GOVERNMENT
alternate routes for safer, more reliable travel. Jobs and economic development: Maricopa needs more employment opportunities close to home. I will continue supporting responsible commercial and industrial development, helping small businesses succeed and pursuing projects that strengthen our tax base without burdening residents. Public safety and responsible growth: Growth must be matched by police officers, firefighters, roads, drainage, water planning and other essential services. I want the city to stay ahead of those needs while remaining financially responsible. everyone: Growth isn’t just about bigger numbers — it’s about opportunity. I want to attract businesses that create good-paying jobs, support our small business community, create pathways for entrepreneurs and give young people a future in Maricopa. Transparency and accountability: Government works best when people trust it. I’m committed to accessible communication, open town halls where residents shape decisions, and measurable accountability on what council commits to. If a program isn’t working, we own it and fix it publicly. When we bring new housing, new jobs, new schools, are they accessible to working families, young professionals, veterans and longtime residents? Or do we build a city where some of us thrive and others get left behind? I’ve spent my career making sure voices that get overlooked are actually heard and identifying the gaps where real solutions are needed. I refuse to go along to get along, but I will always handle things in a fair and non-contentious manner. I want to bring that same commitment to City Council — leading with both backbone and grace. Public service isn’t about titles; it’s about showing up authentically, listening hard and building solutions that work for all of us — not just some of us. That’s how I’ve led in nonprofits and in media. That’s what Maricopa deserves. PRIORITIES Attainable housing: Maricopa is growing, but housing costs are outpacing our wages. Young families, essential workers and seniors on fixed incomes are being priced out. I want intentional zoning policies and incentives for mixed-income development. Economic growth that reaches
Four candidates are competing for two Maricopa City Council seats in the Nov. 3 general election. Here’s what each candidate says about why they’re running and the issues they would prioritize if elected. Who wants a seat on Maricopa City Council? Meet the candidates running to shape Maricopa’s growth, infrastructure and public safety BY MONICA D. SPENCER
Henry Wade, incumbent GLENNWILDE
Chrystal O’Jon, challenger SENITA
I’ve been involved in public service most of my life, including when I joined the U.S. Air Force. I’m a 20-year veteran and during my time, I started doing activities on base to support ethnic observances. We were responsible for recognizing Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian Pacific Islander Week, and I started to incorporate a company called the Cultural Affairs Committee, which is similar to the city’s Cultural Affairs and Arts Committee. I’ve been involved with organizations that support those groups since I was 8 or 9, and I always felt the need to get involved. I’m hopeful that we will still focus on families and particularly the youth. I’d like to continue my work here in Maricopa, particularly with the students and other nonprofits. I bring experience — 12 years on council — and I think my aspect of strong, positive leadership is something I’ve carried with me since a long time ago. PRIORITIES Youth: Youth is my passion. I want to continue supporting youth programs such as Be Awesome and encourage opportunities that allow young people to learn, take on challenges and grow. I also want to see a dedicated youth center in Maricopa. Seniors: The senior community brings knowledge, experience and care to our community. I want to continue supporting opportunities for seniors to share their experience and information and ensuring their voices are heard. Veterans: As a veteran, I understand the importance of supporting fellow military members. I want to continue supporting veteran programs and opportunities that empower veterans and recognize the contributions they make to our community.
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project is complete. We must also build alternate routes, attract more local jobs, support small businesses and keep pace with public safety and infrastructure needs. My goal is to help Maricopa grow responsibly while protecting taxpayers and preserving the community our residents are proud to call home. PRIORITIES Transportation: Completing SR 347 widening remains my top priority. Construction is underway, but we must protect the funding, keep the project moving and continue developing For 30 years, I’ve shown up for communities — as a community volunteer, an entrepreneur, a nonprofit co-founder, and now as Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine publisher and cultural leader. As a woman, a grandmother and a wife, I bring a genuinely caring and authentically concerned perspective to everything I do. Here in Maricopa, I recognized an unmet need and a missed opportunity: Black business owners and entrepreneurs lacked a unified voice and support structure. I helped launch the Black Maricopa Chamber of Commerce to bridge that gap and create real economic pathways. I also established the Maricopa Veteran Care Center because our veterans deserve better, and I built a magazine that tells our neighborhood’s real story — the one that celebrates all of us. I’m running because Maricopa is growing fast — and I’m asking the question that should guide everything we do: growing for WHO?
I am running for City Council because the people who live here should have a voice in what happens in our city. Residents deserve to know what is going on, why decisions are being made and have the opportunity to speak up before those decisions are final. I have never been afraid to ask questions or advocate for my community, and I want to bring that same approach to City Council. PRIORITIES Public safety: Our residents deserve a police and fire system that meets or exceeds comparable communities, with proper staffing, competitive pay, equipment, advancement opportunities and support for dispatch and other critical public safety roles. Transportation: Transportation is about much more than SR 347. We need to continue fighting for improvements to 347 while addressing traffic obstacles within the city and working toward additional routes in and out of Maricopa. Transparency: City government should be customer service oriented. Residents deserve clear and timely information about what the city is doing and why, with opportunities to speak up and give input before decisions are made, not after.
Tena Dugan, challenger GLENNWILDE
Vincent Manfredi, incumbent MARICOPA MEADOWS My family and I have called Maricopa home since 2010. I am a husband, father, small-business owner and current vice mayor. I have served as mayor, vice mayor, and on Council in some form for the last 12 years. Before joining the City Council, I served on the Board of Adjustment and the Zoning Code Rewrite Task Force. I got involved because I saw Maricopa’s potential and complained to the mayor at the time. He told me to run for election and help him fix the issues, so I did. Since then, I have represented our city on regional transportation boards, supported our schools and nonprofits and worked to strengthen public safety and economic opportunity. I am running for reelection because important work remains unfinished. Construction on State Route 347 is underway, but I will not rest until the entire
I am an Arizona native and have called the Maricopa area home since 1996. Long before I considered running for office, I was involved in serving my community: 24 years with the Maricopa Unified School District, 15 years with Little League, eight years on the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Commission, including as chair, and I have served on several community and regional committees. My involvement in public service grew from a simple belief: If something needs to change, you must be willing to show up and be part of the solution. Over the years, I have worked alongside residents on transportation, small business issues, responsible growth and community issues. I have learned that people want to be heard, but too often they feel their voices are ignored before decisions are made.
InMaricopa.com | October 2026
October 2026 | InMaricopa.com
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