Guest View: Council Candidate Jake Herrington - Preparing for Oro Valley’s Future

This week each of the candidates will be speaking on their own behalf. First up is Council candidate Jake Herrington.
- - -
Preparing Oro Valley for the Next 20 Years
I am asking supporters, friends, neighbors, family members, and community leaders to help spread the word throughout Oro Valley. Talk to your neighbors. Share information with friends and family. Engage respectfully on social media and encourage others to learn about the candidates and the issues facing our Town.

Most importantly, I encourage every voter to do their own research. Ask tough questions. Learn about each candidate's experience, qualifications, leadership background, and vision for Oro Valley's future. Vote for the candidate you believe is best prepared to govern on day one and address the challenges ahead.

July 21, 2026, is right around the corner. If you will be out of town, please make a plan to vote early. Every vote counts, every voice matters, and every election helps shape the future of our community.

For more information, visit Jake4OroValley.com.

#OroValley #VoteJuly21 #EveryVoteCounts #OroValleyTownCouncil #CommunityLeadership

Preserving What Makes Oro Valley Special
Oro Valley is one of the most desirable communities in Arizona because of its safe neighborhoods, beautiful parks and trails, excellent public services, strong schools, and high quality of life. As we plan for the future, we must protect these strengths while ensuring that the Town remains financially sustainable for future generations. My goal is simple: preserve what works, improve what needs attention, and plan responsibly for the opportunities ahead.

Strengthening Our Economic Foundation
As Oro Valley approaches buildout, we can no longer rely solely on residential growth to support future Town services. We must continue strengthening our commercial tax base by supporting local businesses, encouraging reinvestment along major corridors such as Oracle and Ina Roads, and attracting new employers, medical facilities, educational institutions, hospitality projects, tourism opportunities, and destination-oriented businesses. A stronger economy creates jobs, expands services, and helps reduce pressure on taxpayers.

Expanding Tourism and Community Opportunities
Tourism should be more than simply showcasing what residents already enjoy. We should actively market Oro Valley as a destination for visitors, conferences, sporting events, cultural festivals, culinary experiences, arts programming, and family-oriented activities. Events such as golf tournaments, archery competitions, music festivals, performing arts events, regional conferences, and community celebrations can generate significant economic activity for local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and retailers while enhancing opportunities for residents.

Planning for Financial Reality
One of the most important responsibilities of the Town Council is managing the financial realities that lie ahead. Construction costs rarely decrease. Labor costs continue to rise. Infrastructure ages. Parks, recreation facilities, roads, public safety services, and Town assets require ongoing maintenance and investment. Employee recruitment and retention remain important, and compensation pressures will continue as the market changes. The question is not whether these costs will increase, but how we will responsibly plan and pay for them. We need leaders who understand budgeting, long-term capital planning, economic development, supply and demand, and the difficult decisions required to balance priorities while protecting taxpayers.

Choosing Leaders Ready to Govern on Day One
As voters prepare to cast their ballots, I encourage everyone to do their own research on every candidate. Ask tough questions. Ask candidates how they plan to address rising costs, maintain infrastructure, support public safety, and strengthen the Town's finances. Ask whether they understand municipal budgets and long-term financial planning. Ask what executive, management, business, or leadership experience they have that demonstrates their ability to make difficult decisions when resources are limited and priorities compete.

Most importantly, ask who is prepared to govern on day one. An informed electorate is essential to a strong community. I encourage every eligible voter to participate in the election on July 21, 2026, because every vote matters and every voice deserves to be heard.

- - -
Candidate Biography
Jacob Herrington is a candidate for Oro Valley Town Council and currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer for Property, Insurance, and Transportation at PPEP Inc., overseeing facilities, risk management, transportation, and capital assets across multiple Arizona counties. He previously served as Chair of the Oro Valley Planning & Zoning Commission and Vice Chair of the Conceptual Design Review Board.

Learn more at Jake4OroValley.com

- - -

2027 TMRB: Candidates Split On Whether Budget Is Prudent Planning Or Warning Sign

This is our fourth article regarding the 2027 TMRB. The first article covered revenues. The second covered spending. Yesterday, we covered personnel. Today we cover the thoughts of the candidates for Mayor and Council in this year’s election regarding this budget. We asked them: What is your reaction to the proposed budget?

