By Connor Van Ligten | Independent Newsmedia
Five candidates for the mayor of Mesa were put on the spot during the May 14 candidate forum at the Mesa Council Chambers.
Hosted by KTAR’s Mike Broomhead, the candidates were asked various questions about Mesa’s regional transportation, homelessness, housing and more in front of a live audience. The five candidates present were District 1 Councilmember Mark Freeman; Scott Smith, who was the Mesa mayor from 2008 to 2014; former council member Ryan Winkle; small-business owner Scott Neely; and Carey Davis, who was the mayor of Sen Bernardino, California, from 2014 to 2018.
Through their opening statements and answers to questions, each candidate aimed to make themselves stand out. Neely presented his lack of a political background as a strength and said he would listen to public input over special interests, and emphasized making panhandling and homeless encampments illegal as a major policy point. Freeman pointed toward his experience as a council member and his desire to strengthen public safety and increase financial transparency.
