Paradise Valley voters will soon choose Vice Mayor Mark Stanton or Council member Anna Thomasson as the next mayor of the town, as the early ballot voting deadline nears. Early voting begins Monday, …
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Paradise Valley voters will soon choose Vice Mayor Mark Stanton or Council member Anna Thomasson as the next mayor of the town, as the early ballot voting deadline nears.
Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 9, by one-time ballot-by-mail for the Nov. 5 General Election. The last days to register to vote are on or before Oct. 7 for the November election. Visit servicearizona.com/VoterRegistration.
In addition to registering, voters can receive email and text alerts on the status of their early ballot by signing up at trackmyballot.azsos.gov.
According to the Maricopa County Elections Department, 90% of voters cast early ballots by mailing or dropping off in-person at a vote center for the July 2024 Primary Election. Election Day in-person voting also included provisional ballots.
In Paradise Valley, 4,206 ballots were cast with a 40.68% voter turnout, which is a higher percentage of registered voter turnout compared to the entire state, with Republicans at 35.41%, Democrats at 29.10% and other parties at 33.95%. Libertarians, No Labels and Green cast less than 1% of the vote in the state.
Stanton and Thomasson will face a run-off mayoral election after the Maricopa County Elections Department posted final results Aug. 5 and there was not a majority winner. Thomasson led the primary election with 1,747 votes (46.31%), Stanton garnered 1,453 (38.52%) and Mary Hamway obtained 572 votes (15.16%).
Town of Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner did not seek re-election for a fourth term. The Town does not have term limits for the volunteer, non-paid council positions.
Bien-Willner and Stanton are the longest serving the town since 2015. Council members Julie Pace and Scott Moore started serving in 2017. Thomasson and Council member Ellen Andeen in 2019, and Council member Christine Labelle in 2023.
Pace motioned Sept. 12 and Andeen seconded, to add a future council agenda consideration for PV council members to resign prior to seeking the mayoral position. Pace explained it would give voters the opportunity to select a new candidate instead of having a vacant position the Town Council would appoint. The motion failed 2-5 with Bien-Willner, Stanton, Labelle, Moore and Thomasson dissenting.
Pace was able to run against Bien-Willner in 2022, without losing her council seat while in other Valley cities, such as the City of Surprise, that is not an option.
Thomasson was honored that she was the top vote-getter for mayor.
“As we head to November, I’m excited to announce that I will be, once again, walking every mile of the town (144 miles) between now and Nov. 5,” Thomasson explained in an August statement to the Independent. “I look forward to listening to residents and getting to know our town even better as I earn your vote to be Mayor Thomasson.”
Stanton reported he will work diligently to share his vision for Paradise Valley.
“Moving forward, public safety, limited government, conservative fiscal policies and high quality of life will continue to be the leading points of my platform to win the election,” Stanton said in August.
“It is an honor to volunteer as an elected leader and I will continue to work very hard to build the trust and respect of the voters.”
Thomasson explained last week Paradise Valley needs a strong leader to pull together all parties to find a solution.
“Whether on specific issues like Smoketree, Andaz, El Charro, Pacaso home sharing, ACOPS, Doubletree entrance, Mockingbird Lane improvements, or working with the state legislature on short term rentals, photo radar or one-acre-zoning challenges, I have walked our neighborhoods listening to residents and personally researched the issues,” she said. “Those who have worked with me know I will express an opinion, yet listen to all viewpoints. I also have the wisdom and grace to stay focused on our residents and respect all, while solving a problem. I would be honored to have your vote. I’m ready to serve.”
Stanton credits his longtime residency and business connections as a reason to vote for him.
“As a lifelong resident, experienced elected representative and active business and community leader, I am at the table every day, fully engaged and advocating to make Paradise Valley stronger, heathier and more successful,” Stanton said last week. “I am the only candidate who works regularly with state, county, municipal, business and community leaders, which best positions me with necessary relationships and insight to accomplish important work for our town.
During my 10 years on the Town Council, I have been tested repeatedly and have proven my ability to manage multiple issues, create opportunities, protect the town and make important decisions for the betterment of Paradise Valley while building a unified Council that works for our residents.”
The mayoral candidates previously answered questions about important issues facing the Town, which can be found at YourValley.net/paradise-valley-independent. Questions include what they believe are the two most pressing issues facing the Town of Paradise Valley.
The last day to request an early ballot-by-mail is Friday, Oct. 25 for the General Election.
Janet Perez contributed to this story. We invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on the mayoral race. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Charlene Charlene Bisson joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 1999, starting her career as a journalist in Glendale, then covering Surprise a year later. She became publisher of the West Valley during the Great Recession and later promoted publisher of the Arizona group in 2018. In January 2022, she was promoted to President & CEO of INI.
Community: She serves on the Arizona Media Association Board of Directors, The Phoenix Children’s Hospital West Valley Board, and the Liberty Lions Baseball Booster. She also supports the Peoria Diamond Club as a member.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in Business.
Random Fact: She hiked the Grand Canyon twice from top to bottom in one day.
Hobbies: Writing fiction and playing the piano for fun. Hiking, swimming, and working out at the gym.
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