5 candidates vie to be Mesa's first new mayor in 10 years

Mesa voters are poised to choose a new mayor for the first time in a decade.

The crowded field of candidates includes newcomers and familiar faces to Mesa politics.

Five men are vying to replace term-limited Mayor John Giles and lead the state’s third-most populous city. They include Carey Davis, Mark Freeman, Scott Neely, Scott Smith and Ryan Winkle.

Over the next four years, Mesa's next mayor could decide on major projects to get underway like Site 17 and Fiesta Redefied. He will also face challenges in how to address rising issues such as homelessness and transportation.

Voters can choose between two camps of candidates. They could either stick with someone who has a history as a Mesa elected official or pick a newcomer with a more conservative background.

Early voting began July 3. Voters can check on the status of their mailed-in ballot on Maricopa County’s website at https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/voter-dashboard-login. Those who choose to vote by mail are advised to mail their ballot by July 23 or drop it off at a ballot drop-off location or voting location by July 30.

Who is running for Mesa mayor?

Davis, following his retirement in 2019, moved to Mesa to be closer to his children, who live in the East Valley.

Although an outsider to Arizona politics, Davis served as San Bernardino, California’s mayor from 2014 to 2018. Two years prior, San Bernardino filed for bankruptcy and Davis, with his financial employment history as a certified public accountant, stepped in to “lead the city through” it.

He is also the treasurer for the local Republican Legislative District 15.

Freeman currently serves on Mesa City Council representing District 1, the north-central area of the city, and is term-limited. He worked as a fireman for 31 years in the Mesa Fire and Medical Department before retiring in 2011. His ancestry goes as far back as the early Mormon pioneers who settled in Mesa.

Arizona local elections: Read our full coverage of the Mesa mayor’s race

He’s said he's running for mayor to keep “Mesa on the forefront of innovation” but did not elaborate.

Neely formally launched a bid run as the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2022. He has made a living in concrete work and owns three companies. He’s lived in Mesa for more than 20 years.

He has no prior elected experience. He’s running for mayor because of “the need for fresh perspectives and pragmatic solutions,” he told the Republic referring to his status as a newcomer to the Mesa political scene.

Smith is seeking to make a comeback to the role of Mesa Mayor. He was previously voted in twice for the role in 2008 and in 2012. He resigned in the middle of his second term to run as the Republic gubernatorial nominee in 2014, which he lost to Doug Ducey.

Smith served as the CEO of Valley Metro from 2016 until his retirement in 2022. He said he wants to return to the seat because he wants to maintain Mesa’s momentum and he believes “there is unfinished business that must be addressed.”

Smith didn't elaborate on the specifics of what unfinished business he referred to but has said housing is a top priority he will address during his term.

Winkle previously served on the council for four months before the City Council voted to oust him because of an arrest for drinking under the influence.

In the years following, he has become a community advocate for small businesses including acting as the executive director of Rail CDC. That is a Mesa-based community development corporation that offers assistance to businesses along light rail.

He serves on various other boards and committees including Arizona State University President Michael Crow’s Council of Resilience Leaders. His focus as mayor would be to “institute community work groups to crowdsource neighborhood-originated ideas” for dealing with topics such as housing and government transparency.

Where do they stand on growth?

Over the past decade, Mesa has started to shed its identity as a bedroom community in part of major developments along its downtown and in the southeast parts of the city near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Davis’s priorities on economic growth are largely focused on streaming lining city government processes to limit spending. He opposes the city’s investment in the downtown Arizona State University campus.

“I have not observed any net benefit to the downtown ASU campus,” Davis said. On the housing issue, he said at the Mesa Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, the city is too focused on adding high-density multi-family projects and rather focus on bringing in single-family homes.

Freeman said on his campaign website he is committed to making “pro-growth policies that stimulate entrepreneurship and support local businesses.” A key priority to maintain growth is an adequate water supply and system, he said during a Mesa Chamber of Commerce candidate forum.

Neely, at the same forum, said he wants to revise city ordinances that would bring opportunities for residents to run small businesses out of their homes. An “industrial-residential zoning,” code, he called it.

Smith, who had a hand in Mesa’s growth, wants to keep the momentum going. His focuses include revising city codes and working with property owners to help redevelopment in aging areas of the city.

To add to the housing stock, he said the city has to become creative and innovative to find ways to help solve the problem.

Winkle’s focus is on small businesses and a reinvestment in community development and put them in “the driver’s seat,” he wrote in a social media post. He stated the city plays a crucial role in supporting businesses. He wants to add regulatory support and streamline government processes as well as add small business training.

Strategy with tax dollars

Mesa operates with a $2.6 billion budget and many of the candidates have ideas on how to manage it.

Davis would come in with a conservative mindset to narrow down spending. “Mesa needs to do a better job managing taxpayer resources,” he stated in The Republic’s questionnaire. He would not support raising taxes to address a decline in tax revenue because of state policies.

“With proper management, improved operational efficiencies and elimination of wasteful spending Mesa can live within its means and not overburden taxpayers,” he said. He also has touted his experience bringing San Bernandino out of bankruptcy when he was mayor. Davis pointed to the new city council chambers project, which is sent to wrap up in September, as an example of wasteful spending.

Freeman said, its goal is to maintain city services at its current level and specifically ensure revenue cuts don’t “interfere with water storage and resiliency.”

Neely said, in a social media post, that Mesa has too high sales tax rates and that he will “prioritize reforming taxes” to reduce them. He claims it is driving businesses away.

Another candidate touting their government experience with city budgets is Smith. He served as mayor during The Great Recession.

“We did not look to tax increases to solve our problems then, and I would not support implementing a primary property tax or otherwise raising taxes to meet this current challenge,” Smith wrote in The Republic’s questionnaire.

Winkle said, the city survives on taxes and “Limiting that direct connection is contrary to good stewardship the community.” If the city manages its budget correctly it won’t need to cut programs amid diminishing revenue.

Any major endorsements?

Davis has received support from East Valley politicians including Republican State Sen, David Farnsworth and Republican State Representatives Barbara Parker and Jacqueline Parker.

Barbara Parker in a social media post said, “We need real change and fresh new experienced leadership!”

Freeman’s endorsements include former United States Representative Matt Salmon.

“I really do believe Mesa has some opportunities to become the best city in America… But not without the right leader and I think Mark is that leader,” Salmon said in one of Freeman’s campaign videos.

Neely said in a candidate forum he is not seeking endorsements from organizations or politicians because “tough decisions must be made without special interests seeking favors.”

Smith has amassed numerous endorsements from sitting to former council members, political figures and local business owners.

Councilmembers Julie Spilsbury and Scott Somers are throwing their support behind Smith. Former Governor Jan Brewer in an endorsement statement says Smith’s “return to leadership will help Mesa secure its future.”

Smith also set a new fundraising record by raising $302,000 from January 1 to March 31.  People who have donated to Smith include Mesa developer Andrew Cohn, Arizona’s wealthiest man Ernest Garcia and Banner Health’s CEO Peter Fine.

Winkle’s social platforms don’t immediately share endorsements for his mayoral candidacy.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mesa mayor's election 2024: Meet the candidates