When residents are elected to our town council, their obligations are to attend all regular and special meetings. It’s great if they show up at events, ribbon cuttings and special presentations. Many also give of their free time to speak before groups and organizations.

As a councilman, Cecil Yates has done all of these and more. Even while having a full-time job, he volunteers to represent the town as a member of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council Board of Directors in Phoenix. With Cecil’s background in economic development, this is a great asset for our town to have him sitting on this board.

I don’t have to go into the horrors of domestic violence. We are all familiar with them. When the town needed a representative for the Maricopa County Association of Governments’ Domestic Violence committee, Cecil Yates stepped up and volunteered. Once again, more time out from his own full-time job. He has been reporting on those meetings each month and helped the town to be a part of the governor’s initiative against domestic violence.

I read in a press release that the town recently was given the opportunity to have a representative on the Valley Metro Board. Cecil Yates was the ideal choice since he’s worked with Uber and Lyft and Valley Metro for the past few years trying to get more transportation opportunities for our town. But this would mean even more extra time away from his full-time job. Again, Cecil Yates said yes to our town.

I know all these facts because I read The Times and watch the council meetings regularly on channel 11. You won’t find a person more dedicated to our town than Cecil Yates. He has my vote for mayor.