Mesa Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury may face a special election within the first year of her second term.
Organizers with Turning Point Action (TPA), the activist arm of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, provided the manpower for the signature gathering effort to initiate Spilsbury’s recall. A resident, JoAnne Robbins, launched the recall effort.
You been served .@MesaDistrict2 I am so grateful to have worked alongside countless hours with volunteers throughout Mesa who are fed up with council members who lack integrity and fail to represent the needs of the district! Today is a great day, hundreds of hours of manpower… pic.twitter.com/t6xDN5YJea
— Antonnette Andruzzi 🇺🇸🙏✝️ (@Inked_in_Love) May 27, 2025
Robbins submitted over 5,200 signatures to remove Spilsbury, according to TPA COO Tyler Bowyer. The recall effort needed about 3,100 signatures by Friday in order to launch a special election.
Bowyer said Spilsbury was to blame for the declining quality of living and rising cost of living in the area.
“Julie Spilsbury let Mesa down,” said Bowyer. “She has politicized her office and has voted for terrible things that make Mesa a worse place and more expensive.”
Julie Spilsbury Let Mesa Down.
She has politicized her office and has voted for terrible things that make Mesa a worse place and more expensive.
Today, the petitioner who lead the charge submitted over 5,200 signatures to trigger her recall. Lots of grassroots energy
— Cynthia – RxGOP – the Rx the GOP needs (@RXgop) May 27, 2025
Residents blame Spilsbury — a self-identified Republican who endorsed two Democratic candidates last year, Kamala Harris for president and Ruben Gallego for U.S. Senate — for the homelessness crisis plaguing the city.
Robbins launched the recall based on three specific “yes” votes taken by Spilsbury between 2023 and 2024: approval of a permit to convert a hotel into a homeless housing program, increasing city council salaries, and increasing Mesa utility rates.
Spilsbury’s main defense of these votes is that two of the three were unanimous.
Violent crimes have increased over the past five years, with an increase of nearly eight percent in violent crimes in 2024 compared to 2023, per Arizona Department of Public Safety data. Overall crime increased by over two percent from 2023 to 2024. Still, Mesa Police say the city remains one of the safest among large municipalities; Assistant Chief Lee Rankin told the city council during a study session last month that Mesa remains a family-friendly community.
“While the city has seen a slight 2.5% uptick in crime compared to similarly sized cities, those who live, work, and play in Mesa enjoy a safe and vibrant community,” said Rankin. “With a strong focus on safety measures and community engagement the city continues to be a place where people can thrive and enjoy all the city has to offer.”
Estimates place Mesa’s cost of living at about seven percent higher than the national average, and housing expenses around nine percent higher than the national average.
In response to the recall, Spilsbury issued a rebuttal of the charges against her on her campaign website.
The councilwoman accused her opponents of being “angry” she defeated their “handpicked candidate” last year and belonging to “an outside special interest group” funded with out-of-state dark money.
Spilsbury laid claim to several changes that occurred since first being elected to the council in 2020: lowered police and fire response times, high quality development, and job creation by the thousands.
“[The recall effort petitioners] don’t care about Mesa, its people, or our issues. And, they are resorting to distortions, misrepresentations, and outright lies to win this time,” stated Spilsbury.
Spilsbury was reelected by default last November, having defeated her primary opponent Melody Whetstone by a margin of over 30 percent. Spilsbury’s second term runs until 2029.
Spilsbury chairs the Community and Cultural Development Committee, sits on the Public Safety Committee, and vice chairs the Education and Workforce Development Roundtable.
Spilsbury also sits on the other following boards and committees: Human Resources and Elections Policy Committee for the Arizona League of City and Towns General Administration, Children’s Alliance Board, idea Museum Board of Directors, MesaCAN Board, Mesa United Way Board of Directors, Arizona Talks Advisory Board, and the Education and Families Council as well as the Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental Relations Federal Advocacy Committee for the National League of Cities.
