Bits and Pieces

It's official... Council adopts 2026 Election Result

On August 5, 2026, the Oro Valley Town Council adopted the official results of the July 21 primary election. Melanie Barrett was elected mayor with 8,471 votes, while Rosa Dailey (8,661 votes), Rhonda Pina (7,866 votes), and Matt Wood (7,436 votes) secured the three council seats. Each will serve a four-year term beginning November 4, 2026.

Town seeks individual for Budget and Finance Commission

The Town of Oro Valley is seeking a resident to fill one vacancy on its Budget and Finance Commission. The commission advises the Town Council by reviewing the proposed budget, annual financial audit, and other financial matters. The member will serve a two-year term and meet at 4 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Town Hall. Applicants should have experience in accounting, finance, banking, investments, or a related business field; be available for meetings; and complete the Town’s Community Academy during their term. To apply, contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 520-229-4700 or visit the Town Clerk’s webpage at orovalleyaz.gov. (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

Oro Valley’s history digitization project moving along

The Oro Valley Historical Society is bringing local history into the digital age, having already created catalog-ready images of more than 600 artifacts, publications, maps, and photographs. Using its new CatalogIt museum software and a donated professional photography light box, volunteers are organizing and photographing the collection for future museum displays and a new online photo gallery, making Oro Valley’s historical treasures easier for the public to discover and enjoy. (Source: Oro Valley Historical Society August Newsletter).

Federal funding in queue for new police department.    

The Oro Valley Police Department is slated to receive $4.2 million in preliminary federal funding to upgrade technology and modernize critical public-safety equipment, helping equip the department’s new headquarters for future operations. Secured through the fiscal year 2027 Community Project Funding process, the proposed investment has advanced through committee but must still receive final approval from Congress and the President before the money becomes available. Read the funding announcement.

State Orders ASDB to Correct Student Placement Process

Since LOVE first reported the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind’s (ASDB) move to the Oro Valley Copper Creek Elementary School, the Arizona Department of Education has found that ASDB violated federal special-education law by predetermining placements for blind, visually impaired, and residential students rather than allowing their individualized education program teams to consider the full range of options. The finding does not mean the new Oro Valley campus or the relocation itself is illegal. Rather, it concerns how affected students were assigned to other schools. ASDB must now work with a state-approved monitor, review each affected student’s placement, reconvene education teams when necessary, and document corrective action by August 28, 2026. The complaint was filed by the University of Arizona Education Advocacy Clinic. Read their report here.

Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Pond restoration begins Monday

We are excited to share that construction is about to begin on the Vistoso Pond Restoration Project on Monday, August 10. To prepare for construction, trail detour and closure signs will be put in place on Tuesday, August 4 and the contractor will be mobilizing equipment and materials to the site throughout the week. (Source: This Week In Parks and Recreation Newsletter, 8-7-26)

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Bits and Pieces-Election Final

Barrett’s election makes Oro Valley history
Melanie Barrett will become Oro Valley’s 12th mayor when she takes office in November. She is the first woman elected mayor by Oro Valley voters and only the fourth person elected directly to the office. 

Before 1998, the Town Council selected the mayor from among its members. Voters changed that system in 1998, and Paul Loomis became Oro Valley’s first directly elected mayor. Loomis served three terms. He was followed by Satish Hiremath and Joe Winfield, both of whom served two terms. Barrett now begins the next chapter in that history.

Women will hold a record number of council seats
This election also marks another milestone. When the new council is sworn in, five women will serve together on the seven-member governing body: Mayor Melanie Barrett and Councilmembers Rosa Dailey, Mary Murphy, Rhonda Piña and Elizabeth Robb. That will be the largest number of women to serve on the Town Council at one time in Oro Valley’s history. This reflects the increasingly important role women are playing in shaping our community.    

Summer Town elections produce much lower turnout
Approximately 41 percent of registered Oro Valley voters participated in this year’s election. That continues a decline that began after Arizona required municipal elections to be held on the state election calendar. Before the change took effect in 2014, Oro Valley held its primary elections in February or March and, when necessary, runoff elections in May. Turnout in the last competitive mayoral election held under the March-May schedule approached 80 percent. Since elections were moved to the summer, turnout in Oro Valley mayoral elections has averaged approximately 48 percent.

Many factors affect participation. Under Oro Valley’s former election schedule, every registered voter automatically received a ballot, regardless of party affiliation. Now, because the Town election is conducted as part of the partisan state primary, independent voters must request a ballot before they can vote in Oro Valley’s nonpartisan election. That additional step appears to contribute to lower turnout. How many of Oro Valley’s approximately 12,000 registered independent voters requested and returned a ballot this year? The answer may tell us a great deal about future municipal elections.

The campaign is over. Now comes governing
Every election sends a message. The message from this one appears to be that most Oro Valley voters are satisfied with the Town’s current direction. Barrett won the mayoral race decisively, while Dailey and Matt Wood, both of whom campaigned on continuing many of the Town’s current policies, also earned seats on the Council. Although the candidates differed on specific issues, voters generally chose experience and continuity over calls for major change. 

Campaigns naturally focus on differences. Governing requires finding common ground. We are confident that Mayor Barrett will be able to do this. Beginning in November, the new mayor and council will face important decisions involving the Town’s budget, water resources, economic development, public safety and the preservation of Oro Valley’s quality of life. 

The campaign is over. 

The work of governing begins in November.

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The Five Factors That Shaped the Oro Valley Council Election

The Council results were shaped by more than vote totals alone
No election is decided by a single factor, and this one was no exception. Our analysis suggests that five factors largely explain the Council race. Candidates with clear, positive messages performed best. The Town’s traditional voting blocks again influenced the outcome. Undervoting changed the mathematics of the election. Higher turnout in the larger Rancho Vistoso Block gave additional weight to the candidates who were strongest there. Finally, personal voter contact and familiarity helped some candidates connect with voters in ways that others could not.

