Queen Creek Councilmember Emilena Turley announced today that she would not be seeking reelection to the council in 2022 and will be retiring at the end of her current term.

She said she would not be running for any state office.

Turley was elected to the town council in November 2014 and was reelected without opposition in August 2018.  She serves on the town's Economic Development Commission and the Transportation Advisory Committee.

“My husband Aaron and I first moved to Queen Creek more than a decade ago because we loved the small town feel and close-knit community.  We have raised our children here and continue to be blessed everyday by our family, friends and neighbors,” Turley said in a press release. “It has been an honor to serve the people of this great town and to know that I have played a part in its growth, its success and in protecting the unique qualities that make it such an ideal place to live, work and raise a family.”

Turley won awards from taxpayer groups for her work in protecting Queen Creek residents, including being named Hero of the Taxpayer. According to the release, Turley was described as a supporter of law enforcement who “opposed every effort to raise taxes and instead fought to fund town priorities by saying no to spending she considered wasteful or inappropriate.”