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According to the Mesa Police Department, a man has been taken into custody in connection with a suspected arson at a Mesa Tesla dealership earlier this week. On Monday, officers were summoned to the scene following reports of an explosion where they found a flaming Cybertruck. Mesa PD told reporters that “additional callers reported smoke and flames coming from an area near the building, which ultimately was found to be a brand-new Tesla Cybertruck.”
The Fire Department arrived soon after and found the fire was limited to the vehicle. “As crews began their attack on the vehicle fire, additional crews made entry to the building to check the interior for smoke and heat,” police said. “The fire was contained to the vehicle on the exterior of the building.”
The outlet also reported that the misspelled word “thief” was also spraypainted on the side of the building.
Mesa officials stated the fire is being investigated as possible arson. The Mesa PD announced later in the day that they had arrested a 35-year-old male suspect identified as Ian Moses who is facing charges of arson of a structure and property.
Detectives noted that during the course of their investigation, a suspicious van was observed parked nearby near the intersection of Southern and Rowan, not far from the dealership. Investigators noted a bicyclist, identified as Moses, approached the van and opened its door.
Surveillance footage from the dealership was able to capture an image of the suspected arsonist and police were able to match the image to Moses, police said.
No injuries were reported in the incident, and investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is investigating alongside the Mesa Fire and Medical Department, Gilbert Fire and Rescue, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Mesa voters are backing an effort to recall their council member, Julie Spilsbury, a self-identified Republican representing district two.
The recall effort focuses on several of Spilsbury’s past votes and her support for Democratic candidates last year.
JoAnne Robbins, a resident, filed the petition to recall Spilsbury. Robbins’ petition cited Spilsbury’s past votes approving a permit changing the use of a hotel into a homeless housing program, as well as increasing both city council salaries and citywide utility rates.
Other residents blame Spilsbury and the rest of council for the homelessness nuisance they endure. Earlier this month, failed Mesa mayoral candidate Scott Neely offered a first-person view of his average experience navigating the homeless while driving around the city.
“My neighborhood is a war zone in Mesa Arizona,” said Neely. “Thank you Julie Spilsbury and Mayor-Elect Mark Freeman for shoving this low income housing down our throats that our neighbors voted against.”
Spearheading the signature gathering effort is Turning Point Action (TPA). The activist arm of Turning Point USA launched a “super chase” initiative: door knocking efforts to gather enough signatures to oust Spilsbury. TPA has four different events scheduled over the coming week and some odd days.
The recall effort needs around 3,100 signatures by May 30 in order to launch a special election.
Working hard today to make sure we recall Julie Spilsbury! Thank you to all who showed up to help or those who swung by to pick up supplies. Every signature matters!@TPAction_@TPACoalitionspic.twitter.com/z5nfU79gef
Spilsbury responded to the recall with a statement on social media pledging her continued commitment to nonpartisanship. She justified her past votes over which the recall participants took offense by citing the wide margin of her reelection victory. Spilsbury also cautioned against supporting a special election due to its costliness.
“You might not agree with every decision or action I’ve made on the City Council but I have put every part of my heart into this job,” posted Spilsbury on Facebook. “I care deeply for the City of Mesa and for this community that is not only where I grew up but where Jeremy and I decided to raise our 6 kids. I love to serve our community! I care deeply about EVERY person in our city, not just the ones who look like me or think like me. I have tried to vote and make decisions on what is best for our entire city and to be true to what I feel is right in my soul.”
Beyond her voting history, it was Spilsbury’s personal political beliefs that spurred the recall effort. Spilsbury endorsed failed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and successful Democratic Senate candidate Ruben Gallego last year, much to the chagrin of mainstream Republican voters. Spilsbury joined groups like “Republicans for Harris” and “Republicans and Independents for Gallego.” Spilsbury and her husband were featured several times in media reports documenting the Mormon split away from Donald Trump and the Republican Party last year.
