GOVERNMENT
Occupation? Owner of Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine. In which community organizations are you involved? Maricopa Debutante Organization, First Friday Downtown Maricopa, Ten Toes Down Cancer Walk, Maricopa Fashion Week, Kids Day Maricopa, Black Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and Maricopa Desert Music & Arts Fest. What is the most underrated thing about living in Maricopa? The beautiful sunsets. Cat or dog person? I love them both. What was your first job? L.A. Unified School District as an elementary playground supervisor. What is your favorite hobby? Arts and crafts. I love design and storytelling — I’m always sketching or creating layouts for the magazine. What would be your hidden superpower? Patience. Being a caregiver for my husband and juggling everything else teaches you patience real quick. But I think it’s because listening matters more to me than rushing. I’d rather sit with someone and really understand what they need than just move on to the next thing. This requires patience that many people don’t see as an actual strength. If you could elect a city mascot, what would it be? A singing cactus. What song would you play when you walk into or exit a room? “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” by McFadden & Whitehead
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
Summer School Join us for one of our exciting Summer School Weeks and experience what learning at Flourish is all about. Students will immerse themselves in hands-on, project-based studies while exploring:
Maricopa has a big yet small feel, big enough to keep gaining what a growing city needs, small enough that you still run into people you know at Bashas’.” JAMES SINGLETON
Week 1: filmmaking Bring stories to life through creativity, collaboration, and video production. Week 2: Wind Energy Discover the science and innovation behind renewable energy through engaging activities and experiments. Come experience a unique approach to learning that inspires curiosity, creativity, and real-world discovery.
Incumbent Henry Wade
stop in Mesa, my wife and I went hunting for a place to finally plant roots. Maricopa won us over and we haven’t looked back. Occupation? Senior software engineer, which is a fancy way of saying I get paid to make computers behave. In which community organizations are you involved? Assistant coach for Maricopa High School swim team, former vice chair and chair of Maricopa Planning & Zoning Commission and web developer for 347 Facts. What is the most underrated thing about living in Maricopa? Maricopa has a big yet small feel, big enough to keep gaining what a growing city needs, small enough that you still run into people you know at Bashas’. That mix is hard to find in a city this size. Cat or dog person? Both if I’m honest, but our three dogs would probably vote dog. First job? Selling CUTCO Cutlery door to door, which taught me how to handle rejection, followed by refereeing at a paintball park, which taught me how to dodge things flying at my head. Favorite hobby? Toss-up between photography and building websites, depending on whether I feel like capturing a moment in time or building something useful. What would be your hidden superpower? Being able to control electronics just by thinking about them; lights, laptops, the works. It would make my day job a lot more interesting and probably a little dangerous. If you could elect a city mascot, what would it be? A burrowing owl dressed as a train conductor, equal parts wise and on schedule. Owls bring a sense of watching over the community, and the conductor nods to Maricopa’s railroad roots. What song would play when you walk into or exit a room? Probably Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” or “How Do You Like Me Now.” Either one means I’m ready to make an entrance.
Challenger Tom Chapman
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif. Neighborhood: Glennwilde Years in Maricopa: 18
Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz. Neighborhood: The Villages Years in Maricopa: 4
What brought you to Maricopa? We were looking to move from the Phoenix area and Maricopa won out because it felt comfortable. I liked that it was small, quiet and slow-moving, but also growing. Occupation? I’m retired, but I also serve as a city council member. In which community organizations are you involved? At the moment, just serving the community through city council. What is the most underrated thing about living in Maricopa? Community members because people like the city and the relationships and friendships they develop. The people here are really engaged and very committed to the growth and development of the community. Cat or dog person? I love dogs, but wife is allergic to cats and dogs so we have neither. First job? I was a shoeshine boy on corner of Florence and Normandie Avenues in South Central Los Angeles. I was an 8-year-old entrepreneur with my box and wax. Favorite hobby? Working with kids, I enjoy that more than anything. I was previously a Scout Master, so I enjoyed arranging camping trips and other events. What is your hidden superpower? I would probably like having super hearing so I can participate in every conversation around me. If you could elect a city mascot, what would it be? A tiger, they’re sleek, strong and you’re not going to mess with a tiger. What song would play when you walk into or exit a room? I’d say either “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye or “Shaft” by Isaac Hayes.
What brought you to Maricopa? Quality of life, safety, affordability and friends brought us to Maricopa. Occupation? Retired police officer and currently an MRI technologist What was your first job? My first job was mowing lawns at 10 years old. My next was doing auto body work at 13 years old. In which community organizations are you involved? I have always been heavily involved in volunteering, charity and my church. What’s a misconception people have about judges from TV and movies? That judges can do whatever they want. As judges, we are to follow court rules, state law and the Constitution. What is the most misunderstood part of the justice court? Times standards are misunderstood. They are actually very important to meet minimum standards established by the Arizona Supreme Court. If they’re failing, then more work must be done. It cannot be two days a week. What experience has best prepared you to serve as justice of the peace? My 25 years as a police officer and detective has prepared me to listen to every side and all information before making a determination. What would your high-school self think of you today? Never could’ve imagined life’s challenges met, failures I’ve overcome and success that I’ve been so blessed to enjoy. I never imagined the love I’d experience as a husband and father. What song would play when you walk into a room? “Proud to be an American.”
Summer School Highlights • FREE for enrolled Flourish families • Limited to students per week • Join either week or both • Daily Flourish Circles, Problem of the Day, Clubs & Pursuits • Campus Store Open
FLOURISH MARICOPA July 8-10 & July 20-22 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Challenger James Singleton
Flourish Microschools Where uriosity omes ack to ife FlourishSchools.com · (602) 661-8259 • amanda@flourishschools.com The Wells Shopping Plaza · Maricopa, AZ
Hometown: Los Alamitos, Calif. Neighborhood: Tortosa Years in Maricopa: 5
What brought you to Maricopa? After moving from Florida in 2019 and a year-long
InMaricopa.com | July 2026
July 2026 | InMaricopa.com
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