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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Deputy Town Manager Cornelison Leaving Town For New Career

A major move

Oro Valley Deputy Town Manager Chris Cornelison has confirmed that he is leaving the Town after sixteen years of service. Cornelison will become a financial advisor with TCI Wealth Advisors, a local firm. He told LOVE that serving the Oro Valley community has been a privilege and that he looks forward to continuing to help people in a more personal, one-on-one role.

A long career with the Town
Cornelison joined the Town of Oro Valley in 2010 and rose through several management positions, becoming assistant town manager in 2017 and deputy town manager in 2021. He also served as interim town manager from 2022 until Jeff Wilkins became town manager in 2023.

A major contributor
During his tenure, Cornelison became one of the Town’s most visible senior administrators. His responsibilities included budget preparation, capital projects, parks and recreation, golf operations, public works, land matters and the redevelopment of the Oro Valley Marketplace. As deputy town manager, he oversaw Information Technology, Parks and Recreation, Public Works and the Town Clerk’s Office.

Cornelison also led a review of the Town’s 457 retirement plan about five years ago. This is a tax-advantaged savings plan offered mainly to state and local government employees.The initiative resulted in a new plan and improved services for Town employees. In 2025, he received the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation, recognizing his professional experience and commitment to local government management.

Sets a new direction
Cornelison’s move into financial advising builds on his interest in helping people plan for their futures. He said he looks forward to continuing to serve the community in a different way. We wish him well.

Presents town an opportunity to consider structure of town manager's office
Cornelison’s departure creates a natural opportunity for the Town to reconsider the structure of the Town Manager’s Office. Senior management positions shape how responsibilities are divided, how departments communicate and how decisions move through the organization. A vacancy at this level allows the Town to determine whether the existing arrangement still reflects its current needs.

That question is especially relevant as Oro Valley approaches build-out and faces slower revenue growth. The deputy town manager position may remain important and may ultimately be filled. The vacancy also provides an opportunity to consider whether the same duties, reporting relationships and management structure should continue unchanged.

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Read more about Chris and his work in Oro Valley here.

Oro Valley Is Not Marana: Town Comparisons Need Context

Marana is not Oro Valley’s model
Oro Valley officials, town staff, council members, and candidates often look to Marana when discussing growth, economic development, revenue, land use, and public services. That is understandable. Marana is nearby. It is active. It is growing. It is often in the news. But proximity does not make the two towns truly comparable.

The two towns are different in important ways
Marana is much larger than Oro Valley. It has more room to grow. Its 78,000 acres are more than three times Oro Valley’s 23,000 acres. Its planning area is also more than three times larger than Oro Valley’s. Much of Marana is flatter and easier to build on. Interstate 10 also passes through Marana, giving it direct access to a major transportation corridor. That helps support highway-oriented commercial development, logistics-related uses, employment centers, and larger-scale projects.

Oro Valley does not have Marana’s I-10 location advantage. It has no direct I-10 frontage. The Tangerine Road corridor runs about 10 miles from I-10 in Marana to La Cañada Drive in Oro Valley. 

That means Oro Valley’s economic growth strategy must be different from Marana’s. Oro Valley’s future economic development must be shaped around its own geography, limited land supply, mature residential character, and community expectations.

Community values shape community choices
Both towns value quality of life, but they express that value differently. Marana’s General Plan emphasizes managed growth, economic development, infrastructure, parks, trails, downtown revitalization, open space, and conservation as the town prepares for continued expansion. Those values may sound familiar to Oro Valley residents. The difference is context. In Oro Valley, building height matters more. Density matters more. View protection matters more. Compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods matters more. These values are central to Oro Valley’s identity because most major land-use decisions now occur next to, or near, established neighborhoods.

Marana is also Oro Valley’s partner
None of this means Oro Valley should ignore Marana. In some areas, the two towns should work together. Water is one example. Oro Valley, Marana, and Metro Water District are partners in the Northwest Recharge, Recovery and Delivery System (NWRRDS), a regional effort to recover stored CAP water and deliver renewable water supplies to each service area.

