The general election for the Mesa Publich Schools Governing Board election will occur on Nov. 5, 2024.
The governing board currently has three seats at-large with terms expiring on Dec. 31, 2024. The seats are from Clerk Dr. Joe O'Oreilly, Kiana Maria Sears, and Courtney Davis. Five candidates are vying for the three open seats, with the top-three vote-getters from election day getting the open spots.
Here is a brief rundown on all five candidates.
Courtney Davis (Incumbent)
MPS Board Member Courtney Davis.
(Mesa Public Schools)
Courtney Davis is an incumbent Mesa Public Schools board member. She first joined the governing board in August 2023. Davis, a mother of four, has three children currently enrolled in the district, and is also a graduate of the district along with her husband Wes.
With her term expiring on Dec. 31, 2024, Davis is running for reelection. Her candidate website highlights her close ties to Mesa and to the district, as well as her community involvement through youth sports, little league, parent organizations, booster clubs service projects and more.
On her website, Davis says that her mission is to uphold the “legacy of excellence” in Mesa Public Schools and create a future where “every student has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.”
Ed Steele and his wife have been Mesa residents since 1988, and now he is running for a seat on the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board. Steele’s children and grandchildren attended Mesa Public Schools.
A graduate of the University of New Orleans with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Steele has worked as an engineer for the U.S. government, Motorola and more. He also ran a small manufacturing company with his wife for 13 years. Steele is currently retired, but has spent time volunteering with nonprofits and working on a men’s mentoring program.
According to his website, Steele named his top issues as parental involvement, a tight budget, a carefully chosen school curriculum with a “back to the basics” theme, school choice, teacher appreciation and putting students first.
Josh Chilton has worked as the community outreach coordinator for the Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent since 2018. He is currently running for a seat on the Mesa Public Schools District Governing Board.
Chilton has been a resident of West Mesa since 2007, and he and his wife have one daughter enrolled in Mesa Public Schools. Chilton’s work and volunteer experience includes working as a promotion director for multiple Phoenix-area radio stations, coordinating school and church fundraisers through Goodwill, serving on the logistics committee for the American Heart Association’s Phoenix Heart Walk and more.
On his website, Chilton says that he wants to consider all opinions when making decisions and to have the board members work together with open minds and to not become divided by distrust or political agendas. Some of his key positions include supporting career and college readiness programs to prepare students for life after graduation, transgender rights, parental representation on the board, supporting a curriculum that does not ignore regrettable parts of history, ensuring adequate school funding and strategic spending, and more.
Lacy Chaffee has worked as the communications coordinator for Arizona State University since 2021. She now turns her attention toward running for a seat on the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board.
Chaffee and her husband, Lafe, who is a practicing pediatric kids’ dentist, both graduated from Mesa Public Schools. The couple are parents of five children attending school in the district.
Lacy Chaffee has served on various committees and councils in schools, including the Mesa Parent Council, School Improvement Advisory Council and more. She has also supported Mesa schools through community book drives, school carnivals, teacher appreciation and more.
On her website, Chaffee says she is dedicated to strengthening education in Mesa by addressing academic achievement, staff recruitment and retention, and student safety and well-being. Chaffee believes that by building on the legacy of the district, it will strengthen their neighborhoods and keep Mesa a wonderful place to live.
Sharon Benson has been an Arizona resident for over 50 years. Citing her concerns about the education of Mesa children, she is entering the race for a seat on the Mesa Public Schools District Governing Board.
Benson’s children are MPS graduates and her grandchild currently attends school in the district. Benson has taught for MPS for over 10 years in its gifted and talented program. She has also volunteered for MPS, served as the president of the PTO for her children’s school, headed up a booster club and more.
On her website, Benson lists her five top priorities for the district to succeed. These priorities are parental transparency and rights in education, student success in academics, student safety from harassment and bullying via discipline, fiscal responsibility in district spending, and supporting teachers through rolling back what she defined as “over reliance” on testing in favor of increasing teaching.
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