on an agenda during the council’s March 18 regular meeting.
"I asked for it ... because of the complaints we had from citizens about Councilman Severs," the vice mayor said. "I was doing it so Joe could prove his residency and bring this to some type of a closure."
Mr. Eck believes the controversy is having a "negative effect" on the community.
"There has been public outcry. Every council member is affected by it," he explained. "I believe Joe, in his mind, believes he is a resident. But residents are pretty sharp."
The council turned down a motion last Tuesday to probe the matter further.
The only way Mr. Severs’ residency can be challenged now is by a private resident. No one has come forward as of press time.
The city council is having a difficult time passing "positive agenda items," due to issues surrounding Councilman Severs, Mr. Eck said.
He said he wanted to see the situation come to a close one way or another.
"It is very difficult, because somebody has to really challenge it," he said. "We are fighting a lot of things we shouldn’t be."
Mr. Severs admits his wife and daughter are living in Gilbert with his mother-in-law and his home in Apache Junction has been for sale for five months, but contends he will maintain a residence within city limits.
He defended himself at last week’s council work session by providing certain items he believes define his "intent" to remain a resident of Apache Junction.
"I have a couch, a bed, table and chairs, glasses, alcohol bottles, clothes, jewelry and a refrigerator," he pointed out. "There is not much a single person needs to live in a house."
In addition to his indoor amenities, Mr. Severs brought several documents that he claims prove his Apache Junction residency.
They include his driver’s license, Salt River Project bill, miscellaneous mail, a cell phone bill, AJ landfill receipts, a video card and utility bills.
He says every item has an Apache Junction address on it.
"If that is not enough, (then) they look at the intent of the councilman," he said. "There is no definitive answer of residency. It is handled on a case-by-case basis."
The councilman says his wife and daughter’s privacy are being violated on a daily basis because of issues "certain people" have with him.
"I find it really disturbing that certain people are looking in my wife’s windows to try to see me there," he said. "This is an absolute invasion of privacy."
Despite Mr. Severs’ alleged invasion of privacy the councilman says he is ready for the community of Apache Junction to "get back on its feet."
"I feel like it is finally over," he said. "It was pretty clear that everyone wants this issue dropped."
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