Candidates’ messages mattered
In this election, we believe the messages presented by the five candidates made a significant difference. As we noted yesterday in our analysis of the mayoral race, voters responded positively to Melanie Barrett’s theme that the Town is on the right track. They rejected Mark Napier’s argument that Oro Valley was heading toward financial trouble. Positive messages often have an advantage over negative ones.

Two of the three successful Council candidates, Rosa Dailey and Matt Wood, also presented positive campaigns. Both argued that Oro Valley was moving in the right direction and was well positioned to meet the financial challenges ahead. They asked voters to continue the Town’s current course rather than change it.

Rhonda Piña likewise offered a positive message. She campaigned on experienced, financially responsible leadership that would protect public safety while strengthening Oro Valley’s long-term financial future through thoughtful economic development. Her campaign focused on what she would do rather than on what she believed was wrong with the Town.

Chris DeSimone and Jake Herrington were not elected. They finished within a few votes of each other. DeSimone emphasized efficient government, stronger revenues and annexation but did not clearly explain why he was uniquely qualified to accomplish those goals. Herrington spoke about preparing Oro Valley for the future through thoughtful leadership and long-term financial planning but offered few specifics beyond saying he would listen to everyone. Voters appear to have found the positive, forward-looking messages of Dailey, Wood and Piña more compelling.

Voting blocks remained important
Two weeks ago, we asked whether Oro Valley’s traditional voting blocks would again influence the Council election. The answer appears to be yes. [see panel right]

The Community Center Block consists of four precincts with 5,255 registered voters. The Rancho Vistoso Block consists of seven precincts with 9,535 registered voters. Together, they account for virtually all of Oro Valley’s voters.

The results show that candidates generally received their strongest support within their natural voting base. Rosa Dailey and Matt Wood, both Rancho Vistoso residents, dominated that block, consistently finishing ahead of the other candidates. Their strong performance there created a substantial advantage that carried through the townwide count.

The Community Center Block told a different story. Rhonda Piña performed considerably better there than Jake Herrington or Chris DeSimone. Although none of the three matched Dailey’s or Wood’s dominance in Rancho Vistoso, Piña’s stronger support in the Community Center Block helped separate her from the other two candidates competing for the third Council seat.

Undervoting affected the outcome
Council elections differ from mayoral elections because voters may vote for up to three candidates. Some votrers choose not to use all three votes. Instead, they vote only for the candidates they most want to see elected. This is known as undervoting.

Undervoting matters because every vote cast for another candidate increases that candidate’s total. A voter who is uncertain about a third choice may decide not to cast that vote rather than help elect someone the voter does not strongly support.

In this election, voters cast an average of 2.5 Council votes per ballot. That means many voters selected only two candidates. Based on the voting totals, we estimate that roughly half of all ballots were undervoted.

That pattern benefited candidates who became a voter’s clear first or second choice. It also reduced the total number of votes available to all candidates, making every vote more valuable.

Turnout favored the Rancho Vistoso Block
We measure voter enthusiasm in part by turnout. Overall turnout in this election was 40.4%, below the approximately 43% turnout recorded in each of the previous two elections. Most of that decline occurred in the Community Center Block.

Turnout in the Rancho Vistoso Block reached 41.7%, compared with 38.3% in the Community Center Block. While the difference may appear modest, it represented hundreds of additional voters in the Town’s largest voting block. That gave greater weight to the candidates who were strongest there.

Rosa Dailey, Matt Wood and Melanie Barrett invested a considerable amount of time going door to door, asking residents whether they had voted and encouraging them to return their ballots. Some of that effort was visible on Election Day. The parking lot at the Oro Valley Public Library remained busy throughout the day as voters dropped off their ballots. That sustained ground campaign likely contributed to the higher turnout in the Rancho Vistoso Block.

Personal contact and familiarity mattered
Local elections are personal. Rosa Dailey and Matt Wood (and Melanie Barrett) spent months knocking on doors, attending neighborhood meetings and community events, and talking directly with voters. Those personal conversations helped build trust long before ballots were mailed.

Familiarity also mattered. Rhonda Piña served on the Oro Valley Town Council from 2016 through 2020, giving many voters a record they already knew. Dailey, Wood and Barrett had each established a visible presence in the community over a number of years before this campaign.

In local elections, voters often support candidates they know personally or have seen actively engaged in the community over time. Two candidates had neither of the qualities. Jake Herrington entered the race with less name recognition than the successful candidates. Chris DeSimone (and mayoral candidate Mark Napier) had no established, widely recognized history of involvement in Town affairs before this election. 

What the results tell us
No single factor explains why Rosa Dailey, Rhonda Piña and Matt Wood won election to the Town Council. Together, however, these five factors provide a persuasive explanation of the outcome.

Perhaps the broader lesson is that Oro Valley elections are still won one voter at a time. Social media, campaign videos, text messages and automated phone calls may increase awareness, but they did not replace face-to-face campaigning. Candidates who communicated a clear, positive message, built relationships over time, generated enthusiasm in key precincts and encouraged their supporters to vote were ultimately the candidates voters elected.

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Barrett's Big Win... Why It Happened

A major victory for Barrett

Last week, LOVE reported on Melanie Barrett’s mayoral victory in Oro Valley. She received 57% of the votes cast to become the next mayor of our town. 

Here's our assessment of why it happened

Voters were happy with the results of eight years of effort by Barrett

Melanie Barrett entered the race with a strong record of service and broad support throughout Oro Valley. During her eight years on the Town Council, many voters felt that the Town had changed for the better. Barrett had been involved in the major decisions that shaped the community.

After years of effort and investment, municipal golf went from being a financial burden on the Town to becoming a valued community asset. The Town weathered the pandemic years successfully. Naranja Park, once only a dream, became a reality. Public safety is rated among the best in the state. The roads remain in good condition. The views have been protected. The former Vistoso Golf Course is now preserved in perpetuity.

Barrett was able to run on that record. She had also run twice before and received record vote totals. Voters knew her, knew her work and appeared satisfied with the Town’s direction. Her victory suggests that many voters saw her as the candidate best prepared to continue that work as mayor.

