A primary election is Aug. 2 for candidates in Mesa City Council districts 4, 5 and 6, with terms expiring in January 2027.
Candidates filing for a seat in each district are:
District 4: Jenn Duff (incumbent), Trista Guzman Glover and Nathaniel Ross;
District 5: Alicia Goforth;
District 6: Scott Somers and Darla Trendler.
As the primary election nears, the Independent is conducting Q&As with each council candidate to get their opinion on various topics having to do with the city of Mesa. In this installment are the answers to “What types of jobs does Mesa need; and what is your plan for economic development?”
As the election gets closer, keep an eye on yourvalley.net/mesa-independent and the print edition of the Mesa Independent for more from the Q&A series.
For the following, candidate Alicia Goforth didn’t respond to emails.
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Darla Trendler
Darla Trendler, 49, is a small business owner. She has lived in Mesa for 22 years.
What types of jobs does Mesa need; and what is your plan for economic development?: Mesa is poised to add more technology sector based jobs. Because of the Elliott Tech Corridor, Mesa already has the things high-tech manufacturers and technology companies are looking for such as infrastructure, an educated workforce, zoning, and transportation options including air, rail and roads. Technology companies and entrepreneurs will create high-paying jobs that allow people to live and work in Mesa. Mesa also has the resources such as education programs and a thriving commercial airport to bring more aviation and aerospace jobs. Businesses such as Boeing have been in Mesa for decades and have helped to establish Mesa as a prime spot for aviation, aerospace and related industries and they have stayed because we have worked so hard to remain a business friendly environment. With all of this momentum, Mesa will continue growing but it must happen with quality developments that make sense for our economy but also bring jobs and opportunities that are beneficial to Mesa residents.
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Jenn Duff
Jenn Duff, 62, is vice mayor of Mesa and a small business owner. She has lived in Mesa for 62 years.
What types of jobs does Mesa need; and what is your plan for economic development?: Technical and trade jobs are in demand at high-paying wages. We need to continue investing in Mesa Community College, the East Valley Institute of Technology and other trade schools that create a strong pipeline of skilled labor. This builds a strong skilled labor ecosystem because it has a foundation of attainable degrees and certifications which then coordinates with businesses for apprenticeships and training, and therefore provide supportive services for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Everyone knows employers follow talent and Mesa has it in droves so we must double down on it. A prosperous, resilient, and sustainable future starts with a skilled and talented workforce.
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Trista Guzman Glover
Trista Guzman Glover, 33, works as a faculty associate. She has lived in Mesa for six years.
What types of jobs does Mesa need; and what is your plan for economic development?: Mesa needs high-paying jobs and to continue to attract businesses. I want new businesses that will enhance and complement existing ones. We need health care, aerospace, aviation, education, recreation, technology and tourism businesses. We can leverage our existing assets to attract new businesses and redevelop older parts of the city.
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Nathaniel Ross
Nathaniel Ross, 21, is a biology graduate student at ASU. He is a lifelong Mesa resident.
What types of jobs does Mesa need; and what is your plan for economic development?: There is no single industry that Mesa needs; rather, the focus of the city’s economic plan should be to recruit businesses that will offer high-paying jobs for Mesa residents of all backgrounds. Sectors that frequently offer such positions are the technology and health care industries. I believe Mesa can become a technological hub, with not only businesses relocating to the city but also fostering an environment where new companies emerge. With one (and soon a second) campus of Arizona State University within the city limits, Mesa has a unique opportunity to recruit and retain a workforce in specialized careers in technology and health care.
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Scott Somers
Scott Somers, 54, is a firefighter, paramedic and professor of practice. He has lived for 27 years in Mesa District 6.
What types of jobs does Mesa need; and what is your plan for economic development?: District 6 needs more high wage and high-tech jobs while also bringing in small business, restaurant, retail, and services that improve our quality of life and keep our taxpayer dollars in Mesa. Southeast Mesa is a growing hub of economic activity and I am proud to be a part of the team that developed the plans that kicked off its tremendous economic success focusing on manufacturing, research, health care, aerospace, technology and tourism. I am the only candidate who has first-hand experience in economic development. I chaired the council’s Economic Development Subcommittee and served on the boards of East Valley Partnership and the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. I created the Elliott Road Technology Corridor to attract high-tech companies and established LaunchPoint, a small business accelerator, to support local technology entrepreneurs. I worked closely with companies like Able Aerospace, Bridgestone, CMC Steel and Matheson to bring to Mesa. I am committed to providing steadfast leadership necessary to resist sacrificing long-term vision for short-term gain that undermines our district’s economic potential.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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