Kori Christle, Perry Cox, Gary Pfund seeking to fill 2-year Morenci City Council seat
MORENCI — A primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 8, in Morenci will narrow down the city’s mayoral and city council races.
There are three individuals on the primary ballot for Morenci mayor and three on the ballot for the single 2-year term for Morenci City Council, which expires Nov. 11, 2025. Two candidates for each position will advance to the November election.
Profiled here are the three candidates running for the city council. They are incumbent council member Kori Christle, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in February, and challengers Perry Cox and Gary Pfund. For the city council race, voters must vote for only one of the three candidates.
The Daily Telegram provided a questionnaire to each of the candidates. Their responses, which have been lightly edited for clarity, are being published in print today and online at www.lenconnect.com.
Residents may still register to vote at Morenci City Hall, 118 Orchard St., which will be open today from 8 a.m. to noon for those people who would like to register to vote or turn in their absentee ballots.
Election Day hours on Tuesday will be from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Morenci City Hall.
Kori M. Christle
Age: 50.
Occupation: CDM analyst, Hospital Revenue Cycle.
Spouse/kids: I'm married with three children, one daughter-in-law and two grandbabies.
Government experience: I currently sit on the city council as an appointed member replacing Sandy Emmons when she resigned.
Volunteer/service/involvement with the city of Morenci: I've been a Morenci resident most of my life. I currently am a trustee with the Morenci Athletic Boosters and also serve as treasurer of the Morenci Band Boosters. I have one child still in high school, so you will often see me in the concession stand during school sports or volunteering at other school events. I've previously been involved with the Morenci Town and Country Festival committee as well as Morenci Little League.
Why are you running for this position? Service is important to me. Now that my youngest will be a high school junior in the fall, it is time to become more involved with my city as a whole. I am proud of the direction Morenci is heading and would like to be a part of rebuilding our community.
What do you think are the one/two major issue(s) facing the city of Morenci and what should be done about it/them? One of the major issues facing Morenci is ordinance enforcement. With our ordinance officer leaving for other opportunities, we need to ensure we are able to fill that position with someone who will be able to enforce the current ordinances we have in place to keep our city clean and safe. Another major issue is the lack of access to fresh foods. The city needs to continue to pursue all avenues to attract grocery stores to support the needs of our community.
What are some of the achievements taking place in Morenci? How can these be sustained? Our RMI (Revitalize Morenci Initiative) committee, as well as our Downtown Development Authority and school, have done a wonderful job of promoting the city and supporting and spearheading positive projects that benefit our community and provide an opportunity for community involvement. By supporting these organizations, we will continue to improve the city as a whole.
Why should people vote for you? What you see is what you get with me. I will always let you know where I stand on any issue and will have an open ear to all community members, regardless of whether or not we agree on an issue. I will do my best to inform and answer questions when I am asked and will always vote with the best interest of our community at heart. Please feel free to contact me at 517-401-0346 or korichristle@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or concerns. One Team, One Town, One Family.
Perry Cox
Age: 47.
Occupation: Farmer.
Spouse/kids: Married to Amanda Cox. We have an 8-year-old son named Colton.
Government experience: No government experience. Multiple leadership roles at past employers, past president of the board at church and served on the Morenci school board.
Volunteer/service/involvement with city of Morenci: I’m proud to be counted as a member of the Fighting 84 at the Morenci Fire Department. I served on the school board and I am a trustee at the Morenci Sportsman’s Club.
Why are you running for this position? I was encouraged by my peers to serve. I want someone who chose to raise their family in Morenci and who is committed to the long-term success of the community making decisions on the council. I can fulfill that role with that perspective.
What do you think are the one/two major issue(s) facing the city of Morenci and what should be done about it/them? I think small towns are the fabric that holds America together. The one constant we all face is change. We need to be nimble and embrace change while still growing the core values of community. One Team, One Town, One Family sets Morenci apart and the people living here make it special. I would like to continue the push to develop our downtown. I know there are studies underway currently to pave the way for new businesses and I fully support those efforts.
What are some of the achievements taking place in Morenci? How can these be sustained? Morenci has one of the premier volunteer fire departments in the country. Classified as ISO 3 due to response times and equipment resources, the cost of insurance is actually lower for everyone in the community as a result. Even if you never have to call the department, everyone in the community benefits from it. We need to continue our support of the Fighting 84 as a city.
Why should people vote for you? My family’s farm is just outside the city limits. I live next to the school, and my son is enrolled at Morenci. I was born and raised in Morenci and my roots run deep here. If you’re from Morenci, you probably know me. I want to see this city succeed. My future and the communities are intertwined. I pledge to serve the council and the people of this city with excellence, honor and integrity. Thank you for your consideration.
Gary Pfund
Age: 68.
Occupation: Retired.
Spouse/kids: Wife, Judy Pfund; two adult children, Jill Owen and Jade Pfund.
Government experience: I served four years on the board of education for Morenci Area Schools.
Volunteer/service/involvement with city of Morenci: Volunteered with Morenci Little League.
Why are you running for this position? I am a lifelong resident of Morenci, and I am concerned about our future. It is my goal to bring back accountability to the decisions we are making as well as focus on efforts to improve the quality of life for all residents.
What do you think are the one/two major issue(s) facing the city of Morenci and what should be done about it/them? Our city finances are a major concern. We are paying former employees as consultants to new hires who do not have the skillset to perform their jobs. We have spent the Marihuana Regulation Fund money before even receiving it. We have received grant funding in the millions but had to return it due to not having completed the project timely. To correct these issues, we need to hold leadership accountable, make sure employees are equipped to handle their positions and improve communication to ensure projects are completed accurately and within budget.
What are some of the achievements taking place in Morenci? How can these be sustained? Morenci has applied for and received grant funding to improve our community infrastructure. These provide a great opportunity to improve our quality of life and allow us to earmark money for other important projects in the community. We can continue to sustain these projects by applying for more grant opportunities and making sure we are completing the projects within the parameters stated.
Why should people vote for you? In addition to being a lifelong resident of Morenci, I am someone who gets the job done. I will always put the community’s interest first and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that our city is taken care of. When I see something that is wrong, my goal is to make it right. A vote for me means you are voting for accountability in leadership, transparency in finances and a focus on economic opportunities to improve our city.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Kori Christle, Perry Cox, Gary Pfund running for Morenci City Council