Napier got his message across... and voters did not "buy it"

Barrett’s record of success meant that Napier needed a compelling campaign theme to make the race competitive. His message was that the Town would face serious financial difficulty within four or five years, that the problem required immediate action and that he was the candidate best equipped to address it. That argument required considerable persuasion because most voters could not see evidence of an approaching crisis. 

Napier never proved that the Town was heading toward dire financial straits. LOVE published several articles explaining why the available financial information did not support that conclusion. Our assessment was that Oro Valley will face financial challenges as it approaches build-out, as many communities do. Those challenges will require careful planning, but they do not establish that the Town is facing a financial crisis.

Positive messaging works better than negative messaging
Barrett’s message remained positive throughout the campaign. She focused on her experience, her record and her plans for Oro Valley, not on attacking her opponent. Napier, on the other hand, decided sometime in June that his financial message was not gaining enough traction and shifted toward increasingly negative attacks on Barrett. He argued that she was not capable of serving as mayor and that he was far more qualified, asking voters to discount her eight years as vice mayor and her earlier service on the Planning and Zoning Commission. He also tried to blame Barrett for the poor performance of the Oro Valley Marketplace, despite the fact that the property had struggled for more than 17 years. That argument also ignored Barrett’s role in negotiating the agreement with the property’s new owner that is now bringing a hotel, apartments, public spaces and other development to the site. As we observed during the campaign, negative attacks may energize a candidate’s existing supporters, but they often do little to persuade independent voters.

The result: Barrett dominated (almost) everywhere

Barrett’s support extended across all of Oro Valley [see panel right, above]. She received more votes than Napier in 10 of the Town’s 11 precincts. Napier’s only victory came in Precinct 194, the Community Center precinct and the center of the four-precinct “golf” voting block we discussed two weeks ago. Even within that block, Barrett carried the other three precincts, although her margins were narrow in traditional Community Center Precincts 077 and 173. The results show that Barrett’s appeal reached well beyond her strongest areas and into communities that had previously been expected to favor Napier.

Hello...I'm Melanie Barrett

While Napier spent much of the campaign producing videos and posting criticism on Facebook, Barrett was out meeting voters. She walked neighborhoods, attended community events and introduced herself directly: “Hello, I’m Melanie Barrett.” That matters in Oro Valley, where many residents are older and are accustomed to meeting candidates in person. They may not spend much time on social media or follow campaign posts on Facebook. Barrett understood that there is no substitute for personal contact, and her street-level campaigning helped turn familiarity into votes.

Voters’ message was clear: "No Change Needed"
Every election sends a message. The message from this one appears to be that most Oro Valley voters are satisfied with the Town’s direction and prefer steady, experienced leadership over promises of dramatic change. They know Melanie Barrett. They like what she has done. They think she is perfectly capable of leading Oro Valley into the future.

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Tomorrow: The Five Factors That Shaped the Oro Valley Council Election

Barrett Wins Mayor... Dailey, Pina and Wood To Join Council in November

Barrett to Be Oro Valley’s Next Mayor 

Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett earned more than 57% of the approximately 12,700 votes cast to become Oro Valley’s next mayor. Barrett received more votes than challenger Mark Napier in all but two precincts. Those two precincts comprise the “golf” voting block we discussed last week. Two other precincts that we identified as part of that voting block supported Barrett. A small number of ballots remain to be counted. While those votes will change the final totals, they will not change the outcome.

We Project Dailey, Piña and Wood will join the Council

The Town Council race was more closely contested. Rosa Dailey, Rhonda Piña and Matt Wood are the top three vote-getters. Dailey and Piña hold comfortable leads over fourth-place candidate Chris DeSimone. Wood, currently in third place, leads DeSimone by 520 votes.  Though some ballots remain to be counted, we do not believe enough ballots remain to change the third-place result. We therefore project that Dailey, Piña and Wood will be elected to the Oro Valley Town Council.

Some counting still remains

There is still some counting to take place. We believe the remaining ballots are primarily provisional ballots. These are ballots that, for various reasons, must be reviewed to determine their eligibility before they can be counted.

Look for our full analysis of the election results in about a week, once all votes have been counted.

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Vote Today

REALTORS® PAC Makes $6,400 Contribution to Napier Campaign

Realtor PAC weighs in
The REALTORS® of Arizona Political Action Committee (RAPAC) contributed $6,400 to mayoral candidate Mark Napier’s campaign. That represents about 19.5% of the campaign’s total receipts through June 30. Excluding the $5,056.54 that Mark and Marlene Napier loaned the campaign, the RAPAC contribution represents approximately 23% of the money received from other sources.

Napier participated in questionnaire and interview
LOVE asked Napier about the contribution. He told us that he believes he completed an RAPAC questionnaire and participated in a panel interview. He said the questions covered his professional background, public administration, issues facing Oro Valley and his general understanding of real estate issues. 

Barrett says "No" to PAC contributions
We spoke with Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett. Her campaign-finance report shows no PAC contributions. She told LOVE she does not recall whether she was ever contacted by RAPAC. Even if the organization had contacted her, she said she would not have accepted its financial support. Barrett has never accepted PAC contributions in any of her three campaigns because she believes doing so allows her to answer only to Oro Valley residents. 

The value RAPAC get from supporting Napier...

Napier told us that his priorities are:

• Development consistent with existing zoning

• Building heights that do not detract from the Town’s appearance

• Development compatible with surrounding neighborhoods

• Responsible and sustainable development of Oro Valley’s remaining open residential land

We do not know whether any of those priorities align with RAPAC’s. You can do your own assessment by comparing them to those listed in the panel above. The size of the contribution suggests that either RAPAC saw an alignment between its priorities and his or that it expects to receive some other value. 

...could be "access"

Napier told LOVE that any suggestion that the contribution could influence him was “patently absurd....I made no commitments to the Realtors PAC other than to listen." This commitment to listen does assure RAPAC that its views will be heard if he is elected mayor. Whether that opportunity alone explains the $6,400 contribution remains unanswered.

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Will Social Media Spell The Difference?

