Oro Valley voters will decide the town's next mayor, three town council seats and the future of a 10-year community plan when they head to the polls this election season.

Mayor Joe Winfield is not seeking reelection, leaving residents to choose between former Pima County Sheriff and assistant county administrator Mark Napier and current Oro Valley Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett.

Town council candidates include Rosa Dailey, Chris DeSimone, Jake Herrington, Rhonda Pina and Matt Wood.

Candidates receiving a majority of votes cast in the primary will be declared elected. Candidates receiving the highest number of votes, but less than a majority, will advance to the Nov. 4 general election, up to twice the number of remaining positions to be filled.

Voters will also decide in November whether to approve the town's 10-year OV Path Forward Plan, which includes goals involving public safety, arts, sustainability, finances, development and transportation.

Tucson Spotlight asked all nine candidates their positions on surveillance and the border, the controversial Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve project and OV Path Forward.

Barrett, DeSimone, Dailey, Pina and Wood did not respond.

Mark Napier

Napier previously served as Pima County Sheriff from 2016 to 2020, losing his bid for reelection to current Sheriff Chris Nanos.

He went onto work as chief of staff for the Cochise County Sheriff's Department for a short period of time before he was hired as an assistant county administrator to lead Pima County's emergency communications and elections department in 2021.

He retired the following year, after Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher eliminated the county's assistant county administrator positions, shifting some of her top staffers to senior advisor positions.

Napier's campaign has emphasized his previous law enforcement and government experience and the middle ground for town growth he hopes will be sustainable.

Napier said he supports the OV Path Forward plan, noting that it was crafted with resident input and calling it "a valuable roadmap to our future."

Napier acknowledged the concerns expressed by community members and his opponent regarding the use of surveillance technology in the town, but said he believes this type of technology is a good thing for the town.

"Clearly, there are privacy concerns with respect to these cameras," Napier said of the controversial Flock Safety cameras used by Oro Valley police and other agencies. "That being said, they are a valuable tool for law enforcement and I trust the OVPD to use them in an appropriate and legal manner. We should be guarded with our relationship with all outside law enforcement vendors to ensure that those relationships only serve the best interests of the town and all our residents."

Napier shares the concern of many residents that the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve pond was an "eyesore" and that restoration was the right move, albeit an imperfect one.

"I believe the restoration of the pond is likely the best bad solution to the lack of foresight given to the transition from the golf course to open space," Napier said. "This project should be very carefully monitored to ensure it remains on budget and is completed in a reasonable time period."

Napier said the town should not have waited until an election year to take action, with the town council originally approving the plan to restore the pond last April.

Jake Herrington

Herrington has worked in sectors including real estate, construction and infrastructure management, and served as chair of Oro Valley's planning and zoning commission.

Herrington outlined fiscal responsibility, public safety, economic growth, infrastructure maintenance and transparent government as his priorities, saying he opposes any increases in taxes and would prefer to see revenue increase through development.

He expressed support for the OV Path Forward plan and encouraged resident engagement in its implementation, but said he would have liked to see more emphasis on a number of issues, including economic growth, business recruitment and long-term fiscal stability.

"Oro Valley cannot simply wait for employers and businesses to come to us," Herrington said. "We must actively market our community, recruit quality employers, support local businesses, fill vacant commercial spaces, and attract investment that strengthens our tax base without increasing taxes on residents."

Herrington said he supports the continued use of Flock Safety technology, but with reservations, transparency and assurances about how the technology will be used. He'd also like the public to have access to the information that's collected, the way it's collected and who else is accessing it.

"Public safety remains one of Oro Valley's greatest strengths, and I believe technology can play an important role in helping law enforcement prevent and solve crimes," he said. "Tools such as license plate recognition cameras can be valuable when used appropriately and with proper oversight. At the same time, residents deserve confidence that their privacy and constitutional rights are protected."

Herrington said the town should regularly assess the effectiveness and safeguards of this technology to ensure the benefits outweigh the cost.

He also believes the Vistoso Trails project, like all public projects, should be evaluated for long-term maintenance obligations, saying his preferred approach for restoration would be to carefully listen to stakeholders and facts to evaluate decisions based on the evidence.

"Since the project has already been approved and substantial investments have been made, the focus now should be on ensuring the best possible outcome for residents while maintaining transparency throughout the process," Herrington said. "Going forward, I believe the Town should provide regular public updates regarding project costs, environmental testing results, water usage, maintenance requirements, and long-term operational impacts. Residents deserve clear information and accountability."

Ian Stash is University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist in Tucson. Contact him at ianjgs16@gmail.com.

Allison Kuester is a student at Northwestern University and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at allisonkuester2029@u.northwestern.edu.

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