Schnepf leads field in San Tan Valley council race

The latest results from Pinal County Elections show Daren Schnepf holding the top spot in the race for San Tan Valley's first-elected town council.

All seven seats are up for grabs,

Of the seven current council members who were appointed by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, five remain in the hunt. Two sitting council members opted not to run.

Schnepf is at 14% with 6,274 votes; Diane Combes is at 12.9% with 5,766 votes; Brian Tyler is at 12.68% with 5,665 votes; Daniel Oakes is at 12.65% with 5,653 votes; Tyler Hudgins is at 12.48% with 5,576 votes; Jean E. Stockton is at 11.52% with 5,149 votes; Rupert Wolfert is at 11.51% with 5,144 votes; and Alex Stovall rounds out the slate at 10.5% with 4,722 votes.

There are two write-in candidates, Donna Hallman and Paul Montes. Pinal County is reporting that 1.6%, or 729 votes, are going to write-in candidates.

Once the new council is seated, the members will select a mayor and vice mayor from among themselves.  

Here’s a look at the candidates based on information from their campaign websites:

Diane Combes

Diane Combes is a former admissions officer for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles and served as treasurer of San Tan Valley Inc., the organization that led the successful incorporation effort.

She was interviewed by the board of supervisors for a seat on the inaugural council. She has lived in San Tan Valley for five years and serves as a substitute teacher and as vice president of her HOA.

Donna Hallman

Donna Hallman, a former insurance agent and broker, has lived in San Tan Valley since 1995 and is an Arizona native.

She has held leadership roles for two HOA communities, "gaining real experience in budgeting, collaboration and problem-solving," her website stated.

Tyler Hudgins

Tyler Hudgins serves as vice mayor of the San Tan Valley Town Council after being appointed by the board of supervisors.

Before joining the town council, he chaired San Tan Valley Inc., the committee that led the successful effort to incorporate the community of nearly 100,000 residents.

Daniel Oakes

Daniel Oakes serves on the San Tan Valley Town Council after being appointed by the board of supervisors.

He has called San Tan Valley home for more than 23 years and is the founder and director of the Arizona Family Institute, a locally based mental health practice serving families throughout the East Valley.

Daren Schnepf

Daren Schnepf currently serves as the mayor of San Tan Valley after being appointed to the council by the board of supervisors.

He has lived in the area for 22 years, not including the first few years of his life on his family’s farm. His family roots date back to 1941 in the areas of San Tan Valley and Queen Creek.

Jean E. (Jeanne) Stockton

Jean E. (Jeanne) Stockton has lived in San Tan Valley since 2009 and is a mother and grandmother.

Stockton has been involved in many local activities and believes in building “a stronger, safer and more connected community where everyone feels valued” and is “ready to bring that same heart and energy to the town council,” according to her campaign website.

Alex Stovall

Alex Stovall is currently serving as first vice chair of the Pinal County Republican Committee and president of the Arizona Republican Assembly of North Central Pinal County.

Born and raised in Tucson, he joined the U.S. Army in 2013, deploying alongside an infantry division as a supply sergeant, and later direct commissioned as an Army chaplain candidate, retiring with the rank of first lieutenant.

Brian Tyler

Brian Tyler serves on the San Tan Valley Town Council after being appointed by the board of supervisors.

He is a utility meter specialist for the town of Queen Creek and was a member of San Tan Valley Inc. Tyler and his wife have lived in San Tan Valley for the past 17 years and have raised four children.

Rupert Wolfert

Rupert Wolfert serves on the San Tan Valley Town Council after being appointed by the board of supervisors.

Wolfert is a U.S. Army veteran who served two deployments to Afghanistan. He has lived in San Tan Valley for 10 years. He works at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and has experience at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Social Security Administration.

No information is available for the second write-in candidate Montes.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility