ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (KGUN) — Former Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier announced on his Facebook page, that he’s running for Oro Valley mayor in the July 2026 election.
Napier, a 30-plus-year resident of Oro Valley with four decades in public service, said the decision stems from his ties to the town and his administrative experience. “I’m a long-time resident of Oro Valley. This is my community, it’s my home, and I’ve been a public servant for more than 40 years… There are so many challenges that face Oro Valley as we move into the future, and I want to help meet those challenges,” he told KGUN 9.
Napier said his background includes executive roles in law enforcement and county administration. “I understand public administration at a very high level… you’re managing budget and personnel and looking strategically out into the future,” he said. “I think those things are something that would really benefit the Town of Oro Valley, because we do have some strategic challenges as we look into the future.”
Napier was elected as Pima County's Sheriff in 2016, serving 4 years. He lost his seat in 2020 to Chiris Nanos. In 2021, Napier went to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office to serve as Chief of Staff for CCSO and Sheriff Mark Dannels. After six months in that role, he left to work for Pima County in the Administrator's Office. Napier retired in 2022.
Priorities: safety, growth, and the budget
Napier listed five priorities: public safety, responsible growth, fiscal responsibility, community engagement, and protecting the environment. “We live in one of the safest communities in the nation, and I want to keep it that way,” he said. He added that growth must be “responsible” to help “generate revenue to meet our expenditures,” with transparency around how dollars are spent.
He also pointed to a looming budget squeeze. “Our revenues and our expenses are going in different trajectories… sooner or later, those lines cross, and that means we can’t sustain the services that we all love,” he said, citing public safety, parks and roads.
On development, Napier said the town needs to define “responsible growth” with residents at the table. “Growth for the sake of growth is a bad thing, but no growth is equally bad… We need to engage all segments of the community and decide what responsible growth looks like in a transparent way,” he said. He mentioned filling vacancies at Oro Valley Marketplace while attracting businesses “consistent with the character of the community.”
Nonpartisan race and leadership style
Napier emphasized outreach and listening. “The main thing that politicians need to be able to do is to listen to views that are dissimilar from theirs… I was given two ears and one mouth so I could listen to twice as much as I can speak,” he said.
He also noted that the mayor’s race is nonpartisan. “When I was our sheriff, I wasn’t the Sheriff of the Republicans… or the Democrats… I was sheriff of all people of Pima County,” he said. “I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m as transparent and open as anybody I know… I don’t want to say things for political convenience.”
What’s next
Napier said he plans to file formal paperwork in the coming weeks to declare his candidacy, followed by building a campaign team and rolling out policy details.
Looking ahead, he framed his vision in long-term terms. “Imagine Oro Valley 10 years from now… and then work our way backward. What decision do I need to make today to ensure that we have that bright future in 10 years and 20 years?” he said, adding that “difficult challenges require innovative solutions.”
Incumbent update
Mayor Joe Winfield told KGUN 9 by phone he is not planning to seek a third term next year.
The Oro Valley Mayoral Election is July 2026.
