Paradise Valley mayoral candidates vie for top elected position at July 30 primary
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
Town of Paradise Valley voters will elect a new mayor — from a field of 3 — and three members of Town Council — from a field of 4 — this election season.
Voters will take to the polls Tuesday, July 30 to elect lawmakers across the nation including the next President of the United States.
In the Town of Paradise Valley Mary Hamway, Mark Stanton and Anna Thomasson are vying for the top elected position at Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive, as two-term Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner has opted to not seek re-election to local office this cycle.
The Digital Free Press reached out to each Paradise Valley mayoral candidate to offer readers a better understanding of where these candidates stand on key issues — and why they say they are the right choice to lead the community for the next two years.
This is what they had to say:
Mary Hamway
What has inspired you to run for mayor of the Town of Paradise Valley?
Paradise Valley has been my home for 30 years and I have a passion for service to our community. I have worked with five past mayors and scores of town volunteers while serving on the council for over 10 years. It’s the volunteers and the residents that inspire me. After taking a break from local government for eight years, I feel my experience and fresh eyes make me the best candidate, and it would be an honor to serve as our next mayor.
*What are your top three priorities for the Town of Paradise Valley?
We are fortunate because our town is well run and financially sound. My priorities are simple: As mayor, public safety would always come first. Next, I would drive decisions that keep our home values high and our tax burden low, preserve our desert vistas and our low-density zoning, and I would improve our town’s resiliency by ensuring a responsive municipal government.
*Thinking of the limited government model, how do you hope to keep that spirit at Town Hall if elected to the station of mayor?
I don’t see our limited government model as a spirit, but rather a deliberate decision not to become Phoenix or Scottsdale government models. Over 60 years ago, our founding residents knew that local government did not have to provide services that could be found in other ways.
Today, residents still pay the provider directly for sewer, water, fire and trash. The town has few public amenities to maintain. This model has kept us in good stead and allows us to not have a property tax for town services. I see no reason to change.
*What do you think separates you from the pack?
I have over 20 years of service to our town. I was part of the Public Safety Task Force that still drives policing decisions today, I co-wrote the town’s Visioning Statement that reminds us of what we value and I have a long track record of working with residents to find solutions.
The one ingredient, currently in short supply at Town Hall, is institutional knowledge. In the last year the town welcomed a new town manager and six new department heads. The next mayor and council will need to focus on welcoming and developing this new group of town employees. My length of service, my ability to get things done and my institutional knowledge separates me from the other candidates.
*What is the No. 1 thing you want voters to know about your campaign for mayor of the Town of Paradise Valley?
I always try to have an open door and an open mind. Connecting with residents is the best part of serving on the council. I can be contacted at mhamway@cox.net or hamwayformayor.com.
Mark Stanton
*What has inspired you to run for mayor of the Town of Paradise Valley?
My inspiration to seek the office of mayor is rooted in my love for the town and belief in public service focusing on protecting the future of Paradise Valley for the generations ahead. I enjoy and am inspired by serving the residents of our town.
I was blessed to grow up in Paradise Valley and now my wife and I are raising our two children in my childhood home. I am proud of my record as vice mayor and councilmember and, if elected, I will bring that passion and experience as mayor to our town.
*What are your top three priorities for the Town of Paradise Valley?
Public Safety
Prioritizing public safety in our town, by collaborating closely with our police, fire, and ambulance providers to assure residents that they are well-equipped, staffed, trained and ready to serve at all times. Our Police Department offers a remarkable array of concierge services unlike any other municipality in the country with alarm monitoring service, vacation watch program, wellness checks and vigilant investigative work. My goal is to work with them to maintain and enhance their services to our residents.
Fiscal Responsibility
Fiscal responsibility is also a fundamental priority of mine in serving our town. Our residents must be provided with a detailed budgeting process, long-term forecasting, and conservative spending policies to ensure our finances are controlled and secure.
Quality of Life
Protecting quality of life is another extremely high priority. Our residents expect a well-maintained infrastructure, roads, water & sewer, code enforcement, and overall customer service from our building, public works, and IT departments to our popular postal services facility. This must always be maintained as a top priority for all levels of government in Paradise Valley.
*Thinking of the limited government model, how do you hope to keep that spirit at Town Hall if elected to the station of mayor?
Paradise Valley was founded on limited government, offering high-quality customer service for residents, surrounded by world-class resorts and unparalleled natural beauty. That spirit has and always will be very much alive and well at Town Hall.
Our all-volunteer elected leadership is honored and privileged to work side-by-side with a skilled and professional town team to provide the highest quality of customer service to our residents. My leadership and input will be centered on maintaining that successful limited government foundation from budgeting and staffing to protecting property rights.
*What do you think separates you from the pack?
While each candidate for mayor brings valuable qualities to the town, my skill set and experience are unique and specific to Paradise Valley. Having grown up in Paradise Valley, I have seen its growth first-hand from riding my bike to school along a two-lane Lincoln Drive to watching the growth and transition over they years of iconic properties including The Judson School, Sanctuary Resort, Mountain Shadows and El Chorro Lodge. I am also the only candidate that has served three consecutive terms on Paradise Valley Town Council, including two terms as vice mayor. These experiences and accomplishments have provided me with the opportunity to gain experience and help lead the town’s direction and growth.