Tourism is another example. Oro Valley and Marana have partnered on regional bicycling promotion, the Tucson Bicycle Classic, Project Echelon Gran Fondo, and the M.O.V.E. Across 2 Ranges hiking event. Transportation is another shared interest, as shown by the Tangerine Road corridor, which connects I-10 in Marana to La Cañada Drive in Oro Valley. These are useful partnerships because the interests are regional. They are different from using Marana as a benchmark for what Oro Valley should become.

Lessons are useful. False comparisons are not.
Marana is not wrong for making Marana decisions. Oro Valley would be wrong, however, to assume that Marana’s path is Oro Valley’s path. The better approach is simple. Learn from Marana where the lesson applies. Partner with Marana for mutual benefit. But measure Oro Valley by what fits Oro Valley, not by what fits Marana.

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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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Napier Says Oro Valley Marketplace Lacks Vision and Leadership… But Is He Right?

Does Napier's claim "hold water"?
A campaign video posted on mayoral candidate Mark Napier’s site states that “The Oro Valley Marketplace is not living up to its potential due to failed leadership and no long-term vision for its development.” The claim is not substantiated. It is simply an assertion. The video gives the impression, especially to those who do not know the Marketplace’s history, that the empty storefronts, and there are many, are the fault of the current Town Council.

History says otherwise
LOVE has documented the Marketplace since its inception. Indeed, LOVE’s founding grew out of the efforts of residents who opposed Town financial support for the center. They did not like the agreement the Town made with the developer, Vestar. Vestar was to receive an estimated $23.2 million in rebated sales tax revenue over the center’s first ten years.

These residents fought to place that choice on the ballot so residents could approve or reject it. Bedazzled by the promise of an “upscale” mall like La Encantada in the foothills, and with the support of the Paul Loomis-led council, 58% of residents, in March 2006, voted in favor of the Town’s financial support for the center. They did not get that upscale mall. A subsequent Arizona Supreme Court ruling sharply restricted such arrangements by requiring that public payments provide direct and proportionate public benefits.

The Marketplace was troubled from the beginning
LOVE chronicled this history through 2019. We concluded that the Marketplace was doomed from its inception because it was not an economically feasible venture. Even with ongoing government support, it was, at best, only marginally successful. The only council that could be blamed for its failure, if any council could be blamed, would be the council in office when the decision was made to financially support the center in 2005. Indeed, the Marketplace would never have been built at that time had it not been for the financial support to which the Town had agreed.

The Marketplace struggled throughout its history. There were always vacant storefronts. No upscale stores located there. Its gross revenues fell far short of the plan. After ten years, the center had generated $16.4 million in sales tax revenue for Vestar. That was far less than the projected $23.2 million. Store after store failed. Remember Dick’s Sporting Goods? Best Buy? Ashley Furniture?

During most of those years, from 2010 to 2018, the Town was overseen by the Hiremath Council. That council included current council candidate Rhonda Piña and Joe Hornat, a vocal Napier supporter. The Hiremath Council did nothing to fix the plight of the center. And, really, what could it have done?

The Winfield Council inherited the problem
By 2019, the first full year of the Winfield Council, there were 22 open businesses and 23 empty storefronts. By October, the Marketplace had a new owner. Vestar sold the Oro Valley Marketplace to Town West Realty. The reported purchase price was $45.15 million.

Town West presented a new vision
Town West had a vision. It planned to transform the Marketplace from a primarily retail center into a mixed-use development. Town West believed that only a mixed-use development could provide the density needed to make the shopping center successful. The Town Council agreed. From 2022 to 2023, Town staff and the council worked with Town West to shape the redevelopment into a plan that could revitalize the Marketplace.

