San Tan Valley has officially taken its first steps as a town, with the Board of Supervisors giving the green light to its incorporation and the subsequent appointment of its inaugural Town Council. This development comes as part of a Wednesday board meeting where a formal resolution was passed, paving the way for the seven council members identified after a thorough selection procedure, Pinal County officials said.
The selection process, which was anything but lackluster, initially attracted 86 applications, eventually leading to 13 candidates being publicly interviewed. These interviews happened during a Special Session Meeting held on a Monday, and the chosen council members are now set to be officially sworn in to commence the governance of San Tan Valley. The ceremony is scheduled for September 25, at Central Arizona College – San Tan Campus, as outlined in a Pinal County news release.
Community members making up the inaugural council include Tyler Hudgins, Bryan Hunt, Gia Jenkins, Daniel Oakes, Daren Schnepf, Brian Tyler, and Rupert Wolfert. "I want to thank everyone who put themselves forward for consideration for the inaugural Town Council," District 2 Supervisor Mike Goodman stated, emphasizing the competitive nature of the process and encouraging continued community involvement, according to a Pinal County news release.
The new council will serve until the open elections set to ideally coincide with the 2026 Primary Election on August 4, 2026. During this transitional phase, San Tan Valley will still rely on Pinal County for services, which will continue through until the end of June 2026. The establishment of a local governing body marks a significant event in the community's history, recognizing the Valley's accelerated growth and the inherent need to autonomously manage its administrative affairs.
