In a unanimous decision at the January 8 meeting, the Chandler City Council appointed Councilmember Angel Encinas as the new vice mayor, a role he is slated to hold until January 14, 2027, the city recently announced. Encinas, who is in his first term on the Council after beginning his tenure in January 2023, embraces the significance of the position in a community that is the very fabric of his being. "This role as vice mayor is especially meaningful because this city is my home," Encinas expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support from the City Council, as well as his family and friends, according to the City of Chandler's official website.
Angel Encinas is deeply rooted in Chandler, not only by virtue of being raised in the heart of downtown but also through his consistent commitment to the city, where he still resides and is knitted into the local narrative in myriad capacities. He runs an immigration consulting firm and is equally active in real estate; he is also invested in education and workforce development as a member of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce Committee along with contributing to regional development through his role on the Phoenix East Valley Partnership Board of Directors and to the community by serving on the board of the Livwell Foundation, a local nonprofit that endeavors to enhance the quality of local life.
Encinas boasts a distinctly Chandler-centric academic and professional history—product of the Chandler public school system, graduate of Chandler High School, and holder of a business degree from Arizona State University, where he also pursued a minor in sustainability, evidencing a long-standing commitment to the city's growth and well-being. The vice mayor's role is the latest in a series of civic engagements whereby Encinas continues to weave his narrative into the broader tapestry of Chandler's ongoing story and its aspirations for the future.
Through this new leadership role, Encinas' voice is set to become even more pivotal in the shaping of city policies and initiatives, with a particular focus on sustaining the community that has, by his own account, shaped his identity and values – "This community has shaped who I am and everything I care about is rooted right here," he told city officials. The selection of Encinas underscores Chandler's ongoing commitment to nurturing leaders from its own soil, poised to steer the city towards a future that respects its past while looking forward in innovation and community-driven policymaking.
