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Mayoral election in Mesa, Arizona (2024)

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← 2020
2024 Mesa elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: April 1, 2024
Primary election: July 30, 2024
General election: November 5, 2024
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Nonpartisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2024

The city of Mesa, Arizona, held a general election for mayor on November 5, 2024. A primary was scheduled for July 30, 2024. The filing deadline for this election was April 1, 2024.

As of 2024, Mesa had term limits for the position of mayor. Mayors could serve two consecutive four-year terms and could run again after a four year break.

Elections

Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.

Candidates and results

General election

General election for Mayor of Mesa

Mark Freeman defeated Scott Smith in the general election for Mayor of Mesa on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mark Freeman
Mark Freeman (Nonpartisan)
 
52.5
 
101,808
Image of Scott Smith
Scott Smith (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
46.8
 
90,704
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.6
 
1,243

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 193,755
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Mesa

Scott Smith and Mark Freeman defeated Ryan Winkle, Scott Neely, and Carey Davis in the primary for Mayor of Mesa on July 30, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Scott Smith
Scott Smith (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
29.1
 
21,633
✔
Image of Mark Freeman
Mark Freeman (Nonpartisan)
 
28.6
 
21,312
Image of Ryan Winkle
Ryan Winkle (Nonpartisan)
 
14.7
 
10,964
Image of Scott Neely
Scott Neely (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
13.9
 
10,353
Image of Carey Davis
Carey Davis (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
13.3
 
9,909
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.3
 
220

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 74,391
Candidate Connection = 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.

Additional elections on the ballot

See also: Arizona elections, 2024

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Find out using Ballotpedia’s Sample Ballot Tool


July 30, 2024
November 5, 2024

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

Your safety is Scott Smith’s top priority! A community whose residents do not feel safe cannot grow and succeed.

As Mayor, Scott navigated Mesa through very challenging financial times, but ensured that our police and fire departments maintained their level of excellence.

Scott’s proven track record of leadership is the main reason he is the only candidate for Mayor who is endorsed by BOTH Mesa police and fire professionals.

✅ Keep Mesa Housing Affordable

✅ Reduce Red Tape at the City to Help Business Thrive

✅ Foster a Culture of Service and Facilitation Before Regulation at City Hall

✅ Expand High-Quality Retail and Entertainment Offerings

Scott Smith’s vision for Mesa extends beyond the present, focusing on high quality sustainable growth.

Having witnessed the city’s transformation and growth, Scott is eager to use his years of his private sector and government experience to propel Mesa into its next phase of expansion — planning to meet our water supply demands, focusing on bringing high quality development while expanding housing that is affordable, and creating new and exciting jobs for all of our residents.

✅ Streamline regulations for faster housing development

✅ Partner with the private sector to create affordable housing solutions

✅ Make Mesa affordable for your children and grandchildren

Inflation and Prices

✅ Advocate for lower taxes and reduce city spending

✅ Promote competition in the free market to lower prices

✅ Reduce red tape and costly government regulations
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

Streamlining government to make it more efficient and work for our citizens.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

My father, Dr. George Smith is my greatest inspiration. My father was an accomplished and recognized school superintendent in Arizona for over 35 years, including 17 here in Mesa. He taught me several lessons that I have tried to emulate in my life. First, he taught me that in leadership, one should always strive for excellence and never accept average. He also showed me how a leader could build a culture of excellence, achievement and service by celebrating success and building confidence. I learned from him that every member of a team is important in achieving success, no matter where they may be on an organization chart. Most importantly, he taught me that people are the only reason we serve. All we do should be focused on those we serve, and improving their lives is the greatest success we can hope for. He believed that people are always more important than process, and to concentrate on their needs, not yours. For him, it was the students in the district and their needs. For me, it has been my employees and customers in business, and the citizens I’ve had the privilege of serving in government.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

Trust, integrity, transparency.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

I've shown over my career the ability to set a vision and help those around me successfully execute on that vision.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

Represent you the taxpaying citizen. This is your government, it should work for you.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

I'd like to say I Built a Better Mesa for my kids and grandkids.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

Construction. Every year in high school.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

A Mayor sets the vision and tone for the city. During my previous service, I worked to Build a Better Mesa and gained Mesa residents’ confidence. I envision a Mesa that is recognized as Best in the Nation in public safety, education and economic opportunity. I know you will not accept an average city, and neither will I!
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

Setting a vision that city staff can easily execute and get on board with.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

I love its people, its can do attitude, its passion.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

sticking with the status quo. Cities that don't continue to advance and innovate beging to grow stagnant.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

Cities are the economic engines for the state. There should be a healthy partnership where the state supports what the city is trying to accomplish.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

The federal government can be a great partner to the city, but the city cannot be hamstrung by too many strings or burdensome overregulation.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

The Mayor should support the police force with adequate funding for training and personell.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

United Mesa Firefighters, Mesa Police Association, Mesa Chamber of Commerce, WeServ Realtors Association, Home Builders Association.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ScottSmith2024.jpg

Scott Smith (Nonpartisan)

It's one of the most important aspects of government. Our citizens must feel that their government is working for them, and that when they need the government, that it is an easy, transparent experience.



Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Scott Smith

Image of Scott Smith

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Scott Smith loves Mesa! He grew up here and has watched the city grow from a town into a big city. Scott was twice elected by Mesa voters as mayor and served from 2008-2014. During his time as mayor, he successfully led Mesa through the Great Recession, changed the way the city did business, and laid the foundation for many of the successes the city enjoyed in the years that followed his tenure in office. Describing the impact Scott had as Mesa’s mayor, the Arizona Republic declared that he “…has gained the confidence of…residents…[and] the change is so marked that we shudder to think what shape the city would be in without him at the helm.” With over 40 years’ experience as a respected leader in business and government, including serving more than 20 years as a successful CEO, Scott is seeking to return to the mayor’s office, with a renewed commitment to take care of unfinished business and once again lead the city with a vision that will Secure Mesa’s Future. Scott’s priorities include making Mesa one of the safest big cities in America, expanding and improving educational opportunities for all Mesa residents, and ensuring that city government reduces red tape and facilitates job growth and economic opportunities for residents. Scott will work to see that your children and grandchildren live in safe neighborhoods, are educated at all levels in great schools, and find the job and career opportunities of their dreams in their hometown of Mesa."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Your safety is Scott Smith’s top priority! A community whose residents do not feel safe cannot grow and succeed. As Mayor, Scott navigated Mesa through very challenging financial times, but ensured that our police and fire departments maintained their level of excellence. Scott’s proven track record of leadership is the main reason he is the only candidate for Mayor who is endorsed by BOTH Mesa police and fire professionals. ✅ Keep Mesa Housing Affordable ✅ Reduce Red Tape at the City to Help Business Thrive ✅ Foster a Culture of Service and Facilitation Before Regulation at City Hall ✅ Expand High-Quality Retail and Entertainment Offerings

Scott Smith’s vision for Mesa extends beyond the present, focusing on high quality sustainable growth. Having witnessed the city’s transformation and growth, Scott is eager to use his years of his private sector and government experience to propel Mesa into its next phase of expansion — planning to meet our water supply demands, focusing on bringing high quality development while expanding housing that is affordable, and creating new and exciting jobs for all of our residents.

✅ Streamline regulations for faster housing development ✅ Partner with the private sector to create affordable housing solutions ✅ Make Mesa affordable for your children and grandchildren Inflation and Prices ✅ Advocate for lower taxes and reduce city spending ✅ Promote competition in the free market to lower prices ✅ Reduce red tape and costly government regulations

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Mesa in 2024.

Mayoral partisanship

See also: Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2024)

Thirty-four of the 100 largest cities held mayoral elections in 2024. Once mayors elected in 2024, assumed office Democrats held 65 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans 25, Libertarians held one, independents held two, and nonpartisan mayors held four. Three mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.

The following top 100 cities saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2024:[1]


What was at stake?

Report a story for this election

Ballotpedia researches issues in local elections across the United States, but information availability is a challenge for us in many areas. Please contact us about the issues that impact your local election. Note that not all submissions may meet Ballotpedia's coverage requirements for inclusion.

Candidate survey

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Click here to fill out the survey.

About the city

See also: Mesa, Arizona

Mesa is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona. As of 2020, its population was 504,258.

City government

See also: Council-manager government

The city of Mesa uses a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council, which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body, appoints an executive called a city manager to oversee the city's day-to-day operations.[3]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Mesa, Arizona
Mesa Arizona
Population 504,258 7,151,502
Land area (sq mi) 140 113,654
Race and ethnicity**
White 78.3% 73.8%
Black/African American 4.4% 4.5%
Asian 2.1% 3.3%
Native American 2.5% 4.3%
Pacific Islander 0.4% 0.2%
Other (single race) N/A 6.9%
Multiple 6.3% 7%
Hispanic/Latino 27.6% 31.5%
Education
High school graduation rate 89.9% 87.9%
College graduation rate 28.1% 30.3%
Income
Median household income $61,640 $61,529
Persons below poverty level 13.3% 14.1%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

Mesa, Arizona Arizona Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ As of January 7, 2025, the party affiliation of one mayor elected in 2024 was unknown. Ballotpedia contacted El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson's campaign in December to inquire about his party affiliation and had not yet received a reply. As incumbent Oscar Leeser was a Democrat, this decreased the net gain for Democrats from two to one.
  2. ↑ [San Antonio Express-News, "‘I’m a Democrat’: Mayor Ron Nirenberg campaigns for Kamala Harris, embraces party label," September 14, 2024]
  3. ↑ City of Mesa, "Organizational Chart," accessed August 21, 2014
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