Queen Creek should expand on its relationships with regional neighbors on issues from roadways to attracting major employers and supporting the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, candidates for Queen Creek Town Council said.
Queen Creek residents Robin Benning, Jeremy Benson, Jeff Brown, Jason Gad and Leah Martineau have filed petitions to run for Town Council.
The seats of three members of council --- Mr. Benning, Mr. Brown and Councilmember Jake Hoffman --- all who were elected in 2016, are up for re-election. Mr. Hoffman is not running as he is seeking office at the Arizona House of Representatives.
The deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 4 primary election was July 6. If needed, the general election will be Nov. 3. Register to vote at Servicearizona.com or request a form from Maricopa County at 602-506-1511 (maricopa.gov) or Pinal County at 520-866-7100 (pinalcountyaz.gov).
For more information, contact the town clerk’s office at 480-358-3211.
Independent Newsmedia reached out to each council candidate seeking answers to a variety of questions, which can be read at yourvalley.net/queen-creek-independent. Below are their answers on what opportunities they see for regional collaboration.
Council candidate Leah Martineau
Queen Creek should collaborate regionally on transportation, airport expansion and attracting major employers, Ms. Martineau, 38, said.
“Just as we practice in our personal lives, I believe Queen Creek should be a good neighbor to the communities around us,” she said.
“There are certainly opportunities to work together in regional collaboration for the planning and development of transportation infrastructure, airport expansions, the shared use of public-safety training facilities, and the attraction of corporate relocations and major employers, among many other opportunities. I want to see Queen Creek collaborate regionally, while maintaining our own unique attributes and vibrancy,” Ms. Martineau said.
She teaches 11th and 12th grade government and economics at East Valley High School. She previously taught preschool, kindergarten and first grade for 13 years combined.
Collaboration can be expanded in the East Valley for issues from transportation to joint marketing for attracting businesses, Mr. Gad, 46, said.
“During my time as a Queen Creek council member, I was able to see firsthand the strong benefit to Queen Creek partnering and collaborating with our surrounding towns on issues of joint interest. Economically, one of the greatest is our partnership in the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Continuing to support the growth of this airport provides increased access for Queen Creek residents, our businesses and even tourists coming to visit our beautiful community,” he said.
“Expanding collaboration with our East Valley neighbors in the areas of transportation development, joint marketing for business attraction, and combined representation on shared local issues before the Arizona state capitol enhances our voice. An additional area of opportunity for collaboration is with our San Tan Valley neighbors, many of whom travel to and through Queen Creek regularly. As they continue to grow, Queen Creek is affected by them but we can also help guide them through the establishment of their own municipality partnering on issues of joint benefit,” Mr. Gad said.
“Overall, by collaborating with our neighbors, we are able to increase Queen Creek’s influence, keep program and service costs down, and ensure we are responsible with our residents’ hard-earned tax dollars while achieving the best for our community,” he said.
Mr. Gad works as a strategic supply chain manager in the financial services industry.
Queen Creek has great relationships with regional neighbors from Mesa to Apache Junction and Pinal County, Mr. Brown, 53, said.
“The opportunities for regional collaboration ahead will be on transportation, water, library, parks, finance, public safety, economic development. So much of what the town does currently involves collaboration with our partners. Our town has had great relationships with our regional neighbors including City of Mesa; towns of Gilbert, Apache Junction and Florence. We’ve been very tied out with both Maricopa County and Pinal County as well,” he said.
“Some great examples of partnership that you can see today are in projects like Signal Butte and Meridian Road --- Pinal and Maricopa County and Mesa; Riggs Road --- Maricopa and Pinal County; our library --- Maricopa County; water issues --- Pinal County/Florence; public safety including fire/police --- Gilbert and Mesa; State trust land --- Arizona, Apache Junction,” he said.
“Our relationships are quite strong with all the aforementioned regional partners and we also have close ties with Chandler and Tempe,” Mr. Brown said.
He is self-employed in consultant services --- since 2007.
Mr. Brown is on Twitter @JeffBrownQC, on Facebook @JBQCTownCouncil and has a website at friendsofjeffbrown.com. He can be reached at jbforqc@gmail.com and 480-442-8127.
Council candidate Jeremy Benson
As Queen Creek grows it can learn from other municipalities on what to do --- and not to do --- with issues from roads to infrastructure, Mr. Benson, 37, said.
“There are lots of opportunities for collaboration including everything that’s going on at Mesa Gateway airport as well as the joint efforts with Mesa and Pinal County for road improvement,” he said.
“We are in a unique position with the growth of our town that we can learn from our neighbors in the Valley. We can learn both things to do and not to do in regards to roads as well as infrastructure and town planning. I am fortunate to have friends and associates that work and live in other municipalities around the Valley who I am able to call on as needed,” Mr. Benson said.
Mr. Benson owns iFixem Phone Repairs in Queen Creek Marketplace; and Light Your Garage.
Queen Creek should continue to be part of regional councils in Maricopa and Pinal counties, Mr. Benning, 60, said.
“I continue to engage with neighboring governments via the Maricopa Association of Governments and the Central Arizona Governments regional councils. I continue to meet and work with elected officials from throughout the Phoenix metro area as well as the communities of Pinal County, especially the members of the East Valley Partnership, CAG, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Pinal Partnership. By strengthening our relationships we are better able to work together for our region and the Town of Queen Creek,” Mr. Benning said.
He is on Twitter @RobinBenningQC and on Facebook @ReelectRobin.
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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