By Alison Steinbach | Arizona Republic
Gilbert’s runoff election in November will feature two candidates on the right side of the political spectrum, although a more progressive candidate made inroads in the longtime conservative community.
Candidate Brigette Peterson, who resigned from Town Council to run for mayor, frequently voted alongside former Mayor Jenn Daniels and the council majority. Her opponent, Matt Nielsen, leans further to the political right and touts limited government ideals.
A runoff between two brands of conservatismisn’t a surprising dynamic for the Phoenix suburb of more than 250,000 residents that hangs onto its status as a town, despite ranking as one of the largest municipalities in the Valley and the largest town in the U.S.
