By Richard Dyer
Mail | Twitter: @RHDyer

The Apache Junction City Council mayoral election is nearing in a few short months.

The 2022 primary election is Aug. 2 and will include two candidates for the office of mayor: Mehmood Mohiuddin and Chip Wilson.

As the primary election nears, the Independent is conducting Q&As with each mayoral candidate to get his opinion on various topics to do with the city of Apache Junction. You will also see a similar Q&A series for the four council candidates vying for three seats: Darryl Cross, Ari Kalan, Robert Schroeder and Bryan Soller.

We kick off the Q&A series by asking candidates, “Why are you running?”

As the election gets closer, keep an eye on yourvalley.net/apache-junction-independent and the print edition of the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon Independent for more from the Q&A series.

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Mehmood “Mo” Mohiuddin

Mehmood “Mo” Mohiuddin, 62, is a businessman and owner of the Hitching Post restaurant. He has lived in Apache Junction for 12 years.

Why are you running?: I have been supportive of the community in many ways, including fundraisers for many organizations which include the Boys and Girls Club, The Hope Center, first responders, Apache Junction Unified School District, and the horsemen’s association, amongst many others. One current project is a collaboration with ADOT and City Council recognizing a need for horse safety concerns by adding signage and horse crossings within the city.

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Chip Wilson

Chip Wilson, 74, is currently retired, but worked for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force and 17 years at the Boeing facility in Mesa as an electronic repair technician and certified electronic test equipment. He has lived in Apache Junction for more than 32 years.

Why are you running?: I‘m running for re-election to continue to represent and support the citizens of this great community. I have always represented the interests of the equine community but it is also important to reflect the needs and desires of the other parts of our city, the businesses and those who make Apache Junction their part-time home. We all are working and living together in this great community and I will continue to advocate for everyone’s needs. And now, we face our next big challenge, making sure the growth to the south end of our city is properly managed and pays for itself.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

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.