The Tribune is sponsoring a series of debates among East Valley candidates running in March 9 primary municipal elections in Mesa, Chandler, Tempe and Queen Creek.
The mayor’s seat is up for grabs in all four municipalities. Two people want to be mayor in Mesa, two in Chandler, two in Tempe and two in Queen Creek.
In addition, five candidates are running for three City Council district seats in Mesa, six candidates for three seats in Chandler, five candidates for three seats in Tempe and five candidates for three Town Council seats in Queen Creek.
The debates are free and open to the public. Written questions for candidates will be accepted from the audience prior to the debate. The debates, with the exception of Queen Creek, will be broadcast live on Cable Channel 11 and periodically at later dates.
Early voting begins Feb. 5 and ends March 5. If needed, runoffs will be held in May.
Here’s who’s running:
MESA
Mayoral candidates:
• Incumbent Keno Hawker, 57, owner of an asphalt distributor and truck leasing company. Serving his first term as mayor; previously served as a council member from 1986 until 1994, and from 1998 to 2000.
• Teresa Brice-Heames, 48, senior vice president for Housing for Mesa, a private nonprofit affordable housing development corporation.
Council candidates District 1 (northwest Mesa):
• Incumbent Claudia Walters, 50, substitute teacher, special projects for Mesa Public Schools, and small-business owner. Council member November 1997 to June 1998. Current term began in 2000.
• Charlie Powell, 75, retired petroleum engineer.
Council candidates District 2 (central Mesa):
• Incumbent Mike Whalen, 55, owner of a security business. Current term began in 2000.
• Bob Hisserich, 48, a custom gun part maker.
Council candidate District 3 (southwest Mesa):
• Tom Rawles, 54, lawyer. Maricopa County supervisor 1993-1996. Running unopposed.
CHANDLER
Mayoral candidates:
• Incumbent Boyd Dunn, 51, family law attorney. City Council member since 1994; vice mayor from 2000-02; mayor since 2002.
• John Conley, 37, computer science consultant. Former state representative at large for Republican party in Indiana, 1993-95.
Council candidates, all at-large:
• Incumbent Dean Anderson, 54, university and secondary level educator. Current term began in 2000.
• Bobby Joe Harris, 57, retired Chandler police chief.
• Incumbent Lowell D. Huggins Sr., 61, business owner, former Chandler police officer and former teacher at Mesa Community College. City Council member from 1988-96; vice mayor from 1994-96. Current term began in 2000.
• Dale Mukavetz, 57, chief engineer for Honeywell.
• Matt Orlando, 47, program manager for General Dynamics. City Council member from 1990-98.
• Martin Sepulveda, 44, naval gunfire officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. City Council member from 1996-2000.
QUEEN CREEK
Mayoral candidates:
• Incumbent Wendy Feldman-Kerr, 43, financial planner. Town Council member from 1996-2000. Mayor since 2000.
• Kevin Petersen, 39, commercial and residential developer.
Council candidates, all at-large:
• Incumbent Lisa Coletto-Cohen, 31, veterinary clinic manager. Current term began in 2000, vice mayor since 2003.
• Incumbent David Dobbs, 40, engineer for The Boeing Co. Town Council member since 2000.
• Incumbent Gail Barney, 55, farmer. Town Council member since 2002.
• Toni Valenzuela, 58, coowner of Rudy’s Restaurant. Town Council member from 1992-2001; resigned to run for mayor against Feldman-Kerr in 2002.
• Mark Belnap, 47, mortgage broker.
TEMPE
Mayoral candidates:
• Dennis Cahill, 65, retired bricklayer and businessman. Currently serves on City Council.
• Hugh Hallman, 41, lawyer. Former City Council member.
Council candidates, all at-large:
• Incumbent Barb Carter, 55, special education teacher.
• Incumbent Mark Mitchell, 34, salesman.
• Hut Hutson, 63, retired.
• Augustus Shaw, 30, real estate attorney.
• David Strang, 65, video producer.
East Valley municipal election debates
Mesa City Council candidates: 1 p.m. Monday, lower council chambers in City Hall, 57 E. First St.
Mesa mayor candidates: 3 p.m. Monday, same location
Chandler mayoral and City Council candidates: 7 p.m. Tuesday, council chambers on second floor of main library, 22 S. Delaware St.
Queen Creek mayoral and Town Council candidates: 7 p.m. Wednesday, council chambers in Town Hall, 22350 S. Ellsworth Road
Tempe City Council candidates: 1 p.m. Feb. 2, council chambers in City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St.
Tempe mayoral candidates: 3 p.m. Feb 2, same location
