Payne completed the unexpired term of Paul Chevalier, will now hold office for six years; Kiel defeated long-time Board representative Ray Sigafoos in November

Toby Payne

Toby Payne and Bill Kiel were sworn in to office on December 18 by outgoing Yavapai County superintendent of schools Tim Carter.  Payne will represent Yavapai Community College District #3 for six years while Kiel will represent District #4 for the same amount of time. 

Payne was first sworn in as the District #3 Board representative for the Yavapai College District Governing Board on March 21, 2023 to fill the unexpired two-year term of Paul Chevalier, who resigned in January 2023. Kiel defeated long-time Governing Board member Ray Sigafoos in the November 2024 election.

Bill Kiel

Toby Payne is a second-generation Arizona native raised in Phoenix who spent twenty-five years in Cave Creek and Carefree. He spent thirty years as an entrepreneur in the audio-visual industry, as the founder of State Sound of Arizona, and also taught for ten years at the International Communications Industries Association Institute for Professional Development. Payne previously served on the Governing Board of the Cave Creek Unified School District and twice served as President of the Board.

He has worked with various non-profits and community groups for many years, including Arizona Town Hall, Kiwanis, site survey for the Mabery Pavilion on the Clarkdale campus of Yavapai College, the Growth Committee of the Clarkdale-Jerome School District, and the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association.

Bill Kiel is a licensed Civil Engineer with 40 years of professional experience. He has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He has managed major construction projects ranging in cost between $4,000,000 – $90,000,000.

He has over three decades of service on non-profit Boards. He currently serves on the Highland Pines Water District Board and is enrolled in the Gunsmithing Program at Yavapai College. Kiel has pledged to improve transparency with a goal of increasing  public access to information both at the Board and administration levels.

Front- page story suggests that free speech provisions in the Constitution and state legislation permit elected Board members to discuss community college matters with staff and faculty and openly speak to the community about college issues that concern them because  it is in the public interest to do so

The Sedona Red Rock News published a front-page article on December 11, written by Tim Perry, that examines a controversial policy adopted by the outgoing lame-duck Yavapai Community College Governing Board at its November meeting, the last of the year. The article raises serious questions about whether the policy infringes on the rights of elected Board members to engage with staff,  faculty, and the public on matters of public interest.

The new “code of conduct,” passed by the lame-duck Governing Board 4-1, explicitly restricts individual Board members from communicating with college employees. The policy states: “Under no circumstances should an individual board member direct or contact by any means a staff member concerning a college or community issue. Board members will refer all of their concerns and constituent concerns via email to the president to resolve or answer.”

Additionally, the code stipulates that “Board members do not speak to the press in any way that reflects negatively on their colleagues or the college.”

The Sedona Red Rock News article suggests that such provisions may amount to a “prior restraint” on speech, a concept that is frowned upon under constitutional free speech protections and state legislation. Legal experts argue that in general elected officials have a right—and indeed a duty—to meet with constituents, including staff and faculty, to gather information that is voluntarily offered. Such interactions are widely regarded as being in the public interest, particularly in matters concerning public institutions like Yavapai Community College.

The article’s focus underscores ongoing concerns about transparency and communication between the Yavapai Community College Governing Board, the college community, and the public at large.

You may read the entire article by clicking here:  https://www.redrocknews.com/2024/12/11/ycc-president-attempts-to-seize-control-from-board/

Deep roots in the community and decades of leadership and service experience

Patrick Kukendall

The Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools Tim Carter announced in a press release December 18  the appointment of Mr. Patrick Kuykendall to the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board. He will  represent District 4, which includes: North Prescott, Williamson Valley, Chino Valley, Paulden, Ash Fork, and Seligman.

Mr. Kuykendall is a lifelong resident of Prescott. He attended the Prescott Unified School District and graduated from Prescott High School. His father, a dedicated public servant, served multiple terms on the Prescott City Council and as Mayor from 2009 to 2016.

Mr. Kuykendall began his service to the nation by entering active duty with the U.S. Army in 1983, serving a four-year term. He later dedicated an additional 18 years to the Arizona Army National Guard, including a combat deployment in support of the Gulf War/Desert Storm. He retired from the military in 2005 with the rank of E-8, First Sergeant.

Following his military career, Mr. Kuykendall served as Executive Director of the California Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve under the United States Department of Defense. In 2016, he transitioned to working with the State of Arizona’s Department of Labor Jobs for Veterans State Grant program. His career continued with roles as the State Veterans Manager for Arizona and later as the Arizona Business Services Representative for Yavapai County. According to the press release, Mr. Kuykendall currently collaborates closely with the Yavapai Community College Regional Economic Development Center.

Mr. Kuykendall’s appointment follows the resignation of current District 4 Board Member Chris Kuknyo, effective December 31, 2024. Mr. Kuknyo will assume his new role as an elected member of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors on January 1, 2025.

To fill the vacancy, County Education Superintendent Carter publicly posted the position and received applications from three qualified candidates prior to the deadline. Superintendent Carter relied on the support of a Candidate Review Committee composed of District 4 community members, including:

• Craig Brown – County Supervisor and elected official for the area
• Dan Burns – Taxpayer representative
• Nicole Clower – Student representative
• Megan Hanna – Faculty representative
• Tyran Payne – Representative of economic development and first response entities

The committee reviewed candidate materials, prepared interview questions, and conducted evaluations, providing Superintendent Carter with its recommendations. Three finalists were interviewed on Monday, December 13, in Prescott, though one candidate later withdrew due to time commitment concerns.

Superintendent Carter further engaged the community by offering face-to-face meetings on March 16 in Prescott, as well as opportunities to communicate via phone or email. He consulted directly with current Yavapai Community College Governing Board members, college administration, and residents before finalizing the appointment. In his press release, Superintendent Carter expressed appreciation for the community’s participation and thoughtful feedback.

Mr. Kuykendall was officially sworn in at the Yavapai County Education Service Agency  on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. His term will conclude on December 31, 2026. Mr. Kuykendall has also indicated his intent to run for a full six-year term in the 2026 election cycle, which would commence in January 2027.

With his deep roots in the community and decades of leadership and service experience, Mr. Kuykendall appears well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the Yavapai Community College Governing Board and District 4 residents.