Mesa voters choose a new mayor for the first time in a decade
By Jill Adair | Digital Free Press
Mesa voters took to the polls — and their mailboxes — this election season to elect a mayor and one member of Mesa City Council at the Tuesday, Nov. 5, General Election.
Current Dist. 1 City Councilman Mark Freeman and former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith faced off for the mayor of Mesa spot. Unofficial reports published 8 p.m. at the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office show Mark Freeman leading with 51.12%, or 54,801 votes, to Scott Smith’s 48.88%, or 52,403.
With the expected 2.1 million voter turnout, it is expected that approximately 700,000 ballots will be left to tabulate in the coming days, Maricopa County Election officials say.
Mr. Freeman and Mr. Smith were the top vote-getters but neither had the majority of votes in the primary on July 30. The winner of the General Election will become Mesa’s 41st mayor, following John Giles, who was elected in a 2014 special election following the resignation of then-Mayor Scott Smith. Mayor Giles was then re-elected to full four-year terms in 2016 and 2020. He has since termed-out, according to the city’s Charter.
Candidates Rich Adams and Ron Williams also had a run-off for the City Council seat in District 1. Unofficial results show Mr. Adams narrowly leading 50.74% to Mr. Williams’ 49.27%.
Early voting in Arizona has been underway since Oct. 9, with many casting their ballots by mail.
Maricopa County Elections Department offered “vote anywhere” Vote Centers on Nov. 5, which allowed voters to choose from any open location, instead of one assigned location.
In the primary election on July 30, voters re-elected Julie Spilsbury in Mesa Dist. 2 to her second term, and in Dist. 3, current Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia was re-elected.
The incoming mayor and councilmembers elected in the 2024 primary and general election will take office in January 2025 for a four-year term.
Also, Mesa voters had four questions on the ballot:
Question 1 Permanent Base Adjustment
Question 2 General Obligation Bond Enhance Community Safety
Unofficial reports published 8 p.m. at the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office show all four questions overwhelmingly passing:
- Question 1, yes – 70.38%
- Question 2, yes – 72%
- Question 3, yes – 64.48%
- Question 4, yes, 72.17%
Mesa voters fill 3 MPS Governing Board seats
Mesa Public Schools Governing Board elections, with 116,962 ballots cast, show:
- Sharon Benson – 21.34%
- Courtney Davis – 21.2%
- Lacy Chaffee – 20.66%
- Josh Chilton – 19.46%
- Ed Steele – 17.34%
Voters will elect the top three candidates. Board members serve staggered four-year terms without pay. Among other responsibilities, the Governing Board sets district goals, approves and monitors the district budget, approves curriculum and textbooks, hires and evaluates the superintendent, according to Mesa Public Schools.
Other election results how Kyle Jones leading Kiana Maria Sears, 57.38% to 42.62% for Justice of the Peace, North Mesa. And Jon Curtis ran unopposed for Constable North Mesa.
Initial unofficial election results are posted at 8 p.m. on Election Day on the Maricopa County Elections website and are updated daily until all ballots have been tabulated, according to the website. Results are not official until they are canvassed.
To understand how Maricopa County counts ballots, visit CountingBallots.Maricopa.Vote.
For information regarding Automatic Recounts in Maricopa County, visit the Automatic Recounts page.
