Mesquite District Councilmember Brad Shafer, who represents the northernmost part of Peoria, announced he will finish the rest of the last year of his term and will not seek reelection in the coming year.
In a letter sent to his constituents and posted to social media Jan. 24, Shafer said “service before self” has been a core value and his intentions have always been to serve his community and not to have a career in politics.
“While I had initially anticipated a greater emphasis on integrity in politics in general, it has become obvious that I should redirect my focus towards pursuits that align with higher principles and values,” he said. “I urge you in the coming months to select a candidate who will have the courage to represent you, the people of the Mesquite District, even when it’s the more difficult road.”
Shafer was appointed to the Mesquite District in April 2022, and elected into office by voters in November 2022.
Shafer fought for the planned continued expansion of Paloma Park when about $18.7 million was diverted away from the project last year. At the time, Shafer voted against the reallocation and the capital improvement program, stating the park’s voter-approved bonds from 2008 were meant for phase 2 and the park’s expansion.
Paloma Park’s phase 2 still appears hazy, and appears won’t move forward in the near future.
In efforts to provide more transparency to his constituents, Shafer has attempted to pull certain consent agenda items at public meetings, but Mayor Jason Beck denied those requests. The issue was highlighted during the city’s attempt to bring a helicopter to Peoria for public safety services.
“I have demanded fiscal responsibility and transparency from our government officials. I have championed smart development, parks, open spaces, water, safety resources for Lake Pleasant, and have made information more available to the residents in my district than ever before. I have taken my oath of office seriously and listened to the people about the issues that are important to them, taken that input to council and voted accordingly,” the letter stated.
Shafer is a third generation veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force and a former first responder, serving as a medic at Luke Air Force Base during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and serving during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
He has served in numerous leadership roles throughout his career, including president of the Candeo School board and his HOA board. He has been a member of Peoria Diamond Club and a leader at his church.
Before serving on council, Shafer was a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as a member of the charter review and bond authorization committees.
He has a master’s and bachelor’s degree in health care administration, and has more than 25 years experience in the health care industry.
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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