Gilbert mayoral election: Scott Anderson, Natalie DiBernardo on ethics, 'Goons'

Two candidates are vying to take the helm as Gilbert’s mayor.

The position has seen a consistent turnover in recent history with Mayor Brigette Peterson choosing to halt her bid for a second term and her predecessor Jenn Daniels abruptly resigning before the end of her term.

Vice Mayor Scott Anderson, who had a short stint as the town’s mayor after Daniels resigned, is running for mayor rather than seeking another term as a town council member.

Natalie DiBernardo is a newcomer to town politics. She previously sought an elected role in the state legislature as a Republican.

Arizona election: Full election coverage of the Gilbert mayor's race

The Arizona Republic asked each candidate to answer six questions on town issues and their priorities should they assume the role of Gilbert mayor. Here's what they had to say, in alphabetical order. Some answers may have been trimmed to meet agreed to lengths for all.

Vision: Why are you running for Gilbert mayor?

Why are you running for Gilbert mayor? If elected, what will your first priority be?

Scott Anderson: I am running for Mayor because of a desire to protect our quality of life even as the community continues to grow. I have lived in Gilbert and raised my family for 36 years and have been instrumental in planning and developing the Town, including creation of the unique riparian preserve. I have a wealth of experience and a proven track record of projects that have enhanced our quality of life. My first priority will be to bring the council together and establish specific actions that will guide growth into the future.

Natalie DiBernardo: The residents of Gilbert are demanding transparency and representation from their elected leaders. As a fourth-generation Arizona native and an 18-year resident of Gilbert. I have witnessed the town triumph and challenges firsthand. I was raising a family that prioritized community service and connection, and I have dedicated my life to serving and engaging with my community. I am running for mayor because I believe my unique set of skills will bring about the long-overdue representation that the residents are demanding and to provide fresh leadership and perspective to our town council.

Among my first priorities is to promote better communication and restore trust in our leadership and safety within our community. It’s important that we focus on community-centered policies that are best for our town and prioritize the needs of residents such that we maintain Gilbert's unique heritage and small town feel.

Taxing and spending: Where do the Gilbert mayoral candidates stand?

New state policies will affect city budgets. If faced with a deficit, will you support raising taxes to maintain city services or cutting programs? Which specific services and/or taxes would you consider first and why?

Anderson: Our budget is facing a loss this year with the state's decision to cut the rental tax. This loss, around $7 million, will be made up through a possible sales tax increase or other budget savings. The town's budget is required to be in balance and all prioritizing is done with this direction.

DiBernardo:  The current town council has voted to raise taxes and has increased fees for basic services every year for the last 8 years. They have increased sales tax, system development fees for businesses, and have even given themselves a substantial pay raise. (Editor's note: The Town Council will vote on a pay proposal on Aug. 6.) Our first priority should be to defer the "nice to have” projects and reallocate funds towards essential public safety services, water treatment, roads and traffic management. This year the council cut $10 million from necessary police facility updates yet they allocated $13 million towards a learning center at the Riparian Preserve because it was a councilmember special project. That decision doesn’t serve the residents of Gilbert. I don’t think we need to raise taxes or cut services… we need to first get frivolous spending by councilmembers under control.

'Gilbert Goons': How do the Gilbert mayoral candidates rate the city's handling of teen violence?

The high-profile murder of Preston Lord shed light on a gang of 20 or more mostly white, upper-middle-class teenagers from multiple southeast Valley high schools dubbed the "Gilbert Goons" who went unchecked for nearly two years. How do you rate the Gilbert police’s investigation of these teen violence cases and what will you do to maintain community faith in the town’s police?

Anderson: Gilbert's police have been instrumental in making approximately 40 arrests related to teen violence. Investigations take time to establish defensible arrests. Our Police Department has acted with integrity and diligence when presented with evidence. We will continue to address this issue with our Community Engagement Task Force which will include police involvement.

