By Matthew Holloway |
Peoria Mayor Jason Beck posted on X on Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026. Beck noted that he and his wife, Jane, will instead guide the company they founded, Tyr Tactical, through its upcoming merger.
Elected in 2022, Beck called his role as mayor “the best job I ever had,” in the Wednesday press release, saying that he approached the role “with a desire to serve the community I have lived in, worked in, and raised a family in.”
He added, “I never intended to run for office or had a long-term goal to be a politician. When I saw that Peoria wasn’t achieving its full potential, I felt called to run and make changes. I’ve since learned after being elected, that Peoria’s potential is limitless, and it’s been an honor to help unlock it.”
Both Beck and the Peoria City Council began their term with three stated goals: economic development, public safety, and water security, and the Mayor pointed to examples of each. He referred to “unlocking thousands of acres for sustainable future growth” through a major land agreement with the State Land Department, the groundbreaking of an Amkor Technology facility, and kick-starting of the revitalization of Peoria’s Historic Downtown district.
He noted that under his tenure, the city’s Real Time Crime Center and the West Valley’s first advanced aviation unit were launched by the Peoria Police Department, along with an expansion of the city’s School Resource Officer program.
In the area of water security, Beck touted new investments in Peoria’s water infrastructure, “positioning Peoria for long-term stability as we navigate the challenges of the Colorado River and the anticipated regional growth.”
Thanking his city staff and fellow councilmembers, Beck said, “The next thirteen months will be a sprint,” adding, “There is still important work to be done to ensure we leave Peoria stronger than we found it.”
“My future focus needs to be on my family and our businesses, all of which have supported me throughout this journey,” Beck said. But he emphasized he would not be stepping away from public life entirely: “My commitment to our community is far from over. I will continue to stay involved, support strong candidates, and work to improve the place we all call home,” he said in his announcement.
“For someone who never envisioned a path in public service, I can’t imagine my life without it. As a business owner, husband, father, and citizen, public service doesn’t stop here. This is where it begins.”
As reported by AZCentral in November, the merger Beck referred to involves Cadre Holdings. This Florida-based, publicly traded firm also manufactures protective products for first responders and federal agencies. The anticipated merger would reportedly see Cadre purchase the Peoria-based company for $175 million.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Beck founded TYR Tactical, a body armor and tactical equipment firm with his wife Jane in 2010. It has since grown into one of Peoria’s largest private employers with an annual revenue of almost $94 million according to 12News.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
