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Daniel Valenzuela
Daniel Valenzuela was a member of the Phoenix City Council in Arizona, representing District 5. Valenzuela assumed office in 2012. Valenzuela left office on July 18, 2018.
Valenzuela (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to represent District 3 in Arizona. Valenzuela lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Valenzuela completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Daniel Valenzuela graduated from the Phoenix Fire Department Training Academy in 2003. Valenzuela's career experience includes working as an emergency medical technician and firefighter.[1]His professional experience includes working as an instructor for the Arizona Department of Emergency Management and as the director of the National Fire and Rescue Services Information Officer Network.[2]
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Maricopa County, Arizona (2024)
General election
General election for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors District 3
Kate Brophy McGee defeated Daniel Valenzuela in the general election for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors District 3 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kate Brophy McGee (R) | 50.0 | 183,390 |
 | Daniel Valenzuela (D)  | 50.0 | 183,219 | |
| Total votes: 366,609 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors District 3
Daniel Valenzuela advanced from the Democratic primary for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors District 3 on July 30, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Daniel Valenzuela | 99.6 | 62,610 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 239 | ||
| Total votes: 62,849 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors District 3
Kate Brophy McGee defeated Tabatha Cuellar LaVoie in the Republican primary for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors District 3 on July 30, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kate Brophy McGee | 71.3 | 47,796 |
 | Tabatha Cuellar LaVoie | 28.2 | 18,917 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 280 | ||
| Total votes: 66,993 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Valenzuela in this election.
2018
General runoff election
Special general runoff election for Mayor of Phoenix
Kate Gallego defeated Daniel Valenzuela in the special general runoff election for Mayor of Phoenix on March 12, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kate Gallego (Nonpartisan) | 58.6 | 92,816 |
| Daniel Valenzuela (Nonpartisan) | 41.4 | 65,624 | |
| Total votes: 158,440 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
General election
Special general election for Mayor of Phoenix
Kate Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela advanced to a runoff. They defeated Moses Sanchez and Nicholas Sarwark in the special general election for Mayor of Phoenix on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kate Gallego (Nonpartisan) | 44.6 | 171,035 |
| ✔ | | Daniel Valenzuela (Nonpartisan) | 26.3 | 100,998 |
 | Moses Sanchez (Nonpartisan) | 18.6 | 71,121 | |
 | Nicholas Sarwark (Nonpartisan) | 10.5 | 40,218 | |
| Total votes: 383,372 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tim Seay (Nonpartisan)
2015
The city of Phoenix, Arizona, held elections for mayor and city council on August 25, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was May 27, 2015.[3] Four of the eight city council seats were up for election. In District 5, incumbent Daniel Valenzuela defeated Felix A. Garcia.[4][5]
| Phoenix City Council District 5 General Election, 2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
 Daniel Valenzuela Incumbent |
74% | 7,609 | |
| Felix A. Garcia | 26% | 2,677 | |
| Total Votes | 10,286 | ||
| Source: City of Phoenix, "Official election results," accessed September 15, 2015 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Daniel Valenzuela completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Valenzuela's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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During his tenure, Valenzuela made the city safer, strengthened neighborhoods, provided regional leadership, and transformed the Phoenix economy through innovation and fostering an environment where entrepreneurs can succeed.
Valenzuela's achievements include creating CodePhx in public libraries, aimed at bridging the gender and opportunity gap in tech education. He also fought to amend the City of Phoenix Anti-Discrimination Ordinance to protect sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and disability. Additionally, he proposed that all Phoenix voters automatically receive a mail-in ballot before Election Day for all city elections—a practice still in place today.
Now running for Maricopa County Supervisor in District 3, Valenzuela aims to enhance public safety, drive economic development, and invest strategically in infrastructure for sustainable growth. He is dedicated to addressing housing and homelessness issues and upholding democracy by advocating for secure, transparent, accessible, and fair voting practices across the county.
Valenzuela has been honored with awards including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man of the Year, Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Impact, NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership, Tech Talent AZ, and Behavioral Health Agency Champion.- Public safety should be the priority of any government. I have dedicated my life to keeping people safe, serving as a 20-year professional firefighter and a two-term policymaker on the Phoenix City Council. As a Maricopa County Supervisor, I will continue this mission regionally for the nation’s fourth-largest and fastest-growing county. I helped pass Phoenix’s anti-discrimination ordinance, lifted the hiring freeze to add more police and firefighters, secured federal grants for public safety resources, and collaborated with the Phoenix PD on the first body cam pilot, now a citywide policy. I’m proud to stand alongside the brave women and men who protect our community, and I’m honored to start this campaign with police and fire support.
- Economic development is crucial. Maricopa County's rapid growth requires a robust strategy to attract, retain, and develop talent. I plan to launch UPSKILL MARICOPA, partnering with educational institutions and businesses to provide re-skilling and workforce development opportunities to diversify our economy and create a skilled workforce. I chaired Phoenix’s Economy & Innovation effort, as we refocused the City’s economic development strategy to today’s leading industries: Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing, IT, Transportation, and Entrepreneurship. Additionally, fiscal responsibility is essential. Maintaining a balanced budget helps weather economic downturns without compromising services.