Council shaped it the Oro Valley way
The initial proposal from Town West contemplated approximately 730 apartments in two six story buildings. They sought numerous exceptions from the Town’s existing height and setback requirements. These exceptions were not consistent with the Town’s General Plan. Nor were they consistent with what residents wanted. The initial plan included a “public-private partnership” that would have required the Town to underground a wash and build and maintain an entertainment center.

After much work, the final agreement allowed 320 apartments in two three-story buildings, with the buildings limited to 39 feet. It also included a hotel. The agreement added an important condition: The agreement added an important condition: The hotel in Area 4 must receive its certificate of occupancy before certificates of occupancy may be issued for any apartments in Area 4. The initial recreational amenities would be the responsibility of the developer rather than becoming a Town-funded obligation. If the project succeeds, the council can later decide whether it wants to underground the wash to accommodate another hotel and food-court-type concepts in the entertainment district.

Redevelopment is now moving forward
Drive through the Marketplace and you can see that construction is in progress on the north side of the property. It includes one of the two approved apartment buildings, the hotel, intersection and pedestrian improvements, and the neighborhood park. Surf Thru Car Wash is ready to go on the south side. There is also a new restaurant where Red Lobster used to be. 

Napier should explain his alternative
If Napier does not see that as leadership, then we ask: What would he have done, and would it have achieved a better result? We believe that question is legitimate. We see a center that is being revitalized and is on the move again. We see a center whose redevelopment plan was shaped with the input and effort of Town staff and council. We see that as leadership.

But Napier’s video does not agree. So we wonder: What would he have done differently to make this redevelopment a reality? Would he have approved six-story apartment buildings? Would he have approved 720 apartments? Would he have committed millions of dollars in Town money upfront to fund the entertainment center?

Those are legitimate questions Napier ought to answer instead of simply trying to rewrite history.

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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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Happy 250 America...

America is turning 250! 

LOVE wishes all of our readers a safe, happy and memorable Fourth of July.

Oro Valley will mark the occasion Saturday with America’s Birthday Bash at James D. Kriegh Park. Join friends and neighbors for an evening of community celebration, entertainment and patriotic fun.

Remember to vote. Nothing could be more patriotic.

250 Years and Counting!

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Bits and Pieces

Council approves next year’s budget

Last week, the Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved the Town’s final budget for fiscal year 2026-27. The budget sets a maximum expenditure limit of $127.99 million and includes the Town’s General Pay Plan and ten-year Capital Improvement Program. The projected ending balance across all Town funds is approximately $47.85 million. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

Council Member Murphy opposes use tax without an efficiency audit
Also last week, the Oro Valley Town Council approved a 2.5% use tax by a 4-3 vote. The tax generally applies to taxable business purchases from out-of-state sellers when an equivalent local sales tax was not collected. Vice Mayor Barrett and Councilmembers Murphy and Nicolson voted against the measure. Murphy told LOVE: “I will never vote for a new tax without an operational efficiency audit. It does not mean that I believe we aren’t operating efficiently, but I absolutely believe our residents and businesses deserve us to do our due diligence before ever enacting a new tax.” Council had first approved the tax in January, but that action became void after the Arizona Department of Revenue failed to update the Town’s tax code within the required period. The tax takes effect July 1.

Floodplain update protects access to insurance and disaster aid
The Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved updates to the Town’s floodplain and erosion-hazard regulations. These changes keep Oro Valley in compliance with state and FEMA standards, helping preserve residents’ access to federally backed flood insurance and the Town’s eligibility for disaster assistance and flood-mitigation grants after a major storm.

Oro Valley plans a larger July Fourth celebration
Oro Valley will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary on July 4 at James D. Kriegh Park from 6:00 to 9:20 p.m. The free event will include live music, food trucks, children’s activities, a beer garden and fireworks beginning at 9 p.m. Parking will be available at the Oro Valley Aquatic Center and Canyon del Oro High School. Residents should note that pets, outside alcohol, smoking, glass containers, personal shade tents and personal fireworks are not permitted. Coolers are allowed but may be inspected.

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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.

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.