Unofficial results indicate that the Deer Valley Unified School District governing board may have a new look in 2025.
According to Maricopa County Elections’ current data, incumbent Kim Fisher (29,560 votes) and newcomers Karen Pack (27,763) and Steve Bottfeld (27,395) lead the eight-candidate field for the three available seats, which are four-year terms.
Julie Stockwell (26,941) and Tiffany Hawkins (25,401) trail with some 4,000 votes separating the top five candidates. Current board president Ann Ordway (20,947) also trails.
Current governing board member Stephanie Simacek, who was elected to her seat in 2022, leads in the race for the Arizona House representing Legislative District 2. Maricopa County Elections show her as the current race leader with 32,369 votes. Justin Wilmeth, with 30,774 votes, is running second for the two available LD2 House seats.
If Simacek does win her House seat she will have the option of remaining as a Deer Valley Unified governing board member simultaneously or stepping down. If she opts to step down from the Deer Valley Unified board, procedure calls for Maricopa County Superintendent Steve Watson to appoint her replacement.
“Our early contact with Mrs. Simacek indicated that she was planning on keeping her DVUSD seat should she win the House seat,” Deer Valley Unified Superintendent Dr. Curtis Finch told the Independent Wednesday in an email.
Stephanie Simacek
Efforts to reach Simacek for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.
The other current governing board seat is held by Paul Carver who, like Simacek, was elected in November 2022.
AZcentral is reporting that Maricopa County will post two rounds of updated results tonight, one between 6 and 7 p.m. and again between 10 and 11 p.m., and that there are about 700,000 ballots left in Maricopa County and more statewide.
Steve Stockmar News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment
YourValley.net
Meet Steve Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.
Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.
Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.
Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.
Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.
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