GOVERNMENT
First job? Chopping weeds in cotton fields. It taught me the value of hard work at a very young age. Favorite hobby? Cooking is one of my favorite ways to relax and bring people together. I also enjoy running so I can keep up with my crosscountry team at Heritage Academy and spending time with my family and supporting my kids in their activities. What is your hidden superpower? Truth, transparency and trust — combined with my unusual love of reading contracts and fine print. If there’s a detail buried on page 47 that everyone else missed, I’ll probably find it. If you could elect a city mascot, what would it be? A burrowing owl — resilient, community-minded, uniquely suited to the desert, and a reminder that growth and conservation can coexist. What song would play when you walk into or exit a room? “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers, because strong communities are built when neighbors support one another and work together.
First job? I was working in a restaurant as a dishwasher. Favorite hobby? Anything outdoors or at the gym What would be your hidden superpower? My speech impediment; it gives me great understanding that no one is perfect and the courage to show that to others. If you could elect a city mascot, what would it be? A ram. It represents the city’s oldest high school and the ram is a beloved fixture of Maricopa athletics and school spirit. What song would play when you walk into or exit a room? “Backup Plan” by Baily Zimmerman and Luke Combs.
What is the most underrated thing about living in Maricopa? The people. Maricopa is full of families, volunteers, business owners and neighbors who do a lot of good. Cat or dog person? Dog, my mixed-breed terrier, Oreo, is now 17 years old. First job? One of my first jobs was unloading trucks full of 50-pound bags of powdered soap by hand. It taught me quickly what hard work means. Favorite hobby? I enjoy playing video games, spending time with family, and watching sports. I am also a long-suffering Chicago Bears fan, which probably counts as a test of character. What would be your hidden superpower? Being able to add more SR 347 lanes, overpasses and alternate routes instantly. Maricopa drivers would probably vote for that superpower, too. But since this is clearly a serious question, I would love to have the gift of knowing when people are lying. If you could elect a city mascot, what would it be? Some days I think Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh because Maricopa can get a little gloomy about itself. But I would go with a hummingbird; they are high energy, constantly moving and always looking for the next opportunity. What song would play when you walk into or exit a room? Walking in, it would be Stone Cold Steve Austin’s entrance theme. Once the glass breaks, everyone knows something memorable is about to happen. Walking out, “My Way” by Frank Sinatra, because I have always tried to do the work, take the criticism and keep moving forward.
Meet your candidates Candidates for city council, justice of the peace and constable share a little about themselves before voters go to the polls on July 21 BY MONICA D. SPENCER
They’ve coached youth sports, started businesses, volunteered on boards, raised families and built careers in Maricopa and beyond. This year’s candidates come from very different backgrounds, but they all share a desire to serve their community. InMaricopa asked each a mix of serious and lighthearted questions to help voters get to know the people behind the campaign signs. Responses have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
MARICOPA CITY COUNCIL
What is the most underrated thing about living in Maricopa? Maricopa is a city of about 80,000 people, but you still run into someone you know almost everywhere you go. That smalltown connection is special, and I hope we never lose it. Cat or dog person? Dog person. Corgis, specifically, because tiny legs and big opinions feel right at home in my world. First job? My first job was at Berge Mazda in the special-order parts department. It is funny now because my husband and I later owned NAPA stores, so auto parts apparently were going to find me one way or another. Favorite hobby? I love traveling, quilting, spending time with my family, working out with my Peach Fitness crew and being involved in the community. Calling community advocacy a hobby may be a warning sign, but here we are. What would be your hidden superpower? My hidden superpower is reading the fine print and finding the needle in the haystack, especially in numbers. My HOA board members have seen it firsthand and are usually amazed at what I catch. If you could elect a city mascot, what would it be? A roadrunner. It is fast, tough, built for the desert and somehow still surviving traffic, which feels very Maricopa. What song would play when you walk into or exit a room? “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman. It is confident, direct and a good reminder that I know who I am and why I show up.
Incumbent Vincent Manfredi
Incumbent AnnaMarie Knorr Hometown: Buckeye, Ariz. Neighborhood: Cobblestone Farms Years in Maricopa: 20
Hometown: West New York, N.J. Neighborhood: Maricopa Meadows Years in Maricopa: 16
Challenger Tena Dugan
What brought you to Maricopa? We came here looking for a good place to live, raise kids and build a future. We chose correctly. Occupation? I own InMaricopa.com and InBuckeye.com. My work is focused on advertising and helping small businesses connect with their communities. In which community organizations are you involved? Open Arms Vocational Living Center board, Central Arizona Governments Governing Board, Arizona Rural Transportation Advocacy Council Board of Directors, Pinal Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors, Arizona League of Cities & Towns Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Works Committee, Central Arizona Governments Economic Development District Board, Maricopa Associations of Governments Transportation Policy Committee. Previously, I have been involved in youth sports and volunteered with Maricopa Unified School District.
What brought you to Maricopa? Maricopa’s deep agricultural roots and farming heritage reminded me of where I came from, and it was a great place to raise a family. Occupation? Maricopa city councilmember, director of marketing and public outreach for Exceptional Healthcare in Arizona and cross- country coach at Heritage Academy Maricopa. In which community organizations are you involved? Maricopa Water Safety Coalition, Maricopa Fire Foundation Board, Be Awesome Youth Coalition, Boys & Girls Club, the Greater Maricopa Business Alliance and Maricopa Lions Club. What is the most underrated thing about living in Maricopa? The people. When someone needs help, this community consistently shows up for one another. Cat or dog person? Dog person. I have two I rescued from a local shelter.
Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz. Neighborhood: Glennwilde Years in Maricopa: 2013
Challenger Adam Leach
What brought you to Maricopa? My husband is a farmer, and we moved our farm to Stanfield in 1996. I started volunteering in Maricopa in 2000, before incorporation, and my husband and I were business owners here from 2002 to 2020. Occupation? I am a realtor serving Maricopa and Pinal counties and the surrounding areas. I sell dirt and houses, too. In which community organizations are you involved? Pinal County Transportation Advisory Committee, 347Facts Committee. Previously on the Glennwilde HOA Board, Maricopa Parks, Recreation and Libraries Committee, Maricopa Citizen Transportation Oversight Committee and the Boys & Girls Club Community Board.
Hometown: Rehoboth, Mass. Neighborhood: Santa Rosa Springs Years in Maricopa: 20 What brought you to Maricopa? A sense of community and affordable homes Current occupation? Real estate agent and investor In which community organizations are you involved? Boy Scouts, 347Facts committee, Rotary Club of Maricopa, Maricopa Rocketry Club What is the most underrated thing about living in Maricopa? A true sense of community and diversity Cat or dog person? I like all animals, but I love dogs.
Challenger Chrystal O’Jon
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif. Neighborhood: Senita Years in Maricopa: 16 What brought you to Maricopa? Retirement
InMaricopa.com | July 2026
July 2026 | InMaricopa.com
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