Social media, videos, robocalls and texts reshape campaign outreach
Campaign signs were once the primary way candidates reached Oro Valley voters. Event today, they remain highly visible throughout town. This election, however, has brought a broader outreach effort. Mayoral candidate Mark Napier and council candidates Chris DeSimone and Rhonda Piña have invested substantially in digital advertising and campaign media. Their reports identify approximately $19,300 in social media advertising, campaign social media and broadly described advertising services. Additional payments were made for websites, video production, consulting, signs and campaign materials. The reports do not separately identify how much was spent on automated telephone calls or campaign text message

Will social media make a difference? Will it sway voters? Will it change the voting blocs we discussed yesterday?

Social media may move the needle a little
There have been relatively few studies focused specifically on municipal elections. Research from larger elections generally finds that political advertising on social media has limited and inconsistent effects. One experiment involving approximately two million voters examined an eight-month digital advertising campaign during the 2020 presidential election. On average, the advertising neither increased nor decreased turnout. The researchers concluded that even a large digital campaign was likely to have only modest mobilization effects. Other research suggests that social media may be more effective at increasing visibility and reinforcing the views of existing supporters than at changing the minds of undecided voters.

Robotexts may work better as reminders than as persuasion
One study involving more than three million voters found that a simple text-message reminder increased turnout by about 0.3 percentage points. That is a small effect, but even a small increase could matter in a close local election.  Research examining text messages intended to change voters’ candidate preferences has generally found little or no measurable effect. The evidence suggests that texts may be more useful for reminding supporters to vote than for persuading them to support a particular candidate.

Robocalls have shown limited results
Randomized studies have generally found that prerecorded political calls have little effect on either turnout or candidate preference. They are relatively inexpensive and allow campaigns to contact many voters quickly, but reaching a voter is not the same as persuading one.

Negative advertising presents another uncertainty
Research on negative campaigning has produced mixed results. Attacks may affect attitudes toward the candidate being criticized, but they can also cause voters to react negatively toward the candidate making the attack. Other research has found that negative advertising is not necessarily more effective than positive advertising. Much depends on whether voters consider the criticism credible, relevant and fair. Repetition may make a claim more familiar, but familiarity does not necessarily make it persuasive.

These methods may make a difference at the margins
Social media advertising, robocalls and robotexts can increase a candidate’s visibility, reinforce the views of supporters and remind people to vote. They appear to be less reliable at changing firmly held opinions.

In a close Oro Valley election, however, even a small effect could influence the outcome. We will know next week whether this extensive outreach made a measurable difference.

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Next Week We’ll Learn Whether Past Elections Foretold the Outcome of the 2026 Election

Past two elections revealed a geographic voting pattern
The results of Oro Valley’s Mayoral 2022 and Council 2024 elections suggest that where voters live may help explain how they vote. In both elections, a group of precincts centered in Rancho Vistoso voted differently from four precincts that include and surround the Town’s municipal golf courses. The candidates and issues changed, but the geographic divide remained.

Rancho Vistoso provided Winfield’s winning margin in 2022
In the 2022 mayoral election, Joe Winfield narrowly defeated former Oro Valley Police Chief Danny Sharp in the Mayoral election. This result was a bit surprising because Danny Sharp was a well-known, well respected figure in our Valley for many years. Sharp carried four precincts by a combined 920 votes. Winfield overcame that deficit by carrying  seven other precincts by 1,251 votes. His strength in Rancho Vistoso and the surrounding precincts provided the margin needed for his 285-vote townwide victory. That was close!

The 2022 council vote showed the same divide
The 2022 council race followed a similar pattern. Melanie Barrett, Joyce Jones-Ivey and Josh Nicolson won a majority of the council votes in nine of the Town’s eleven precincts. Their strongest support came from Rancho Vistoso. Their weakest results came from the precincts that include the Town’s two municipal golf courses, although they still received almost 48% of the vote there.

The same pattern appeared again in 2024
The 2024 council election produced another geographic split. Mary Murphy and Mo Greene received their strongest support in the golf-oriented precincts. Elizabeth Robb and Tim Bohen performed better in the Rancho Vistoso-oriented precincts. Murphy also received strong support in the Rancho Vistoso precincts. Robb received strong support in the community center precints. The election also produced substantial undervoting, as many residents used only one or two of their three available council votes.

A pattern is not a prediction... but tomorrow we will know more
Two elections do not establish how Oro Valley residents will vote in the future. Candidates, issues and turnout change from one election to the next. Still, the results of 2022 and 2024 suggest that Oro Valley has two identifiable geographic voting coalitions. And, as the panel shows, one is much larger in terms of voters than the other. The 2026 election will show whether that pattern continues or whether voters create a different one. 

Tomorrow: Will Social Media Spell The Difference?

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Bits and Pieces...Election Style

Napier overlooks Barrett’s ten years of hands-on Oro Valley experience

Melanie Barrett has served this community for more than ten years. She first served on the Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commission. For the past eight years, she has served on the Town Council and as Vice Mayor. During that time, she has been directly involved in the Town’s budgets, land-use decisions, water policy, public safety funding, parks and recreation planning, road maintenance priorities, annexation discussions, and long-range financial planning. She has not watched Oro Valley from the outside. She has governed it. (Watch KGUN 9 Barrett interview here).

That is why a Mark Napier campaign video is so hard to take seriously. In the video, Napier compares his background to Barrett’s by describing her as a “part-time elected official” and listing only “Town Council Member” under her professional experience. That is campaign framing. It is not a fair description of what Barrett has done for Oro Valley. 

Napier has significant professional experience. That is not in dispute. The question for voters is what kind of experience matters most in this election. Napier offers outside executive and law-enforcement experience. Barrett offers direct Oro Valley governing experience. She knows the Town’s issues because she has been working on them for years. To say that she lacks the experience to lead Oro Valley going forward is not just unfair. It is ridiculous. It is patently absurd.

Click to enlarge

A commenter on Napier's facebook page had a visceral reaction to his video: "Ignoring someone’s accomplishments and achievements while also putting down stay at home moms is wild. But hey, I can do it too. Without the whole degrading various moms all over town… that’s gross dude." The commenter included a visual which we is on the panel at right. Enjoy.

