Only Owners of Agricultural Lands Are Eligible To Serve On Irrigation District Boards

In the recent decision in Hancock v. Bisnar, et al. (2006), the Arizona Supreme Court followed its historic ruling in Post v. Wright to reiterate that only agricultural lands are qualified to be electors and board members of irrigation districts. As a result, all three individuals elected in a recall election to serve as directors of the Mohave Valley Irrigation & Drainage District were not qualified to serve on the Board. The Court (1) declared the three seats vacant, (2) held that the prior recalled directors were not to be re-instated, and (3) held that the Board of Directors of Mohave County must fill the vacancies.

THE FOREGOING IS MERELY A PARTIAL SUMMARY OF THE CASE
AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE RELIED UPON AS A LEGAL OPINION.