Former Peoria City Council member Bridget Binsbacher recently stepped down from her council seat to run for mayor, as current Mayor Cathy Carlat will term out at the end of the year.
Binsbacher represented the Mesquite District in northern Peoria, which has received a lot of attention due to its explosive growth in the last decade.
Former Planning & Zoning Commissioner Brad Shafer, who also lives in the Mesquite District, stepped down from his post, April 7, to apply for Bisnbacher’s vacant seat. He was the only candidate who applied for the interim position, which council approved April 28.
He, along with Diane Douglas, former state schools superintendent and Peoria Unified School District board member, who lives in the West Wing neighborhood of north Peoria, have both put in statements of interest to run for Binsbacher’s open seat.
The deadline for Shafer and Douglas to submit their signatures to appear on the Nov. 8 special election ballot is July 11.
The elected council member will serve in the seat until the end of 2024.
However, Shafer will hold Binsbacher’s seat until the business day after the Nov. 8 special election has been canvased, officials said.
Shafer is a health care executive who has a Masters of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration. Other civic engagements include sitting on Peoria’s Bond Override Committee and Charter Review Committee, as well as serving on the Peoria Diamond Club and as the Candeo School Board president, where his children attend school.
He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and came to live in the area when he was stationed at Luke Air Force Base. He is a third generation veteran and first responder and has made his home in Peoria for the last 15 years with his wife and three children.
He said there are a lot of opportunities for this city and is excited for the opportunity to be a part of it.
“As we face a turning point, I welcome the opportunity to be part of the next generation of leadership who can bring our city to even higher levels, building on our successes and strengthening our long-term economic and community growth,” Shafer said.
Learn more about the new interim council member of the Mesquite District here.
How will you work with the city council over the coming months in your interim position?
The city of Peoria is heading in the right direction and has a council and staff who work incredibly well together. I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of the team and collaborate with some of the brightest minds and most experienced leaders in the state. Certainly, I would want to work with the other members of the council to better understand what they think are the most critical issues facing our city and how best to address them.
The current and past leadership of the city have done an outstanding job of creating Peoria for what it is today — an award-winning place to live, work, and raise a family.
How can you help support smart development?
There are endless opportunities in the north with a clean slate for developing raw land and roadways. Although development will happen, it’s important to realize that Peoria’s unique open and outdoor space options are one of its greatest assets. Opportunities to capitalize on this unique outdoor space may include courses ranging from water safety to nautical sports (sailing, paddleboarding, fishing, etc.).
The Mesquite District has a lack of high-end restaurants. I’d like to bring in high-end restaurants and more employment because that generates revenue for the city, and if we don’t have that attraction for our residents, they might go to other cities for those amenities. Those revenues would help support public safety and other needs.
What do want to see for Peoria’s neighborhoods in the future?
We cannot continue to move forward without embracing our past. Peoria was originally established for its agricultural significance, yet the city has few spaces for community gardens or farming. Spaces within older neighborhoods, and even in new planned communities, can be set aside for gardening co-ops. This helps residents invest in their neighborhoods and establish community unity.
What other issues do you stand behind?
Peoria Police are in need of critical training space. Expanded water programs to protect the water we have and maximize the retention of new water are necessary. Lake Pleasant and surrounding areas continue to see an increase in visitors. With that, there is an increase in emergency calls. Building a fully equipped fire station on site will enable them to respond to these calls as well as offer protection for nearby open space vulnerable to wildfire. Parks throughout the city are in need of refreshing and revitalization.
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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