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Campaign Phone
6233357191
Public Policy Priorities
Public Safety & Emergency Response, Responsible Economic Development & Job Creation, Fiscal Responsibility, Infrastructure, Streets & Water Reliability, Parks, Recreation & Quality of Life, Small Business & Downtown Revitalization, Community Services for Seniors & Families, Transparent, Accessible Government, Regional Collaboration & Transportation Investment, Sustainable Growth & Long-Term Planning
Qualifications and Experience
Mayor, City of El Mirage (2018–Present), Chair, Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council, Member, Arizona State Transportation Board, Executive Committee Member, League of Arizona Cities & Towns, Former Impact & Evaluation Manager, YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix, Former State Climate Policy Coordinator, Citizens' Climate Lobby, Former Community Outreach Coordinator, Valley Metro, Former Congressional District Representative, U.S. Congressman Raúl Grijalva, More than 15 years of leadership experience in government, nonprofit, community engagement, and public policy, Bilingual: English and Spanish
Memberships & Affiliations
Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), League of Arizona Cities & Towns, Arizona State Transportation Board, Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), WESTMARC, Luke West Valley Council, West Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) Board
Endorsements
El Mirage Firefighters Association & El Mirage Police Employees Association
Community Service
Former Board Member, YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix, Vice President of Communications, Mujer, Inc., Former Regional Representative, UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza), Former Leadership Program Director, Hispanic Women's Corporation, Mentor and advocate for youth leadership and civic engagement, Volunteer supporter of local schools, nonprofit organizations, public safety initiatives, and community events, Active participant in community outreach and neighborhood engagement efforts, Longtime advocate for education, workforce development, and family services.
Education
Master of Mass Communication, Arizona State University; Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Arts, Arizona State University with a Minor in Spanish, Arizona State University.
I believe in responsible growth that creates opportunity while protecting the quality of life residents value. Over the past several years, El Mirage has welcomed more than 1.2 million square feet of new industrial development and created over 1,200 jobs, strengthening our tax base and reducing reliance on residential taxpayers.
Attracting businesses, supporting entrepreneurs, expanding retail options, and revitalizing our downtown remain important priorities. At the same time, growth must be paired with thoughtful planning. That is why we continue investing in water system improvements, utility modernization, and long-term infrastructure planning through our Capital Improvement Program.
Sustainable growth means balancing economic opportunity with responsible resource management. My goal is to ensure El Mirage remains financially strong, economically competitive, and prepared for future generations while preserving the character and quality of life that make our city special.
My top budget priority is maintaining strong public safety and infrastructure investments while preserving the financial stability that residents expect. Over the past seven years, we have reduced the primary property tax rate every year, resulting in a nearly 30 percent reduction, while simultaneously strengthening the city's financial position.
Today, El Mirage maintains approximately $94 million in general fund reserves and a net position approaching $250 million. Those resources allow us to address current needs while planning responsibly for the future.
I believe public safety and infrastructure are the foundation of a strong community, which is why they remain top priorities. At the same time, I support strategic investments in parks, libraries, youth programs, and services such as El Mirage Cares that enhance quality of life for residents. My approach is simple: spend conservatively, plan responsibly, and leave the city stronger for the next generation than we found it.
Transparency begins with accessibility. I believe residents deserve leaders who are visible, approachable, and willing to listen. Whether at community events, neighborhood meetings, school visits, local businesses, or even the grocery store, I make it a priority to stay connected to the people I serve.
As Mayor, I have worked to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public engagement by encouraging open communication and helping residents better understand not only what decisions are being made, but why they are being made. Through my service as Chair of the Regional Council for the Maricopa Association of Governments and my involvement with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, I remain connected to best practices in ethical governance and public service.
Good government is built on trust. Residents should have meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their lives and confidence that their local government is acting with integrity and accountability.
Addressing shared challenges requires strong partnerships and open communication. I believe effective leadership starts with listening to residents and staying connected to the community through neighborhood meetings, local events, school visits, and conversations with residents.
As Mayor, I have built strong relationships that help El Mirage address issues beyond city boundaries. Through my service as Chair of the Regional Council for the Maricopa Association of Governments, my role on the Arizona State Transportation Board, and my involvement with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, I work with regional and state leaders on transportation, infrastructure, economic development, and public safety.
These partnerships ensure El Mirage has a strong voice and access to resources that benefit our residents. My approach is simple: listen, collaborate, and deliver results for our community.
The issues I hear most often from residents are public safety, economic opportunity, and managing growth responsibly. As Mayor, I have invested more than $50 million in infrastructure and street improvements, supported innovative public safety initiatives, and worked to reduce crime throughout our community.
We have also improved quality of life by opening a new library, expanding parks and recreation opportunities, partnering with the YMCA, and launching El Mirage Cares to connect residents with transportation, housing, meal assistance, and senior services.
Looking ahead, my focus remains on safe neighborhoods, attracting jobs and businesses, revitalizing downtown, and ensuring city services keep pace with growth while remaining accessible and responsive to residents.
Public Policy Priorities
I believe public policy in El Mirage has drifted away from serving the residents who make up our community. We’ve seen inflated staffing structures without added services, limited focus on quality‑of‑life improvements, and a persistent lack of transparency that has eroded public trust. At the same time, there appears to be a repeated effort to silence dissenting voices, which undermines healthy civic participation. Our core services like water delivery and public safety are strong, but residents still notice minimal neighborhood‑patrol presence and ongoing turnover that raises questions about leadership and oversight. These issues reflect a broader pattern of policy decisions that prioritize internal agendas over community needs. Restoring transparency, rebuilding trust, and re‑centering policy on the needs of residents would be essential to creating an effective and accountable local government.
