In the dusty folds of rural Arizona, a small town became the epicenter of one of the most significant battles for local democracy in the state’s recent history.  Not many people noticed at first.  But that changed.

Transparent Payson was born not in a boardroom, but in living rooms.  Coffee tables, community centers, and kitchen counters became war rooms.  We were a citizens’ group in the truest sense, no deep pockets, no party backing, and no appetite for excuses—just neighbors with questions, and a shared conviction: our votes should matter.

The Origins

In 2018, a remarkable plan was proposed by the then-Mayor.  Transparent Payson formed in response: an ad hoc group of residents, business owners, retirees, and advocates who believed in the voter.  Initiatives were drafted, petitions were signed, and issues of citizen concern were placed on the ballot.  Payson voters passed Propositions 401 and 402, which limited the Town’s ability to lease or sell significant land assets or approve substantial debt without voter approval.  It was, by design, a check on unchecked power.

Fast forward to 2023.  Without a vote and with little regard for voters’ will, the Town Council repealed both initiatives.  Just like that, your vote was overturned.  Your voice was silenced.  That act triggered what would become a prolonged and spirited battle, not just for those two propositions, but for the integrity of citizen-led governance itself.

Transparent Payson responded.  Advocating in defense of voters’ rights and the Voter Protection Act.  We tried to preserve ballot integrity, and in the principle that government derives its power from the consent of the governed.

The Legal Journey

We took action.  Transparent Payson filed a lawsuit in Gila County to stop the repeal.  We didn’t do it to make headlines.  We did it because nobody else would.
We argued that the Town’s repeal violated the Voter Protection Act: An Arizona safeguard designed to shield passed ballot measures from tampering.  For over a year, we fought in court, in the press, and, as with the initial propositions, in the court of public opinion.
With the guidance of Attorney Timothy LaSota, whose counsel was instrumental, we held the line against an entrenched municipal strategy.  KMOG Radio gave us a voice.  Facebook gave us an audience.  Word of mouth gave us fuel.
Although the trial court ruled against us, we continued to press our case.  The Arizona Court of Appeals then heard the matter in early 2025.
In June, the court upheld the repeal.  A copy of the court’s decision is below.

What We Learned (And Proved)

We don’t consider this loss a failure.  We proved that ordinary citizens can have an impact:

We exposed long-term leases signed in the dark.  We challenged procedures that sidestepped the ballot box.  We demonstrated to the community that transparency is a fight worth fighting: Even when the odds are long.

The Legacy

We believe our work made Payson better.  Town decisions are under more scrutiny.  Voter education is rising.  People are asking the right questions.

The Thanks

• To every donor, volunteer, and supporter: You made the Transparent Payson movement real.  You took yard signs, wrote letters, attended council meetings, and shared posts.  Transparent Payson was never just a committee—it was a community.
  To the media outlets that welcomed us, KMOG, KPJM, and the groups that supported us, particularly the Payson Tea Party – thank you.
• To Attorney Tim LaSota, your integrity and counsel gave us hope when we needed it most.  Thank you for sticking with us, and for lending us your name, your skill, and your time.
• To the people of Payson, we stood together, and we leave with heads high.
• The PAC is closing, but the movement continues.

Use our archives.  Follow our timelines.  Take inspiration from what we, at Transparent Payson, achieved with so little.

We hope TransparentPayson.org remains a space where truth has a place—and voters have a voice.

—The Transparent Payson Committee

State of Arizona, Court of Appeals