The Mesa Unified Public School District is the largest in Arizona with over 50,000 students and covering over 100 square miles spanning the city of Mesa. The district has elementary, middle and high schools as well as specialty schools for gifted students and students looking to focus on a particular discipline like math, science and the arts.
Five individuals are running for two MPS Governing Board seats at the Nov. 3 general election.
Chilton is a parent to a Mesa student and worked in the Maricopa County Superintendent’s office for over six years. He wants to make resources easier for students with disabilities. Chilton now works for the Center for the Future of Arizona on projects in partnership with the Arizona Media Institute.
Echols is a lifelong Mesa resident who graduated from Mountain View High School. She has served in various teaching and instructional positions throughout the district and works for Arizona State University.
Inger Hebert
Hebert is a Valley Realtor and Gilbert resident. She is running following several ethics complaints to the board and a lack of communication with the public.
Smithson and Hebert have hosted campaign events together and both say they would like to see more financial transparency from the district. Smithson is a father to a student with special needs and says that he would like to make the district more accessible for all students. Smithson is a small business owner and serves on the Mesa Public Schools Parent Council.
Walden is the only incumbent running in 2026. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and has served on the board since 2023. She is also the vice chair of the Arizona Corporation Commission. In 2024 Walden filed a lawsuit against the district along with another parent after the parent’s female child was using a male name at school and did not notify the child’s parent. The Maricopa County Superior Court said the filing was “untimely” and dismissed the claims.
To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).
Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.
Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.
Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.
Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.
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