Meet the 2024 candidates for Mesa City Council

This year, Mesa voters will choose among eight candidates for Mesa City Council. Four of these candidates are running for a seat in District 1, while two are running for District 2 and two for District 3. Below are bios of each who met the April 1 filing deadline and will appear on the primary ballot.

Ron Williams (District 1)

U.S. Air Force Veteran and Mesa Council Candidate Ron Williams

(Ron Williams for Mesa)

Ron Williams is a U.S. Air Force veteran who is running for the Mesa City Council in District 1.

Williams was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2022. He spent 22 years on the Arizona MLK Celebration Events Committee.

Williams is a big advocate of community engagement and has done a lot of volunteer work through various nonprofit organizations to support adopted and foster children, the homeless, veterans and students in need in Mesa.

Williams has won multiple awards for his community and humanitarian work in Arizona.

He serves on multiple Mesa community boards such as Visit Mesa, the Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board and more. He is also chairperson of GPAC, which is a committee that makes recommendations for Mesa’s future through 2050.

Richard Adams (District 1)

District 1 City Council Candidate Richard Adams

(Rich Adams for Mesa)

District 1 council candidate Richard Adams is the president and CEO of Credit Management Association as well as a member of the Mesa Economic Development Advisory Board.

Adams grew up in Mesa and has served on or chaired the Visit Mesa Board, Planning & Zoning Board, Mesa United Way and Falcon Area Visioning Commission during his career. He won the Mesa Man of the Year award in 2019.

Adams strongly values faith and family above all else. He advocates for transparency in government, strong public safety, fiscal responsibility, economic development integrity, and putting residents first.

Tim Meyer (District 1)

Mesa Council Candidate Tim Meyer

(Tim Meyer for Mesa)

Tim Meyer is a longtime Mesa resident and public servant who has more than 26 years of experience working with the city of Mesa in various roles and now is running for a seat on the Mesa council in District 1.

During his career with the city of Mesa, Meyer worked as an licensing and revenue administrator as well as an assistant manger and assistant business services director.

If elected, Meyer would focus his energy on listening to constituent concerns, working with other city leaders and public safety with an emphasis on community engagement.

Meyer highlighted public safety, affordable and safe housing, equal access to education and support for small businesses as key parts of his platform.

Zachary Hichez (District 1)

District 1 Council Candidate Zachary Hichez

(Zachary Hichez)

Zachary Hichez is a certified EMT and paramedic who has lived in Arizona for about 11 years, and is now seeking a Mesa City Council seat for District 1.

Hichez attended both ASU and Mesa Community College but chose to forgo getting a degree so he could get certified as an EMT.

Hichez’s platform revolves around increasing access to public transit and increasing access to housing. Hichez wants to increase the amount of housing in Mesa through modifying building codes and zoning to allow developers to have a larger variety of options when building.

Hichez also believes increasing the amount of housing in Mesa will cool prices and allow more people to become homeowners without increasing taxes or cutting services that citizens rely on.

Julie Spilsbury (District 2)

Mesa Councilmember Julie Spilsbury.

(City of Mesa)

Julie Spilsbury is running for reelection in Mesa’s 2nd district.

Spilsbury has represented District 2 since January 2021. She is a product of Mesa Public Schools and has been active in that school district in volunteer work for over 20 years, earning her an award.

Spilsbury says both of her parents being teachers instilled in her the drive to support those who lead children. She owns a family tree care business with her husband that they have run for 23 years.

Spilsbury is the chair of the Council Committee for Community & Cultural Development. She sits on other various council committees, city advisory boards and more.

Spilsbury’s priorities are building strong neighborhoods, protecting public safety, supporting education opportunities and keeping Mesa affordable.

Melody Whestone (District 2)

Mesa Council Candidate Melody Whetstone

(Melody Whetstone 4 Mesa)

Melody Whetstone is running for a Mesa Council seat in District 2. She is a 15-year veteran of the telecommunications industry and has worked in land acquisition, design and construction and more.

Whetstone is the daughter of a retired war veteran and has lived in Mesa since 2009. She has done volunteer work for fighting human trafficking and for Child Protective Services as well.

Whetstone’s platform is based around a government being responsible for the people. She values transparency as well as economic and social development targeted toward residents rather than other entities.

Francisco Heredia (District 3)

Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia.

(City of Mesa)

Francisco Heredia is running for reelection in District 3 for the Mesa Council.

Heredia was appointed to his set in September 2017 and has held the seat since then, winning elections in 2018 and 2020. He was elected as Mesa’s vice mayor at the beginning of the 2023.

Heredia has worked for the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office and U.S. Census Bureau. He has worked for the Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System as a KidsCare Outreach Coordinator and a prevention specialist for Chicanos Por la Causa.

He is also a member of the National League of Cities Human Development Federal Advocacy Committee and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Heredia is marred with three children and has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from Arizona State University.

Marc Lavender (District 3)

Mesa Council candidate Marc Lavendar

(Linkedin)

Marc Lavender is running for Mesa City Council in District 3.

This is his second time running for the position. Lavender ran in the primary election for the same seat in 2018 but did not amass enough votes to make it to the general election.

Lavender has an experienced background in sales, management and education. He has been a broker, manager and teacher for numerous organizations and institutions including EVIT, UPS and Groves Capital Inc.

Lavender has bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in teaching from University of Arkansas.