DeSimone says that a photo of a six story building could jeopardize future "Uptown" annexation efforts
In a campaign video, council candidate Chris DeSimone said that a building shown in some competitors’ campaign materials is not in Oro Valley. He alleges that the building pictured is part of the Uptown redevelopment of the former Foothills Mall in unincorporated Pima County. DeSimone argued that using that building to warn voters about tall buildings in Oro Valley could make future annexation discussions with the developer of Uptown, Bourn Companies, more difficult.

We just do not see the problem.

First, Oro Valley residents have made clear that they do not want tall buildings in Town. Oro Valley’s zoning rules limit building height. Future development inside Oro Valley would be subject to the Town’s zoning and land-use approval process. If the Uptown property were ever annexed, existing buildings and previously approved development rights would only be affected if the Bourn sought new approvals, changed the project, or agreed to different terms as part of an annexation agreement. And these exceptions could be granted as part of the annexation agreement.

Second, Uptown is part of Oro Valley’s long-range annexation discussion, but it is a very long-term target. It is not contiguous with Oro Valley’s current boundaries. Arizona annexation law requires the territory proposed for annexation to be contiguous to the city or town. According to the Town Council’s January annexation discussion, annexing the former Foothills Mall area first would require annexing residential areas that together include roughly 2,500 residents. That would be needed just to bring the Town’s boundary to the mall. It would also make the annexation more complicated, more expensive to serve, and dependent on broad residential participation. 

Residents in that area have not shown interest in becoming part of Oro Valley. LOVE reported in 2020 that the last time the Town tried to convince the Foothills Mall area to join Oro Valley, it received a “resounding no.”  That history matters. It means Uptown may be worth watching as a long-range possibility, but it is not the Town’s practical near-term annexation strategy.

DeSimone says other candidates "might be afraid to answer tough questions"

In a separate campaign posting, DeSimone asserts that he has been more available to voters than the other candidates. He says he is “the one candidate of the seven total” who has held the most public events to encourage input and conversation. That would be a legitimate campaign point if documented. He goes further, saying that the “lack of public engagement” by some competitors “should worry the voters” and suggesting they “might be afraid of answering tough questions.” DeSimone says he will continue meeting with residents monthly if elected and hopes one or two fellow council members will join him. 

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“Neighbor Joe” Makes a Good Story But It Does Not Explain Oro Valley’s Finances

A simple story with a serious accusation
Mayoral candidate Mark Napier recently compared Oro Valley to his fictional neighbor Joe, a man who misses his income forecast, withdraws money from savings, postpones home improvements, and reduces maintenance because he cannot afford it. Napier concludes that Joe is in financial trouble and says the Town is being managed in the same way. He then accuses candidates who disagree of being “in denial for personal and political reasons.” It is an effective campaign story. It is not an accurate explanation of Oro Valley’s finances.

Yes. town's financial pressures are real
Napier is right that Oro Valley’s revenue outlook has weakened. The Town substantially reduced its sales tax forecast after collections fell below expectations. The fiscal year 2027 budget took action. Council removed or deferred approximately $11.6 million of proposed capital spending. None of this spending was essential. Council directed General Fund departments to reduce operating and maintenance spending by one-half of one percent. It reduced excess police pension contribution by approximately $1.5 million while maintaining a fully funded police pension, These are real adjustments; responsively done. 

Click To Enlarge

But, let's get the facts right
But Napier does not see it that way. Instead, his "Neighbor Joe Story" says the Town missed its “income projections” by 12.5 percent. That wording makes it sound as though all Town revenue fell 12.5 percent below budget. It did not. The figure applies only to projected local sales tax revenue. As we have previously explained in several articles, much of that shortfall resulted a construction project that did not begin when Town staff assumed they would. It was a timing issue. It is not evidence of a permanent, long-term revenue decline. Yes, the staff forecast miss was substantial, and staff should be held accountable for it. However, a shortfall in one major revenue category is not the same as a 12.5 percent shortfall in all Town income. 

In fact, the approximately $4 million shortfall represents about 3.7 percent of the Town’s anticipated total revenues.

A Fund balance is not a rainy-day account
The “Neighbor Joe Story” also says the Town regularly takes large sums from “long-term savings just to balance the budget.” That description treats every reduction in the General Fund balance as evidence that the Town is living beyond its means. This is where Napier gets it wrong. A municipal fund balance is not merely a household savings account. It includes money available for planned capital transfers, debt service, and other authorized uses, as well as the amount needed to satisfy the Town’s reserve policy. A decline in the General Fund balance does not necessarily mean the Town has dipped below its required reserve or used emergency savings to pay routine operating expenses, any more than a change in your bank balance means you are going broke.

Which projects and which maintenance?
Also in the “Neighbor Joe Story", Napier says that the Town is delaying or canceling “very significant improvements” and scaling back normal maintenance because it lacks the money. He does not identify which capital projects have been deferred, why they are essential, why they were deferred, or how the delays affect residents. Nor does he identify which maintenance work will not be performed. 

It has been the history of Oro Valley budgeting that proposed capital plans routinely change as projects are reprioritized, redesigned, rescheduled, or moved outside the five-year planning period. A change in proposed capital spending is not, by itself, proof that the Town cannot afford to maintain its essential infrastructure.

A household comparison has limits
A household analogy can make a complicated issue easier to understand, but only when the comparison accurately reflects the facts. A municipality operates multiple funds, receives revenues that are legally restricted to specific purposes, transfers money between funds, pays debt service, and finances assets that may serve residents for decades. Oro Valley’s finances cannot be accurately evaluated by treating the General Fund as a checking account and the entire fund balance as personal savings.

Questions require more than an analogy
Napier has raised fair questions about revenue forecasting, capital priorities, spending discipline, and long-term financial planning. Those questions should be debated. However, declaring the Town to be in serious financial trouble requires more than comparing it to an overspending homeowner. It requires identifying which recurring expenditures exceed recurring revenues, which deferred projects materially affect residents, which maintenance needs are going unmet, and when the Town is projected to fall below its required reserve. The “Neighbor Joe Story" provides none of that.

