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Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
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April 14, 2022
Binsbacher resigns from council for mayoral run BY JORDAN ROGERS Peoria Times Staff Writer
Councilmember Bridget Binsbacher has officially thrown her hat into the mayoral candidacy race by resigning from the Peoria City Council. Binsbacher, who served as the councilmember for the Mesquite District, was on the council for seven years. “It has been my honor to serve the Mesquite District for the past seven years,” Binsbacher said. “And I thank the residents who put their trust in me to represent them.” The Peoria City Council will convene within the next 30 days to select an interim councilmember for the Mesquite District. Initially elected in March 2015, Binsbacher was re-elected in 2016 and 2020 and served two terms as vice mayor.
Bridget Binsbacher has resigned from city council to run for mayor. (City of Peoria/Sub-
mitted photo)
While serving as education liaison for the city, Binsbacher helped establish the PeoriaAZ Promise scholarship program, which works to award college scholarships to Peoria students who qualify for financial assistance. She also represented the city of Peoria in regional and statewide organizations, such as the Maricopa Association of Governments Transportation Policy Committee and the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association board. “Councilmember Binsbacher has been a guiding force on Peoria City Council,” Mayor Cathy Carlat said. “Her leadership has spearheaded vital projects that have expanded public safety services, water and roadway infrastructure, parks and amenities to support families in Peoria’s fastest-growing district. It has SEE MAYORAL PAGE 4
Westgate shooter set to be sentenced this May BY JORDAN ROGERS Peoria Times Staff Writer
The man in connection with a Westgate Entertainment District shooting on May 21, 2020, is set for sentencing May 2. Armando Hernandez pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon at the settlement conference on April 1. Many other counts were dismissed due
to a plea agreement. Hernandez, 22, is set to face upward of 44 years in prison. Hernandez is set to appear for sentencing at the Phoenix Municipal Court in Downtown Phoenix. On May 21, 2020, he shot a 30-year-old woman, 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl in what was called a random attack. All three victims survived. Hernandez, who was armed with an AR-15, reportedly was trying to shoot 10 people. His assault rifle jammed before he
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could reach that goal. Police arrested Hernandez, who was 20 years old at the time, and charged him with multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. At the time, he told police he wasn’t trying to kill anybody, but rather cause injury. He told police that he identified as an “incel,” short for involuntary celibate. Hernandez also told police that he shot people SEE WESTGATE PAGE 4