Derek Egeberg launches write-in bid for Yuma City Council

Derek Egeberg has entered the July 21 Yuma City Council primary as a write-in candidate for one of three council seats, placing him on a city ballot that already includes Carol Smith, Henry Valenzuela, Ronald Van Why and another write-in, Priscila Ruedas. The same 2026 election will also decide the mayor’s race and the presiding municipal judge contest, then send voters back in November for Proposition 436 and Proposition 437.

Arizona law requires a voter to mark the write-in space and write the name of a qualified write-in candidate, and the ballot instructions say the vote will not count unless the ballot is properly marked. The mark must be in the target area, while abbreviations, misspellings and minor variations can still count if the voter’s intent is clear. Yuma County set May 22 as the filing deadline for write-in candidates for the 2026 primary, requires municipal candidates to file with the city or town, and set June 22 as the registration deadline for the July 21 primary, with early voting beginning June 24.

Egeberg’s campaign is already organized through PC2026-02 Derek Egeberg Yuma City Council, which the city lists among its active committees. He has more than 25 years of industry experience, and he has spent decades working behind the scenes in mortgages and building a business presence in Yuma.

In February, the council would have at least two new faces, and Carol Smith was the only incumbent seeking reelection. The race includes three council seats.

The city’s June 4 road report listed striping work and projects affecting Redondo Avenue, Giss Parkway, 24th Street, Avenue 8E and Mesquite Avenue, while council members have also been debating potential data centers and the city has secured $1.4 million in federal housing grants to expand its rehabilitation program. On November 3, voters will also weigh Proposition 436, which would permanently add $30 million to the city’s expenditure limitation base, and Proposition 437, a charter amendment on nomination-petition signatures.