Challenges are not the same as mismanagement

All candidates agree that Oro Valley faces financial challenges. Sales tax revenues have flattened, staff badly overestimated the timing of major construction projects, and the Town must carefully manage spending as it approaches build-out. Those are legitimate election issues. They do not, by themselves, prove that the Town is financially mismanaged.

The most troubling part of Napier’s “Neighbor Joe” story is his suggestion that those who disagree with his conclusion are “in denial for personal and political reasons.” There is no evidence that Melanie Barrett, during her eight years on the Town Council, ever acted out of personal or political interest in assessing the Town’s finances. Voters deserve a fuller explanation of why Napier would imply otherwise.

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The Voting Begins

Let the voting begin
Yesterday, the Pima County Recorder’s Office (520-724-4330) mailed early ballots for the July 21 election. The Recorder recommends returning completed ballots by mail no later than July 14, one week before Election Day. Hopefully, LOVE’s election reporting, particularly the unique insights each candidate shared with our readers during the past ten days, will be helpful as you complete your ballot.

The issues
Some issues raised during the campaign cannot be measured objectively. Statements about leadership, transparency, communication, responsiveness and the Town’s general direction depend largely on each voter’s judgment and priorities. 

Two issues are quantifiable, and we have previously reported on both. Some candidates question the Town’s financial sustainability. We checked on this. Based on the numbers provided by the Town, Oro Valley is not currently in financial difficulty, and the Town’s five-year forecast does not anticipate such a condition. It's AA+ bond rating attests to that. However, it is clear to us after reviewing the forecast that the next five will be financially challenging. And that future leaders will need to closely question revenue forecasts, control ongoing spending, determine which capital projects are truly necessary, protect the Town’s required reserve and make careful choices as Oro Valley approaches build-out. At the same time, all candidates agree that annexation of retail rich areas will be key to driving added revenues.

Water availability and water use have also been raised as issues by some candidates. We have previously reported that Water Utility Director Peter Abraham has said Oro Valley has an assured 100-year water supply, even at full build-out. He has also said the new NWRRDS pipeline from Avra Valley will provide the Town with a more reliable and diverse water supply. Abraham has told LOVE that he expects water to continue moving through the CAP system over the long term. Whether it comes from the Colorado River, highly treated recycled water, or desalinated seawater or a combination of these, there will be water.

Mayoral election is “winner take all”
Your vote matters, especially because Oro Valley will elect its next mayor in this election. The two candidates bring different backgrounds to the race. Melanie Barrett is completing her second term on the Town Council and currently serves as vice mayor. Mark Napier is a former Pima County Sheriff whose career has focused largely on law enforcement and public administration. Each has offered a different perspective on the Town’s priorities, finances, growth and future direction.

Council election: Up for grabs
Unlike the mayoral race, it is possible that not all three open Town Council seats will be decided in this election. To be elected in the primary, a candidate must be among the top three vote-getters and must also receive at least the required majority threshold. That threshold is calculated by adding all votes cast for the council candidates, dividing that total by the three seats to be filled, dividing again by two and rounding up to the next whole number.  Candidates who do not reach the threshold cannot be elected in the primary, even if they finish among the top three. Any remaining seats would be decided in the November general election.

You may vote for fewer than three council candidates
A voter may select fewer than three council candidates, and the ballot will still be counted. This is called undervoting. It may make sense when a voter supports only one or two candidates and does not believe the others have earned a vote. Only the candidates selected receive votes. Choosing fewer than three candidates also reduces the total number of votes used to calculate the election threshold.  Undervoting played a significant role in the 2024 council election, reducing the election threshold from 7,908 votes to 6,069 votes.

The choice is yours
The choices are now in the hands of Oro Valley voters. Read what the candidates have said, consider the facts and the issues that matter most to you, and vote for those you believe are best prepared to guide the Town through the next four years. Whether you vote for one, two or three council candidates, make each choice deliberate. Your ballot will help determine Oro Valley’s leadership and direction.

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Guest View: Mayoral Candidate Melanie Barrett - A Record of Results and a Plan for What Comes Next

Today, we present the last of seven candidate Guest Views. Today’s View is from mayoral candidate and Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett. Her Guest View is longer than the others. However, we felt it was important to publish it in its entirety because it provides specific information about both her record during the past eight years and the work she believes remains to be done.

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A record of accomplishment
Being your Vice Mayor for the past eight years has been an incredible honor. I look back joyfully at all that we have accomplished together.

We strengthened Oro Valley’s record of public safety

We have frequently been rated the safest city in Arizona and received national recognition as one of the nation’s best and safest places to retire. We supported our police with competitive pay, achieved three police accreditations under award-winning Police Chief Kara Riley, and modernized our court system and building to improve safety.

We strengthened the Town’s finances

...raising our Standard & Poor’s rating two levels to AA+. We paid off the long-neglected police pension liability, saved more than $30 million, and maintained relatively low debt. We also turned municipal golf from annual operating losses of about $2 million into an operating surplus.

We built a major park, enhanced recreation, and added open space

This golf turnaround allowed us to invest in parks and recreation without new taxes. We added miles of paths and trails, improved Community Center amenities, and expanded Naranja Park with a playground, splash pad, pickleball courts, fields, a skate park, and a pump track. We also added Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve to the Town’s park portfolio, protecting it from development and creating a community asset.

We protected Oro Valley’s character and fostered economic development

We supported economic growth through the expansion of Roche Tissue Diagnostics, the annexation of the Westward Look Resort, and the opening of more than 45 businesses this year. We also protected mountain views along Tangerine Road by rejecting proposed six-story apartments and allowing two- and three-story buildings instead. We rejected a development agreement that would have cost the Town more than $6 million in taxes and required one of three promised hotels to be built to help make the project fiscally sustainable.

We invested in a more reliable, diverse water supply

We addressed water concerns through conservation and infrastructure that diversifies our supply. The Northwest Recharge and Recovery Delivery System, scheduled for completion next year, will bring Oro Valley its Colorado River allocation.

These accomplishments were achieved through the Town and community working together. 

