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.

Guest View: Council Candidate Rosa Dailey - An Advocate In Action For Oro Valley

This week each of the candidates will be speaking on their own behalf. Today’s Guest View is from Council candidate Rosa Dailey.
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A neighbor and advocate
For the past 20 years, I have been your neighbor and your advocate, helping to create the Aquatic Center and Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve, and speaking out against 75-foot buildings and outside investor rental homes that would negatively impact the character of our Town.

I am now running for an open seat on the Oro Valley Town Council to continue my work to represent the community we all love. For the past three years, I have been an active participant in the OV Path Forward meetings to create our next ten-year plan based on the surveys that reflect what you want to see in our community. Over the past four months of this campaign, I have met and spoken with hundreds of Oro Valley residents, and you have affirmed the community values of strong public safety, sound fiscal management, protection of our water supply and mountain views, well-maintained roads, and parks and recreation amenities that provide a good quality of life. I share those values.

A record of sound financial management
You may have heard negative comments about our Town budget during this campaign from candidates who wish to create a need for their stated expertise. Here’s what I have to say on the matter. I have attended or observed every Town Council meeting for the last four years, every budget study session, and every strategic planning meeting. The current Council, under the leadership of Mayor Joe Winfield and Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett, has done an excellent job of managing the finances of this Town. They have rectified golf losses, fully funded the police pension, built out Naranja Park, and expanded and improved our parks and recreation amenities, to name a few accomplishments. All these achievements have been attained without raising your taxes and have increased our bond rating by two points to AA+.

Prudent plans for the future
What I have observed over the years is our construction sales tax, which is roughly 4% of our budget, is declining to reflect a Town that is 95% built out. We will have moderate growth for the next decade and a strategic plan that addresses annexations of existing retail areas along Ina Road to increase our sales tax revenue. These are the tangible, prudent plans already in place by the current Council. In fact, the last eight years under the Winfield administration have been some of the most peaceful, productive, and financially sound years of the twenty years I have lived in this Town. I seek to extend that legacy, and I am proud to have earned the endorsement of Mayor Joe Winfield.

Residents are at the top
What makes Oro Valley so special is the participation of our residents. Each and every one of you holds a position at the top of the Town’s organizational chart. On July 21, you will hire your representatives, and I would be honored to work for you to continue to make this Town one of the safest and best places to live in Arizona.

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You can learn more about Rosa Dailey here.

Guest View: Council Candidate Matt Wood - Growth, Finances, and Community Character

This week each of the candidates will be speaking on their own behalf. Today’s Guest View is from Council candidate Matt Wood.
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Why I am running
A number of people have asked me why I’m running for Oro Valley Town Council. I always tell them, “What a great question.” It’s a complicated question. I’ve always been interested in local politics but never really had time to get involved. Once I retired, I realized I did have time. We love living in Oro Valley and want to see it remain basically as it is. We grew up in Oregon and saw several towns that were “really cool” turn into towns with populations exceeding 100,000 that simply grew too big. Like Arizona, we shared a border with California, and the population just spilled over into our state. Growth just for the sake of growth is not necessarily what we all want.

My view of smart growth
I’ve been involved with the OV Path Forward 10-year plan since it started, and I remember the early meetings where citizens asked for more restaurants, more retail stores and services, and less traffic. I see a lot of candidates talk about “smart growth,” and I think we all have a different definition in mind. Here’s mine: Fewer apartments and more condos and townhomes in the multifamily category. We’re better off with owners than renters.

Keeping Oro Valley’s character
We are a community of mostly single-family homes. That is one of the reasons we moved here, and I bet that is the reason most people moved to Oro Valley.

Oro Valley’s finances
Construction sales tax and builders’ fees are falling, and we need to make up for that lost revenue or we’ll have to reduce capital spending and/or current services and/or reduce staff. The Oro Valley Town Council is pursuing annexing the area around Oracle and Ina to pick up retail sales tax from established stores and the residential area around those stores. I think this is a great idea!

Relevant experience
I have been on the Rancho Vistoso HOA Board since 2021 and the President since 2023. Rancho Vistoso is around 40% of Oro Valley and has many of the same issues as the Town. We have 6,400 homes and an annual budget of $3.5 million. I’ve also served on the Town’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board from January 2020 to December 2023 and was reappointed in January 2025 and am the current Chair.

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Learn more about Matt Wood here.