ARIZONA PRIMARY ELECTION 2024See all the primary races| U.S. Senate | U.S. House | State issues| State House | State Senate | County| Schools| Justice | Voting deadlines|Arizona’s primary election is July 30. In most Phoenix area cities and towns, citizens will decide who will represent them in local government in addition to voting in state and federal primary races.While most political attention will be turned toward national and state races, how your community is governed has an immediate bearing on your day-to-day life.City and town councils vote on development, local taxes and street improvements. They make deals to bring big employers to the area. They map out the long-term future of the community, with what kind, amount and density of development goes where. They set budgets that determine the level of police and fire service you get and what parks and libraries to keep open.Residents have to be registered by July 1 to vote in the July 30 election. Early voting for the primary election starts on July 3 and ends on July 26. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is July 19.In most local races, if no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the July 30 election, the race will head to a runoff election on Nov. 5, in which the top two vote-getters face off. Some cities, in which there are multiple candidates, decide on November runoff candidates based on specific formulas.Here is who is running in Maricopa County cities and towns.East Valley: Mesa | Scottsdale | Gilbert | Chandler | Queen Creek | Apache Junction | Guadalupe | West Valley: Glendale | Peoria | Surprise | Buckeye | Goodyear | Avondale | Litchfield Park | Tolleson | El Mirage | Youngtown | North Valley: Paradise Valley | Fountain Hills | Carefree | Cave CreekEast ValleyMesa mayor and City Council racesIn Mesa, residents will decide on a new mayor for the first time in a decade. Both new faces and known community leaders are seeking to replace term-limited Mayor John Giles, who served for 10 years. At least one new council member is guaranteed as District 1 Councilmember Mark Freeman has reached his limit of two consecutive terms on the council.Mesa mayor candidatesCarey Davis: He served as mayor of San Bernardino, California, from 2014 to 2018. After his retirement in 2019, he moved to Mesa to be closer to family. He formally worked as a certified public accountant.Mark Freeman: He is serves on the Mesa City Council representing District 1, the north-central area of the city. Freeman was a paramedic with Mesa Fire and Medical for 31 years before retiring.Scott Neely: He is a former 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate. Neely moved 20 years ago from California to Mesa and started a concrete business venture.Scott Smith: He was Mesa’s mayor from 2008 to 2014 before stepping down to launch a bid for the GOP nomination in the governor’s race. He retired as Valley Metro’s CEO in 2022 after six years in the role.Ryan Winkle: He is a former Mesa council member who was ousted in 2017 after a DUI charge. Winkle recently stepped down as the executive director of the Mesa-based community organization RAIL CDC to focus on his mayoral run.Mesa Council District 1 candidates (north-central)Rich Adams: He is the president and CEO of Southwest Business Credit Services, a company focused on credit information for business owners and professional education. Adams is a former member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board and was named Mesa’s Man of the Year in 2019.Zachary Hichez: He is a paramedic for a private ambulance company and has lived in Mesa for 10 years.Tim Meyer: He recently retired from Mesa after 26 years with the city. He worked as an administrator for business licensing and revenue collections.Ron Williams: He is an Air Force veteran and the owner of Contacts to Contracts, a business consulting company. He serves on the city’s Human Relations Advisory Board.Mesa Council District 2 candidates (east-central)Julie Spilsbury (incumbent): She is running for a second term on council. She ran a local tree care company for more than 20 years.Melody Whetstone: She worked for 15 years in the telecommunications …
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