Qualifications and Experience
I have served as an El Mirage Councilmember since November 2017. During this time, I served three years as Chair of the MAG Regional Domestic Violence Council, and also served on the Public Safety Committee, the Maricopa County Community Development Advisory Committee, the MAG Teen Dating Violence Committee, the MAG Crisis Workforce Committee, and the P & Z Review Committee for eight years. I also created El Mirage Cares, an initiative providing education, awareness, and resources for families and individuals facing domestic violence, sexual assault, bullying, suicide, and other social challenges. Alongside my council service, I operated Arizona Horseriding Adventures, offering therapeutic horseback riding to both traditional riders and riders with disabilities. My background also includes owning and operating a retail music store for more than ten years, serving as a top sales manager for a nationally recognized corporation, and working as a police officer with the City of Phoenix.
Endorsements
The Residents of El Mirage
Community Service
My community service has centered on supporting families facing some of the most difficult challenges. I founded El Mirage Cares to provide education, awareness, and resources for individuals and families dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault, bullying, suicide, and other social issues, bringing together residents, schools, and regional partners to strengthen safety and well‑being across our community. In 2025, I established the nonprofit Love Should Never Hurt to continue this mission beyond city boundaries and to ensure the work could grow independently of city politics while providing long‑term, trauma‑informed support for families throughout the region. Through both initiatives, I have worked to build partnerships, elevate awareness, and ensure that individuals facing crisis have access to compassionate, reliable resources. These efforts reflect my long‑standing dedication to strengthening families and fostering a healthier, more resilient community.
Education
Misssouri Southern College
Supporting economic opportunities in El Mirage means focusing on businesses that fit our size, limited land, and long‑term water realities. With very little commercial land and traffic counts too low to sustain large retail, we need employers that provide meaningful jobs, use limited water, and strengthen a sustainable local economy.
Residents want more retail options, but competition from Walmart and our small commercial corridors make it difficult for small retailers to succeed. That’s why we should pursue neighborhood‑scale retail and service businesses that can thrive in smaller footprints and keep spending local.
El Mirage is also well‑positioned for clean, low‑water‑use industries such as advanced manufacturing, logistics support, and professional services. Strengthening existing businesses, improving the permitting experience, and ensuring new development reflects community values will help create economic opportunities that align with our needs and long‑term sustainability.
My top budget priorities are responsible spending, stronger neighborhood infrastructure, and meaningful community programs. I believe our budget includes unnecessary expenses, including staff positions that increase costs but provide no additional services. So, I would focus resources on what directly improves residents’ daily lives.
Public safety remains essential, but we also need to shift more funding toward residential streets, park maintenance, and irrigated right‑of‑way areas where leaks and neglect waste our water. We are also seriously lacking in community programs that support recreation and social connection. In addition, I would prioritize a practical beautification effort along Thunderbird Road to improve appearance, safety, and community pride without excessive cost that would in turn welcome more retail development in that area.
My goal is to ensure our budget reflects real community needs and invests in the areas residents use and rely on every day.
To ensure transparency, ethical governance, and meaningful public participation, I would begin by restoring Robert’s Rules of Order, so meetings are conducted with respect, structure, and without interruption. Residents deserve a process where every voice is heard. I would also encourage council members to hold Town Halls on a regular basis to gather public input on issues that concern the people of El Mirage.
All public meetings — except lawful executive sessions — should be livestreamed and archived online so anyone can watch and stay informed. I would also hold regular town halls where residents can speak freely without strict time limits, and I support allowing public comment on regular agenda items so people can participate directly in the decisions that affect them.
My goal is a government that listens, communicates openly, and creates real opportunities for residents to be part of the process.
I will work with residents, regional partners, and other levels of government by keeping communication open, accessible, and focused on the real needs of El Mirage. Holding regular town halls and inviting residents to meet with me at City Hall or in their homes is essential to building trust and ensuring people have a meaningful voice in local decisions.
I will maintain strong relationships with regional partners and agencies whose work directly affects our city, and I will stay engaged on issues that impact El Mirage’s safety, infrastructure, and long‑term sustainability. Collaboration is important, but it must always be rooted in what benefits our community — not in creating an external image or pursuing regional involvement for its own sake.
My goal is to ensure that every partnership, every meeting, and every decision remains centered on El Mirage’s priorities and the residents who live here.
The most important issues facing El Mirage are the loss of public trust and a budget that doesn't reflect the community’s real needs. Many residents feel unheard, so confidence in local government must be a top priority. I would strengthen public participation, ensure orderly and respectful meetings, and create more opportunities for residents to speak directly with their elected officials.
We also need to realign our budget while maintaining strong public safety, improving support where it is needed. We also need to reduce unnecessary spending, evaluate staff positions that do not improve services, and direct more resources toward residential streets, parks and maintenance, and meaningful community programs. These are areas residents have consistently asked for over many years but have been overlooked for far too long.
My focus is on restoring trust through transparency and responsible budgeting, and taking concrete steps that invest in what truly matters to the people of El Mirage.