One signature gatherer, Cynthia, reported most voters she met have expressed an overall disappointment in Spilsbury’s representation.
“They feel betrayed because there was a promise to protect their kids, a promise to protect their community, and a promise to protect their money, and all three of those things she’s turned her back on,” said Cynthia.
Actions have consequences and the people of Mesa feel betrayed
Broken promises Protect the children – no Protect the city – no Protect the taxes – no
Spilsbury won reelection last summer outright in the primary after the general election was canceled.
Fellow council member Jennifer Duff also defended Spilsbury after early reports of the recall emerged.
“Julie Wold Spilsbury is an excellent council member, serving in a non partisan position,” posted Duff on Facebook. “Please don’t bring partisanship to city council. It’s actually where government works. I support Julie! Don’t sign a petition that is destructive to our city council.”
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During a city council meeting this week, Mayor John Giles and the Mesa City Council voted to approve across-the-board increases in the city’s utility rates and fees covering solid waste removal, electricity, gas, water, and wastewater. Over two-dozen Mesa citizens spoke during the meeting, which stretched over two-hours. Mesa, lacking a primary property tax, derives much of its funding from utility rates and fees.
The city is facing increases in electric rates of up to 39% for Winter Tier 2 usage charges for residents and a $2.75 per month service charge increase according to the council report. Non-residential users will face increases from 2-6 percent. Solid waste residential barrel rates will increase 5.5%, with commercial roll-off rates jumping 6.5%. Gas rates are increasing 6-15% for residences and from 9-25% for non-residential users. Water rates are increasing 4-9% for residents, 5.5% for non-residential, 8.5% for commercial users, and 19.5% for large commercial or industrial users. Finally wastewater service and usage components charges will increase by 7.5% for residents and 8.5% for non-residential.
City staffers told The Mesa Tribune that the typical residential bill for water, wastewater, and solid waste will see an increase of about $5.60, from the current average of $100.21 to $105.81
As reported by the Tribune, Giles answered criticism at a meeting in late November telling the frustrated residents, “This proposed water-rate increase of less than 5% in Mesa is dramatically less than you see in every other community,” said Giles, zeroing in on the water utility increase.
“Cities around the Valley are increasing water 25%, talking about increasing wastewater charges 95%. We’re not doing anything remotely like that in the City of Mesa.“
“So if you’re upset about the increasing price of water, I’m with you. But if you want to vent those feelings, probably every other city council in the state would be a more appropriate place to do that because the increases are less than what you’re seeing in other cities.”
Kevin Medema, a Mesa resident who led the organization of a petition opposing the utility increases reportedly signed by 2,000 people, stressed, “We have citizens that are hurting financially. The city shoots for that 20% reserve (in the utility accounts). Well, you know a lot of residents won’t have that in themselves. So, please consider voting ‘no.’’’
Medema suggested that residents have offered to help the city find ways to reduce spending.
During the November 18th meeting, one Mesa resident, Lynda Patrick-Hayes poignantly called upon the council to “entertain the idea of cutting the utility rates and encourage the city manager to eliminate government waste. The City of Mesa has no revenue problems. It has a spending problem.”
Citing the city’s reliance on utility charges and sales tax due to lacking a property tax, Giles told the citizens, “There’s not an apples-to-apples comparison because the City of Mesa has a different model. We’re going to use utilities to help subsidize city services.”
Multiple attempts to reinstate a primary property tax, eliminated in 1945, have failed over the years.
“Now if you don’t like that model…the answer is not to come to the City of Mesa and say, ‘We don’t want you to raise utilities because that’s denying the reality of math.’”
Responding to calls to reduce city spending, Giles told the gathered objectors, “What your proposal is, you’re saying, ‘I want to dramatically cut spending on public safety in the City of Mesa.’ That’s what you’re asking us to do.”
Republican State Representative Barbara Parker spoke on behalf of her constituents in the area and told the council, “They call me when they lose their homes. They call the state when they can’t afford their insurance. And on behalf of them, I am telling you they are hurting and even one dollar makes a huge difference.”
