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.

This is the second installment of the Q&A series, asking candidates, “What do you think should be the city’s priorities?”

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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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.

What do you think should be the city’s priorities?: The city does need to keep an eye on the growth to the south; this is important to the future of our city and the region. We want to do it right and I have seen the process over the last several years to get to this point. Along with that, the city has an opportunity to draw more business and jobs to the area and we have the experts in helping them get started and putting them in position to thrive in our community.

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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.

What do you think should be the city’s priorities?: There is a need for a new vision that blends the projected incoming growth while maintaining the Western heritage of Apache Junction. This vision includes creating a business environment that is more friendly and inviting, as well as developing an enjoyable “small town” feel for Apache Junction residents.

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.