- As Maricopa County Supervisor, I’ll enhance our elections through access, transparency and security to build even greater trust and efficiency. On the Phoenix City Council, I championed mail-in ballots for all Phoenix voters, improving access, security, and participation. I’ll ensure thorough testing of equipment before Election Day and establish robust contingency plans to resolve issues quickly. Expanding access involves voter education, resources, and outreach in multiple languages, mail-in ballots, early voting locations, secure drop boxes, and fully accessible polling places. We must prioritize our democracy by making Maricopa County, the nation’s 2nd largest voting jurisdiction, the most transparent and secure in the county.
I am also dedicated to addressing our region’s most pressing social challenges, including housing affordability, homelessness, and the fentanyl crisis.
I was born and raised in Phoenix, the youngest of six, primarily raised by a single mom. I attended 13 public schools in Phoenix and lived in even more places than that. Fortunately, despite our challenges, it was this community—my hometown—that made me who I am today.
One day, when I was eight, my mom collapsed while preparing dinner. I called 911, and the firefighters who arrived that day saved her life and changed mine forever. They didn’t care which neighborhood we lived in, what our home looked like, how much money we had in the bank, or our political affiliation. They treated us like family. That was the first time I met a firefighter who looked like me. It was clear even then that our firefighters did not pick and choose who they served. They serve everyone without bias or prejudice.
I was inspired to serve others the way they served my mom. That experience led to my own career as a firefighter and eventually to public office, where I focused on policies that benefit everyone in our community. This included strengthening Phoenix’s anti-discrimination ordinance, working to make our neighborhoods safer, and helping transform our economy through innovation and cultivating an environment where entrepreneurs can succeed.
Integrity is the cornerstone of public service. An elected official must consistently demonstrate honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior. Without integrity, public trust erodes, and the ability to lead and make positive changes diminishes.
Humility is crucial for any leader. It involves recognizing that leadership is about serving the people, not wielding power. Humility fosters respect and cooperation, creating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and considered.
A strong work ethic is essential for an elected official. Serving the public requires dedication, persistence, and a willingness to go above and beyond. Hard work demonstrates a commitment to the responsibilities of office and a genuine desire to make a positive impact.
The ability to listen is a vital skill for any elected official. Listening means truly hearing the concerns, needs, and ideas of constituents. Effective listening helps officials make informed decisions and builds trust.
Knowing how to do the job is important, but actually doing it is vital. If you are not voting, you are not governing. I am proud of my perfect meeting attendance during my tenure as a Phoenix City Councilmember.
My track record as a two-term Phoenix City Councilmember and former Vice Mayor underscores my ability to work with others and lead. I have served on virtually every subcommittee and chaired the Neighborhoods, Planning, Development, Housing & Homelessness Subcommittee, followed by the Downtown, Aviation, Economy and Innovation Subcommittee. I took leadership roles in addressing our city’s most complex issues, notably securing federal funds to lift the public safety hiring freeze, championing the city's non-discrimination ordinance, and leading a diverse coalition to undertake pension reform, saving Phoenix taxpayers over $1 billion.
- Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona
- Arizona Police Association
- Phoenix REALTORS
- Maricopa Area Labor Federation
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2015
Valenzuela's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[6]
Safety
- Excerpt: "Not only has the Councilman advocated for the needs of our public safety departments with his colleagues on the City Council, he has also taken his message to Washington, DC to fight for the city's fair share of federal funds."
- Excerpt: "Worked with the Phoenix Police Department and businesses in Maryvale to create the Phoenix Merits program. The program rewards youth for contributing towards the improvement of our community by doing good deeds. This is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Maryvale Revitalization Corporation, the city of Phoenix, our local business community."
Economy
- Excerpt: "Led the way toward expanding entrepreneurship in Phoenix, helping to brand Phoenix as hub of innovation, to expand collaborative workspace and working to secure more investment capital for start-up projects in Phoenix."
- Excerpt: "Led the acceleration of the Northwest Light Rail Extension, creating 1,500 local jobs and helping more than 20,000 area residents have an easier journey to and from work each day."
Neighborhood strength
- Excerpt: "Councilman Valenzuela will continue to work tirelessly to advocate for the neighborhoods in District 5. He has spent countless hours attending neighborhood meetings, assisting in the formation of block watches, and ensuring city departments are responding to neighborhood concerns."
Healthy city
- Excerpt: "From ensuring our residents have access to healthy, affordable food to protecting our environment, Councilman Valenzuela is a strong advocate for building a healthy Phoenix."
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Maricopa County Board of Supervisors District 3 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 2, 2024
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio - ↑ City of Phoenix, "Important Dates Flyer," accessed February 13, 2015
- ↑ City of Phoenix, "Elections Information," accessed September 19, 2014
- ↑ City of Phoenix, "Official election results," accessed September 15, 2015
- ↑ Daniel Valenzuela official campaign website, "The Record," accessed August 3, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Phoenix City Council District 5 2012-2018 |
Succeeded by - |
 |
State of Arizona Phoenix (capital) |
|---|---|
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