Here are the responses of the two Mayoral Candidates.

Barrett is focused on making sure this budget builds toward long term fiscal sustainability
Vice Mayor Barrett is unable to reply to our question because the budget is currently under consideration by the Town Council. However, we can get some sense of her thinking on the budget from her remarks during the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget study session. Barrett focused on long term fiscal sustainability issues, including reserve levels, recurring operating costs, and capital funding as Oro Valley approaches buildout. One area she focused on in particular was maintaining the council’s long standing policy of dedicating 5% of General Fund revenues to capital needs. Barrett stated that “in a community where you don’t have lots of new things being built and as you approach build-out, that 5% becomes all the more critical.”

Click To Enlarge

Napier sees the TMRB as a warning sign
Mayoral candidate Mark Napier views the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget critically. Napier wrote: “The recommendations for 2027 include deferment or elimination of capital improvements totaling $11.6 million, $1.5 million reduction in PSPRS excess contributions, a freeze on new hiring and direction to reduce O&M costs by 0.5%. Even with these steps we still may need to tap the fund balance for an additional $1.3 million. All this will be required to simply balance the budget, as required by state law.”

Here are the responses of the five council candidates.

Dailey describes the TMRB as conservative and balanced
Council candidate Rosa Dailey described the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget as a conservative response to current economic conditions. Dailey wrote: “The Town Manager’s Recommended Budget (TMRB) for fiscal year 26/27 reflects a balanced and conservative approach that proactively anticipates and manages softening town revenues in our current economic environment and adjusts discretionary spending accordingly. The plan prioritizes and maintains current service levels and aligns spending with revised revenue expectations.”

DeSimone sees the TMRB as evidence of growing fiscal pressure

Council candidate Chris DeSimone viewed the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget critically, describing it as evidence of growing long term fiscal pressure and the need for changes in council direction and oversight. DeSimone wrote:"Since my kickoff event in January, I have been pointing out that our wonderful town has financially painted itself in a corner.  Flattening revenues and increasing costs is a sad reality of our situation. A budget that features cuts in capital improvements, cuts to the public safety pension excess contribution and dipping into the Town's reserve funds to balance the budget shows the need for a new mix of mindsets on the council and willingness to manage staff more closely."   

Herrington emphasizes long term sustainability
Council candidate Jake Herrington emphasized long term fiscal sustainability and economic development. Herrington wrote: “I believe the 2027 budget discussion should focus heavily on sustainability. Oro Valley cannot rely forever on residential growth alone to support future service demands. We need to continue strengthening and diversifying the commercial tax base, supporting redevelopment and reinvestment along key corridors such as Oracle and Ina Roads, and identifying strategic economic opportunities that will generate long-term revenue without placing unnecessary burdens on residents.”

Pina observes revenue pressure in the budget
Council candidate Rhonda Pina described the proposed budget as challenging and focused on the need for careful expense management. Pina wrote: “The proposed budget is challenging as presented by the town manager. There is acknowledgement of decreasing revenue trends and a need to manage expenses effectively.”

Wood emphasizes the budget's balancing of revenues and expenses
Council candidate Matt Wood expressed support for the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget and the Town’s annexation efforts. Wood wrote: “The Town Manager prepared a balanced budget for 2026/27 and the Council is pursuing an annexation along Ina that would bring in significant sales tax revenue. I think this is an excellent start. We need to continue to work on a long term balancing of expenses and revenues, but small incremental increases in revenue and working on reducing the sales tax leakage losses will go a long way towards fiscal stability.”

Our conclusion: Candidates differ more on urgency than the challenge of fiscal sustainability itself

Our conclusion: Candidates differ more on urgency than the challenge of fiscal sustainability itself

What appears to distinguish the candidates is less whether they believe long term fiscal sustainability is a challenge for Oro Valley and more how urgently they view that challenge and whether they see the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget as an appropriate response.

• Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett, Rosa Dailey, and Matt Wood generally view the TMRB as a prudent step toward managing long term financial sustainability as Oro Valley approaches buildout.
• Jake Herrington focuses more heavily on broader long term planning, redevelopment, and diversifying the Town’s commercial tax base to prepare for slower future revenue growth.
• Rhonda Pina feels that the budget shows immediate revenue pressures. She stops short of describing the situation as structurally unsustainable.
• Mark Napier and Chris DeSimone view the current budget much more critically, describing it as a warning sign requiring stronger corrective action and signaling changes needed in long term fiscal priorities and council direction.

Taken together, the responses suggest broad agreement that Oro Valley faces important long term financial decisions ahead, even though candidates differ on how immediate the challenge is and how the Town should respond.

- - -

Meet Council Hopeful Jake Herrington

LOVE has been are presenting information about the individuals who plan to seek one of the three open Town Council seats in the upcoming primary election. Each candidate is currently gathering the more than 500 signatures by mid March. Today, we feature Jake Herrington. 

- - - 

Council Hopeful Jake Herrington Emphasizes Service, Financial Planning, and Smart Growth
Jake Herrington is one of several council hopefuls who have filed to seek a seat on the Oro Valley Town Council and are currently gathering signatures to qualify for the ballot. In a February interview with LOVE, Herrington discussed his background, town service, and why he believes now is the right time to serve.

Longtime resident with business and nonprofit leadership experience
Originally from Baltimore, Herrington has lived in Pima County for more than 35 years and in Oro Valley for 15 years. He and his wife live in Copper Creek. His daughter attended Copper Creek Elementary, Wilson, and Ironwood Ridge High School. His son is a Marine Corps veteran, and his daughter is a registered nurse. His father served in the Army, and he has additional family members in military and law enforcement.

Herrington built his career in real estate and property management, working his way from entry-level roles to management over more than three decades. He currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer for PPEP inc (Portable Practical Educational Preparation), a Tucson-based nonprofit that operates workforce development programs, charter schools, housing, and medical equipment distribution programs. He oversees property, transportation, insurance, and budgeting. He and his wife also own a commercial real estate company.

Former Planning and Zoning chair with record of town service
Herrington served two terms as Vice Chair of the Conceptual Design Review Board before it was eliminated and later served two terms on Oro Valley’s Planning and Zoning Commission, where he was elected chair. He has also served on the Copper Creek HOA board for more than a decade, attended the Town’s Citizen Academy, and spoke at sessions in his role as Planning and Zoning chair. He believes that his experience on the town’s commissions has given him a practical understanding of town processes and how decisions affect residents and businesses.

“A Voice Of The People”

Herrington said he decided to seek a council seat after discussing the commitment with his family and determining he could give the role his full effort. He emphasized that he does not view himself as a politician and has no ambitions beyond serving the community. He described himself as wanting to be “a voice for the people,” including residents and business owners who may not have time to attend meetings.

Focuses on financial planning, growth strategy, and economic opportunity
Herrington said Oro Valley faces long-term financial pressures and must plan carefully for future revenue needs. He believes the town must determine whether it will remain primarily a bedroom community or pursue smart growth that broadens the tax base. In his view, “expanding the pie” allows more participants to share the tax burden rather than a smaller group absorbing rising costs.

He expressed support for strategic commercial annexation and views Oro Valley’s public safety services as a key asset in attracting annexation targets. He also said the town should more actively recruit educational institutions, regional partners, sports leagues, and events that could utilize parks, aquatics, golf, and resort facilities to generate revenue.

Describes himself as a hands-on, “big tent” leader
Herrington said he prefers to understand a task before supervising others in it, having worked his way up from entry-level roles throughout his career. He characterized himself as a “big tent” leader who seeks broad input, listens before forming conclusions, and considers issues from multiple perspectives before voting.

If elected, he said he hopes to be remembered as someone who gave his full effort, asked thoughtful questions, and listened carefully to residents before making decisions.

Learn more about Jake Herrington here.

- - -

What you can do next...

We are providing these profiles so that, if you are approached for a signature, you will have some context about the person seeking your support. You are also free sign a petition for a candidate here. All those signing either in person or on line must be a registered voter and a resident of Oro Valley.

- - -