Mike Mellor Elected President Of Navajo County Fair Board

By Linda Kor
   The annual meeting of the Navajo County Fair Board was held Jan. 13, resulting in a change of officers and a new board member.
   Electing a president for the fair board was not an easy task, as each board member nominated for the position declined, citing family or work obligations that would not allow them to take on the demands of the position.
   Interim President Rusty DeSpain was firm in his decision to decline candidacy after presiding over the board for the past nine years, stating that he, too, was “buried” under other obligations.
   The one exception was board member Mike Mellor, a resident of Show Low and a Show Low police officer. Entering into his second year on the board, Mellor initially felt his job and the distance from the fairgrounds would not make him the best candidate for president.
   “I work a three-month rotating shift and I live 35 miles away. If I were retired, I’d be jumping all over this, I just don’t know how well I can do this right now,” stated Mellor. Despite his concerns, he accepted the nomination and was unanimously elected to the position.
   Other nominations resulted in Mike Sample stepping into the vice president’s position. Last year Sample was elected as president of the board, but he resigned in June, citing personal reasons.
   Anna Amos was elected treasurer and Jimmy Crosby was elected secretary.
   Five terms were up on the board itself, each of them three-year terms. Board members Redgie Justman, Kelly Favro, Alberto Peshlakai and Sample were re-elected to the board.
   A newly elected board member, Holbrook resident Angela Keene, filled the fifth position on the board.
   Other board members who will continue to serve are Tim Kelley, Don Fischer, Rusty DeSpain, Wes DeSpain, Allen Mitchell, Sara Hansen and Wendell DeCross.
   The new officers will take office at the next fair board meeting, scheduled on Wednesday, Feb. 10.