DiBernardo: The town council and specifically the Teen Violence Subcommittee has failed our residents by the way some of them politicized the subcommittee and failed to take timely and meaningful action. The town council should direct an evaluation of the processes and policies that may have contributed to the issues surrounding teen violence. The results of this audit should be used to implement better policies and hold people accountable if negligence or improper conduct is discovered. Leaders need to set their pride and ego aside and evaluate how these things happened, and what can be done differently going forward. I think our police and first responders are the best in the state, and they have always been willing to look for ways to improve so that they can assure our safety and the safety of our families. As the mom of teens, I strongly believe each of us has a valuable role to play in securing our children's safety and we also need to have a voice in determining meaningful solutions.

Arizona election 2024: Here's everything to know about registering and voting

Ethics: Where do Gilbert mayoral candidates stand on the use of ethics probes?

Do you think ethics probes are a productive system that keeps council members accountable, or has it been weaponized and with what effect?  Explain your reasoning.

Anderson: As the Chairman of the Council Subcommittee on Ethics, I have heard evidence that ethics probes over the last couple of years were used as political weapons. Our revisions to the Council Code of Conduct will narrow the ability to bring frivolous complaints for Council action and minimize disruptions to the business of the Town.

DiBernardo: In 2024, the current town council has done the town a great disservice by secretly removing the public's ability to redress the actions of the town council through the ethics complaint process. Prior to 2023, the process had been weaponized by the same group of people. Then, in 2023, the policy was revised and implemented burdensome requirements and unrealistic time limitations that made it nearly impossible to formally communicate grievances without using the ethics complaint process. The town is worse off than ever now in that the public has no clear path to address the unethical or illegal conduct of council members. Councilmembers have a duty to listen and allow residents to formally discuss their grievances. Instead, many members of council refuse to respond to emails, they eliminated the ability to file formal complaints, and they significantly hampered the ability for citizens to speak during public meetings by moving public comments to the very end of the meeting after discussions have occurred and votes have been cast. One of my first actions as mayor will be to restore the ability for the public to address their elected leaders in a fair and respectful way and to give them a voice as to how we should conduct town business.

Inspiration: Who shapes the Gilbert mayoral candidates' thinking?

Who in public life, past or present, do you admire most? Why? And what lesson do you draw from that person’s experience?

Anderson: Multiple people have had an effect on my career and personal life. I believe one of my first supervisors, Jerry O'Neil, taught me lessons on acting with integrity and honesty in public service.  I have tried to follow his counsel during my career.

DiBernardo: Mother Maria Francesca Cabrini is a woman who changed the world for a lot of Americans. She almost drowned as a child and had a fear of water. She pushed past her fear and crossed the ocean 27 times to fulfill her life’s work of helping the less fortunate. She was a shrewd businesswoman and paid attention to details and was able to find inventive ways to start orphanages and hospitals to help those in need. She was a woman who never gave up and motivation was always to help those in need. Her selflessness and determination is a constant reminder that life lived in the service of others  is the only kind of work you can do that outlives your own existence on earth.

Election integrity: Where do the Gilbert mayoral candidates stand?

Do you think Arizona elections are fairly run? Do you trust the results? Will you abide by them? Why or why not?

Anderson: Our local elections are generally not the subject of election corruption.  I have trusted and continue to trust our local results.

DiBernardo: I had the opportunity to tour our elections headquarters last month. I was given an in-depth tour of the facility and the safety measures that have been implemented. I am confident that the Maricopa County election center will produce true and fair results in an efficient manner. However, I do not believe that campaign finance laws, political signage laws, or anti-defamation laws are being followed or enforced fairly, and are manipulated and broken by candidates, their campaign teams, and even people currently serving in elected office. We have a big problem that is more prevalent in the East Valley than anywhere else. The systemic political bullying and slanderous behavior seemingly involving the same bad actors is absolutely immoral and inconsistent with basic values of good Americans.

Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at [email protected] or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gilbert mayor election 2024: Q&A with the candidates