Still, there is work to be done
I am running for Mayor so I can continue that work for you.

Build our new police station
We purchased an affordable building to support our police. That building now needs cost-effective design and remodeling. 

Annex commercial corridors
We have also begun planning for annexation to the south near Oracle and Ina to bring additional retail and revenue into Oro Valley. I want to move that plan forward. To succeed, Oro Valley must be a Town that neighboring residents want to join and where they trust they will be heard.

Complete the redevelopment of the Oro Valley Marketplace
A second apartment development and a hotel remain to be built at the Oro Valley Marketplace. The hotel has not yet moved forward, and the Town must continue to uphold the commitments made as part of that development.  

Protect our views and limit building heights

This second apartment project was proposed at five stories and limited by the Town Council to three stories. A future request for additional height remains possible. We need to hold the line on protecting our views and limiting building heights. There is also a proposed building in Stone Canyon with five-story height approval that is now involved in litigation. Oro Valley needs a Town Council committed to limiting building heights where appropriate.

Protect our water supply from risky annexations and high-water-use development
We need to protect our water supply and avoid annexations of state land to the west or north that could affect our water rights. State land could potentially be proposed for a data center. Should such a request come forward, the Town Council must conduct proper due diligence and represent residents rather than outside interests, landowners, or politicians who have supported data centers elsewhere.

Make careful, sustainable investments in parks, trails, and open space
We should continue making modest, incremental investments in parks and recreation as funding becomes available. Those investments must meet resident needs while remaining fiscally sustainable. We also need a better plan for Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve and should continue improving community connectivity through paths and trails.

Together, we must implement our ten-year General Plan without returning to the excessive amendments that were common before my time on the Town Council.

Why I am running for Mayor
I have been honored to represent Oro Valley residents on the Town Council. Because I have never accepted developer donations or been beholden to out-of-town interests, my focus has remained on the residents of Oro Valley. If elected Mayor, I will continue to answer to the residents of Oro Valley.

I hope to continue serving and representing you for four more years as your Mayor. I would be honored to have your vote.

Please visit MelanieBarrett.org to learn more about these issues. Thank you.

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Guest View: Mayoral Candidate Mark Napier - Leadership for Oro Valley’s Future

This is a continuation of the Guest Views of candidate.  Today, we turn our attention to the Mayoral Candidates. Today’s Guest View is from mayoral candidate Mark Napier.

Leadership for our future
Oro Valley is a remarkable community. It has been my home for more than 30 years. I am running for mayor because I believe we are not on a sustainable path. No political maneuvering or overly optimistic projections can change the fact that we are significantly dipping into our fund balance, revenues are coming in far below expectations, and millions in capital projects will be delayed or eliminated. While our fund balance remains healthy today, these are not indicators of a sustainable future for our Town. After decades of public service in executive law enforcement leadership, I know that strong communities are built on trust, transparency, and effective leadership. This moment requires experienced leadership. My goal is to bring steady, proven leadership to guide Oro Valley into a fiscally sustainable future, not just for the next few years, but for the next generation. My leadership has been recognized through endorsements from Marana Mayor Jon Post, Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy, and Pima County Supervisor Rex Scott.

Public safety and quality of life
Public safety is the foundation of a thriving Town. Families and businesses deserve to feel safe, supported, and heard. As your mayor, I will work to ensure Oro Valley remains one of the safest communities in Arizona while supporting the services, infrastructure, and emergency preparedness that protect our quality of life. I am proud to be the only candidate for mayor endorsed by police organizations and the North Tucson Firefighters. They understand, as I do, that real support for public safety requires more than words. It requires experience, action, commitment, and leadership.

Sensible growth and fiscal responsibility
Growth must be sensible, strategic, and aligned with the values of our residents. I support responsible development that protects Oro Valley’s character while strengthening our economy. Just as important, we must remain disciplined stewards of taxpayer dollars, prioritizing investments that improve roads, parks, and community amenities. This year, revenues are projected to come in 12.5% below estimates, and we are tapping nearly $4 million from our fund balance just to balance the budget. That is not a sustainable long-term strategy. We cannot continue politically driven spending while the costs of providing essential Town services continue to rise. Our revenues must keep pace. That means pursuing strategic and sustainable annexations and creating a welcoming environment for sales-tax-generating businesses to fill vacant storefronts.

Listening and leading together
Good government starts with listening. Residents deserve a strong voice in shaping Oro Valley’s future. My commitment is to lead with accessibility, accountability, and respect for every resident. As mayor, I will maintain regular office hours so residents can engage directly with me, rather than relying on a brief call to the audience. I have spent decades leading large organizations as a senior law enforcement commander, Sheriff of Pima County, administrator at the University of Arizona, and Assistant County Administrator. Oro Valley needs new leadership with real-world executive experience. Leadership measured not by words, but by the quality of action. By working together, we can meet challenges, seize opportunities, and preserve the unique character that makes Oro Valley such a special place to call home.

About Mark Napier
I am a longtime public administrator and leader of large organizations with decades of executive leadership experience in public administration and government. As mayor, I will be steadfastly committed to public safety, fiscal responsibility, and sensible growth. Growth that protects the quality of life, our fiscal sustainability, and all those things that make Oro Valley a wonderful place to live. You can learn more about me at www.napierformayor.org. I am asking for your vote on July 21 to ensure a bright future for our Town. Source used: Mark Napier’s submitted Guest View.

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Learn more about Mark here.

Guest View: Council Candidate Rhonda Pina - Experience, Accountability, and Oro Valley’s Future

Last week we have featured four of the five council candidates speaking on their own behalf. Today’s Guest View is from  Council candidate Rhonda Pina.

Why I am running for Oro Valley Town Council
I am running for Oro Valley Town Council because of my love for the community and to preserve the quality environment that makes it a distinctive place to live and work. I will bring my private-sector and previous Town Council experience when making decisions to ensure long-term benefits to the community.

