Pinal County has finished tabulating all the votes cast in San Tan Valley incorporation election.
On Monday, Pinal Votes released its final vote count.
The “yes” votes for incorporation came in at 10,133, or 66.5%, with the “no” votes at 5,083, or 33.3%. or 15,216.
Despite vitriol on social media against incorporation, the voting was light with the unofficial results reflecting 10,505 early ballots that were returned, accepted and tabulated before election day, according to Pinal Votes.
The total vote count was 15,216.
The county reports that there are 55,081 registered residents who were eligible to vote in the election.
The results will not become official until they are canvassed by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. That canvass is set to take place on Monday, Aug. 18.
Following the canvass, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors will officially incorporate the town and then appoint leaders to get the new government up and running using $51 million in state-shared revenue.
The county would pass all responsibility for the area to the new town leaders on July 1, 2026.
The group San Tan Valley Inc. led the two-year effort to incorporate the region, which is home to an estimated 100,000 people.
“This is a defining moment in our community’s history. We have planted the flag as Arizona’s 92nd municipality —making San Tan Valley the largest incorporation in state history. It’s a powerful example of what happens when neighbors come together with a shared vision and unwavering belief in our future,” said San Tan Valley Inc. Chairman Tyler Hudgins. “This moment belongs to all residents of San Tan Valley.”
Other efforts to incorporate San Tan Valley failed in 2004, 2010 and 2017.
San Tan Valley's closest neighbor, Queen Creek, supported for incorporation efforts through a resolution and now its leaders are looking forward to the new neighboring town.
"The town of Queen Creek has historically supported San Tan Valley’s effort to place the incorporation question on the ballot, supporting a neighboring area’s ability to have self-determination," Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley stated in a text.
Council Member Jeff Brown said that while awaiting results at an election night watch party on Tuesday, "the sentiment was that this was really a long time in coming and I would tend to agree with that because I've been supportive and fighting for San Tan Valley to have the right to vote for incorporation going back at least 15 years."
Liker Wheatley, Brown said he was eager to start working with the fledgling town "on regional issues, not the least of which of course will begin with transportation."
"I just view this as a very positive thing and getting a greater, louder voice for this region's share of transportation funding at the state Legislature," Brown said.
Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here