Parker castigated the mayor and council for suggesting the city cut public safety spending, “The fact that we use the threat of fear and emotion that we are going to cut police and fire is so disingenuous and inappropriate. And to all the gentlemen and women in uniform tonight: I am one of you and I have trained many of the firefighters, and I want you to know we have your backs. And we need to elect people who will fund you first and then find funding for everything else. We are never going to cut funding to police and fire. That is always a tactic. It’s disingenuous, it is inappropriate, it lacks accountability, it is intellectually dishonest, and they are not pawns and you deserve better. Don’t let them use you as a pawn police and fire. It’s inappropriate to have a bond and then immediately after that election to suddenly have a tax increase or a rate payers increase.”
She concluded, “One of the things I was able to communicate to the legislature as a member of the Appropriations Committee is that: EVERY. SINGLE. DOLLAR. IS. SACRED. Every single penny is sacred. And when I’ve asked the citizens would they rather have one more penny in their pocket than have it go to waste or redundancies or excesses. Absolutely they say yes. I hope you’ll have the courage to do the right thing tonight. I can tell you on behalf of the state: we were able to cut budget, balance our budget, give money back to the taxpayers and fund every single program. And if the state of Arizona can do it, Mesa can do it better.”
The rate increases were passed by the city council unanimously with Giles stating, “I know all of that is not appreciated by this crowd to the extent that we’d like it to be, but it’s the facts. For those reasons I am compelled by math and the reality of the situation to support this increase.”
Over Veteran’s Day weekend, personal-finance website WalletHub released a ranking of the Best and Worst Places for Veterans to live. And the state of Arizona was represented by seven of our cities.
According to WalletHub, the rankings were based on a series of “19 key indicators of livability, affordability and veteran-friendliness,” including the availability of jobs related to military skill-sets, records of veteran income growth over time, and the availability of VA Healthcare.
WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo explained, “When veterans return home from serving our nation, it’s important for them to live in a place that provides good education and employment opportunities, along with access to quality care for their physical and mental health. The best cities for veterans have all these characteristics, plus added bonuses like large veteran populations for community support, plus many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer veteran discounts.”
All told, the seven Arizona cities ranked were, in order: Scottsdale, leading at #7; Gilbert at #15; Chandler at #16; Mesa at #29; Glendale at #44; Tucson at #62; and finally, Phoenix came in at #75.
Gilbert and Chandler ranked 2nd and 5th, respectively, for the lowest percentage of veterans in poverty. Otherwise the state failed to rank in the top 5 of the study’s focus areas.
Essentially, this places Arizona firmly in the middling range of neither the worst nor the best.
While cities like the top five: Austin, TX; Orlando, FL; Raleigh, NC; Tampa, FL; and Virginia Beach, VA, have cause to celebrate the ranking, the release could leave Arizonans asking questions.
As of late 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau, cited by ABC15, recorded that there were 454,620 veterans of the Armed Forces living in the state or approximately 62 of every 1,000 adults, ranking us at 13th in the nation statistically.
By concentration, most resided in Sun City and Sun City West, Sun Lakes, Carefree, Apache Junction, and Union Hills.
Over a third served during the Vietnam War, 43% served in either the Cold War period or Gulf War, with just 17% of the veterans in the youngest cohort: those who served in the Global War on Terror. The number who served in Korea and the Second World War are dwindling fast at just 3% and 1%, respectively.
Arizona plays home to defense contractors as Honeywell, Raytheon, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, and Northrup Grumman. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics examined the unemployment figures as of March 20th, specifically targeting veterans, and found that only 47% of those surveyed were employed, while 2.9% were collecting unemployment and a staggering 51% were “not in labor force.” That means they were either on disability, retired, on other benefits, or simply stopped trying to find work. This gives a potential glimpse into why more young veterans aren’t making Arizona their home, and instead serves as a retirement destination.