Experience to address budget challenges
It is widely recognized that the Town is currently facing significant budgetary hurdles. My experience makes me uniquely qualified to assist. Thoughtful leadership actions should be centered on providing the high-quality service delivery that Oro Valley residents have come to enjoy and expect. Currently, I am the Deputy Director for Pima County Community & Workforce Development, which includes oversight of the Kino Veterans Workforce Center. Additionally, I serve on the Tucson Airport Authority Board. Having a 29-year career in commercial and retail banking, serving as a former Oro Valley Town Council member, and participating in civic engagement on regional commissions and Oro Valley boards, I will prioritize public safety, budget accountability, and strategic economic development, as each of these reinforces the others.

Generating revenue while controlling expenses
We must identify realistic short- and long-term goals that generate revenues to support residents’ needs. Diverse approaches include improving the tax base through tourism efforts that support resort industry partners and increase bed tax revenue, evaluating business opportunities to minimize leakage caused by residents going outside Oro Valley to fulfill their consumer needs, and creating partnerships that allow beneficial and resourceful growth without placing a burden on residents. In tandem, we must reduce expenses where applicable and manage Town debt. Oro Valley has much to offer, and it takes an understanding of how to fiscally align the needs and wants of the Town. My priorities align with that goal and are straightforward.

A record of community-centered decisions
My previous Council experience demonstrates the ability to collaborate within community-centered governance. Supporting and voting for the Oro Valley Hands-Free Distracted Driving Ordinance and the Northwest Recharge and Recovery Project to preserve our water, while supporting fiscal responsibility to deliver quality Town services, are examples of the importance of having Council members with leadership experience. I am proud of my endorsement by AZCOPS, the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs, because of my support for public safety, which provides an economic benefit that aligns with other core services.

Preserving what makes Oro Valley unique
I will continue making decisions and providing oversight that preserves the uniqueness of Oro Valley while providing services and amenities through a fiscally responsible budget. I would be honored once again to serve the Oro Valley community.

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Learn more about Rhonda here.

Guest View: Council Candidate Chris DeSimone - Why Chris for Oro Valley Town Council?

This week each of the candidates will be speaking on their own behalf. Today’s Guest View is from Council candidate Chris DeSimone.

Why vote Chris DeSimone?
Why vote Chris DeSimone for Oro Valley Town Council in 2026? That is the question.

Over the last few months, I have had the incredible opportunity of meeting hundreds of voters at signature gatherings, forums, knocking on doors, Coffee with Chris events, and during my morning walks. The comments and the insights were fascinating and sometimes unexpected. It has truly informed my run for office. People love their Town but are worried about the specter of extra taxation and disengagement of some of the current elected officials. The people on the Council and the people that I am running against, I believe, are people with good hearts who want the best for this Town that we love. With that said, why Chris for Oro Valley Town Council?

Manage the manager properly
The Council needs a critical mass of members who are willing to work together to manage the Town Manager. That takes people like myself who can work with staff but not buy everything they throw at you at face value, hopefully, a rare occurrence. Asking questions and, more importantly, follow-up questions are the key to accountability for our tax dollars. Leaning on experts inside and outside Town Hall is valuable. Take all of the relevant input and then make a decision that is right for the citizen taxpayers of OV. My time on the Tourism Advisory Commission has raised quite a few alarms in my brain about this dynamic. The current staff/Council’s ham-handed treatment of the Police MOU is a perfect example of this flawed dynamic. Yes, we all want to stand up to outside interests that may harm the Town, but sometimes you have to stand up to staff when they may be taking us down the wrong path. This will also aid us in our battle to keep revenues ahead of expenses.

Annexation and reversing OV’s anti-small business reputation
We have to make sure that the Town is moving in a way that maximizes revenue, without a harmful property tax or extra sales taxes, and keeps the budget working in the most efficient way possible, all while maintaining those basics that we love about our Town, roads, parks, the Community Center, and our beloved police department. We have to start annexing unincorporated land to the south of us that already has established tax-generating real estate assets. It is the best way through. Increase sales tax collection for OV without having to over-develop our existing Town footprint. In addition to smart, incremental annexation, our Town still suffers from an anti-small business attitude. I hosted a small business roundtable at Just Kabab recently, and I am still hearing horror stories of opening a small business in the Town. Empty storefronts, empty dirt in Innovation Park, and having the Spirit Halloween folks in the same spot for 10 years on 1st and Oracle is amazingly unacceptable. This is an attitude that flows from staff that is probably influenced by a few folks on the current Council. I will encourage my fellow Council folks to join me in future roundtables without staff present to encourage real feedback. When Mayor Winfield announced at the State of the Town that a featured economic development win was an indoor pickleball place, no insult to them, I hope they prosper, the attendees of the Oro Valley Chamber looked around and said, “What did he just say?” This anti-small business attitude is harmful, and the reputation strengthens each year it persists. It also affects our ability to put great companies into Innovation Park. Site selectors find out about us from commercial realtors and this thing called the Internet. This must start changing once the new Council is installed. I’ve been working with a variety of family-owned businesses for years. This is right up my alley. I am excited to involve the other Council members in this effort.

Why Chris DeSimone for Oro Valley Council?
Here’s the quick summary of why Chris DeSimone for Oro Valley Council:

• I’ve been a resident for 30 years. I love this Town!
• I will serve all the citizens of Oro Valley, not just the ones that I perceive supported me during the election.
• I have served on the Tucson Convention Center Commission, Leman Academy School Board, Visit Tucson Marketing Committee, Pima County Transportation Committee, and currently the Oro Valley Tourism Advisory Commission.
• I’m the most experienced local government candidate, it’s true.
• I will maintain the high quality of living in our beloved Town.
• Development in the small amount of developable land available must be appropriate and should align with OV Path Forward.
• I will ask tough questions and even tougher follow-up questions!
• I will stand up to outside interests that would harm Oro Valley’s way of life. This includes the harm from the City of Tucson crime bus that is pushing crime on our fair Town.
• I will fight against an impending and harmful property tax.
• I’ve been endorsed by both police and fire.
• I’m the only Council candidate to be endorsed by Council folks Mary Murphy and Dr. Mo Greene.

My name is Chris DeSimone, and I ask for your vote on July 21. Thank you.

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Learn more about Chris here.