The town of San Tan Valley is now Arizona's newest municipality.
At a special meeting Monday, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved the results for the Aug. 5 San Tan Valley incorporation election.
Supervisors voted 4-0 to approve the ballot canvass. Supervisor Stephen Q. Miller was absent from the meeting.
The “yes” votes for incorporation came in at 10,133, or 66.5%, with the “no” votes at 5,083, or 33.3%.
With the canvass completed, the results can be challenged through Saturday, Aug. 23. Supervisors will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 27, to map out the creation of the new town.
According to Pinal County Recorder Dana Lewis, a total of 15,221 votes were cast including 13,335 early-voting ballots, 1,838 election-day ballots and 48 provisional.
Of the 55,081 registered residents who were eligible to vote in the election, 27% cast ballots.
The supervisors will next work toward appointing leaders to get the new government up and running using $51 million in state-shared revenue.
The county will 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 the day after the election. “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 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 via text.
Council Member Jeff Brown said 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.
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