I am the only candidate for mayor that has served as a leader in local, county and state government. I served as chief of staff for the Maricopa County Board Supervisors – District 3 (Paradise Valley and north Phoenix.) The governor appointed me to be deputy director for the Arizona Office of Tourism. I have unparalleled experience, insight and connectivity that are valuable commodities in representing the Town of Paradise Valley.
*What is the No. 1 thing you want voters to know about your campaign for mayor of the Town of Paradise Valley?
I am a believer in genuine collaboration with residents, staff, and my fellow elected colleagues. I have used my leadership skills over the last 10 years to represent town residents and help unify and support the talents of my fellow Town Council members. Together, the Town Council has fought successfully against unregulated short-term rentals, protected local government control, supported photo radar, maintained limited government, and preserved our residential community. It would be my honor to continue serving my fellow residents of Paradise Valley as your mayor.
Visit stanton4pv.com.
Anna Thomasson
*What has inspired you to run for mayor of the Town of Paradise Valley?
Inspired by Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner and past mayors, I filed to be on the July 30 ballot to serve as your next mayor. For 30 years, Paradise Valley has been my home. I have served seven years as a volunteer on the town’s Board of Adjustment and Town Council. We have a beautiful, peaceful, and safe community and I am passionate about keeping it that way. Very simply, I’m excited to volunteer full time to keep Paradise Valley, Paradise Valley.
I bought my house in 1994 as a young, single professional. I remember the pride I felt of being able to own a home in such a remarkable community. Now, thanks to a successful 35-year Fortune 500 consulting career, I have the skill, energy, and time to serve Paradise Valley full time.
*What are your top three priorities for the Town of Paradise Valley?
Prioritizing public safety: I will continue to advocate for our police department through full funding, as well as support staff as they innovate and seek to continuously improve. I will continue supporting the Advisory Committee on Public Safety and continue to staunchly defend the use of photo radar enforcement, a proven tool that saves lives.
Preservation of our low-density residential lifestyle: I am unwavering in my dedication to preserving the unique character of our low-density, one-house-per-acre, single-family residential community. I have never voted for a high-density housing project and have been the strongest voice on council challenging the density of our recent resort developments. I am the most active councilmember at our state legislature, testifying against bills that endanger our 1-acre zoning, as well as regularly working with our representatives to oppose all bills that are a threat to our community.
Conservative fiscal management: Maintaining a well-funded and well-managed town is essential for our future. Living in a wealthy community with a strong financial position provides temptation to spend money. However, as past Town Councils were conservative in town spending and made wise investments, the town and our police pension fund are both in solid financial condition. I will continue to be the strong voice questioning our spending and work to keep them well funded.
*Thinking of the limited government model how do you hope to keep that spirit at Town Hall if elected to the station of mayor?
Innovation: As our town grows in complexity due to federal, state and county regulations, as well as larger, more complicated homes, we need to discover innovative ways to serve our residents more efficiently. Adding more staff is not the solution. Rather, better options are in utilizing technology and continuing to improve processes.
Communication: During my six years on council, we have greatly improved resident communication utilizing the Town Manager’s newsletter, Alert PV texts and emails, social media posts and enhanced reporting by our local newspaper. We have made progress but can do even more to provide tools for residents to find answers to their questions without needed additional staff.
*What do you think separates you from the pack?
No other candidate for mayor is more involved in town activities, listening to residents, and solving problems than I am. When I began my town service, I walked every mile of Paradise Valley and knocked on over 1,000 doors to learn about what is import to our residents.
Since then, I’ve attended almost every Coffee with a Cop, Planning Commission meeting, mayor’s breakfast, neighborhood meeting, breakfast group and social lunch. I’ve learned town operations by participating in three police ride alongs, two code enforcement morning checks and donning an orange safety vest working with Public Works for two full days. When neighborhoods have questions about short-term rentals, negligent property owners or an upcoming town activity, I am customarily the first councilmember to respond and follow-up. I get things done.
I am always well prepared for meetings and thoughtful in my questions and responses. I invest the time and do my homework.
During my years of volunteer service, I have consistently demonstrated my tireless commitment as well as my skills to lead collaboratively. Thirty years of consulting to the highest levels of corporate America honed my ability to solve problems with many stakeholders, which I will bring to the mayor’s chair.
*What is the No. 1 thing you want voters to know about your campaign for mayor of the Town of Paradise Valley?
As Paradise Valley continues to gain national and international recognition for our extraordinary quality of life, we need to hold fast to the values that created our paradise. Since its founding in 1961, our low-density, quiet, safe, single-family residential character has been threatened. Those threats will continue. I have proven that I have the leadership skills, experience, dedication, and time to meet them.
I am the best candidate to represent the future of the Town of Paradise Valley and respectfully ask for your vote on July 30.
