Politician Mary Rose Wilcox honored with street sign in downtown Phoenix

By Mark Carlisle
Mail | X: @mwcarlisle

Mary Rose Wilcox spent decades representing residents in the Phoenix and Maricopa County, and she will soon be represented on a street sign in downtown Phoenix.

Phoenix City Council last week approved a ceremonial sign for The Mary Rose Wilcox Way be added to the intersection Second Avenue and Grant Street, right outside of El Portal, the Mexican restaurant owned by Wilcox and her husband, Earl.

The honor is “recognizing a true trailblazer, a champion for our community and life-long public servant,” Phoenix Councilmember Kesha Hodge Washington said about Wilcox.

Wilcox was the first Hispanic woman to serve on both Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Prior to being an elected official, she was an aide for U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini.

Hodge Washington and Councilmember Carlos Galindo-Elvira spearheaded the effort to add the sign. Galindo-Elvira explained the choice for the wording.

“There could have been no other better name than ‘The Mary Rose Wilcox Way’ because for Mary Rose there is no other way than her commitment and determination to improve the lives of others,” Galindo-Elvira said.

Mary Rose Wilcox, center, a Maricopa County Board of Supervisors member who had a criminal case brought against her by then-Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, speaks in front of the Arizona State Courts building after an ethics panel moved to disbar Thomas Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in Phoenix. Her husband Earl Wilcox stands to her left. (The Associated Press/Ross D. Franklin)

Councilmember Laura Pastor said Wilcox is a “very inspiring, powerful, humble Latina” who was a role model for her because she worked with Pastor’s father, U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor.

Pastor credited Wilcox with paving the way for what is now Phoenix’s Office of Accountability and Transparency. Mayor Kate Gallego highlighted her work at the county to create what is now Valleywise Health.

Galindo-Elvira said Wilcox was present for Coretta Scott King’s visit to Phoenix’s Santa Rita Hall during Cesar Chavez’s 24-Day Fast for Justice, saying that moment helped inspire her to become a community leader.

Councilmember Debra Stark, who has worked in the planning department’s of both Phoenix and Maricopa County, said she had the experience of seeing Wilcox from the perspective of a staffer and that Wilcox was one of the hardest-working elected officials she ever saw.

“She really, really does care about people. That’s the kind of heart you want to see in an elected official,” Stark said.

Wilcox and her husband opened El Portal after she retired from elected office. Pastor and Councilmember Betty Guardado each described it as a place where Hispanic and Latino community leaders meet to discuss plans to address the challenges facing the community.

The costs for fabrication and installation of the sign will be paid for by Galindo-Elvira’s District 7 office.

“Mary Rose’s legacy will be one that she was unafraid and took issues head-on,” Galindo-Elvira said.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Mark Carlisle can be reached at mcarlisle@iniusa.org.

Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Phoenix

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Meet Mark

Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.

Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library  and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.

Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.

Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.

 Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.