Peoria voters who are still undecided about who should be their next mayor got a glimpse of a clear choice at The Arizona Republic debate on Oct. 21, where they saw someone who has vowed to continue the city's growth and someone who wants to slow it down.
Longtime councilmember Michael Finn and former Peoria police Chief Arthur Miller faced off over the city's growth, water, public safety and how the city operates during the one-hour forum at Glendale Community College.
The two are vying for the seat current Mayor Jason Beck will vacate.
Finn wants to build on the momentum Beck started in economic development and public safety. Miller believes those are important but wants to prioritize listening to residents' concerns, transparency and smart growth.
With a booming northern region and significant investments in the city's downtown in the south, the candidates mainly clashed during a professional debate over how the city should navigate economic growth and what city leaders should pay more attention to when considering development opportunities.
Finn wants to lure companies to bring opportunities to the city so residents can have more amenities to enjoy, such as higher-end restaurants. Miller wants to preserve what he said already makes Peoria special, such as its open space. He criticized some recent city incentives as bad deals for residents.
They also differed on how best to determine a development's benefits. Finn said he was data-driven, while Miller positioned himself as a servant leader who said residents should be more involved in those conversations.
The candidates' leadership style also came into question, as Beck, who backs Finn in the race, has drawn his share of controversy.
Several shake-ups in city leadership followed Beck's 2022 election, and he alienated two councilmembers, one of whom didn’t seek reelection. Beck has also faced criticism for his treatment of certain residents at public meetings. Miller brought up how Beck recently called a resident a "jackass" at a meeting.
Finn distanced himself from Beck, saying he was not like the mayor and did not condone his recent comment. "I'm not Jason Beck," Finn said.
The two candidates are running in the Nov. 3 general election, where Peoria voters will also decide a competitive council race in south Peoria's Pine District. Another race in south Peoria's Acacia District recently turned competitive after a resident filed as a write-in challenger.
In the mayoral race, Finn has touted his business background and council experience as reasons why he is the best candidate to keep Peoria on its current track. Miller wants to restore trust in City Hall and increase transparency through public meetings and on the city's website regarding how the city operates.
Eyebrows were raised during the campaign after Peoria's police unions said they were supporting Finn, not their old boss, in the race. The city's unions, which merged, later decided to no longer participate in politics.
Those who worked closely with Miller criticized the endorsement, and Miller said he never got a chance to earn it. Miller, who retired from the department in 2023 after five years, said he was disappointed he didn't have the police unions' support.
Early voting is already underway, and Peoria residents can drop their ballots at City Hall. The last day to mail in ballots is Oct. 27.
Elena Santa Cruz covers the West Valley cities of Glendale, Surprise and Peoria. Reach her at elena.santacruz@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on X @ecsantacruz3.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Peoria mayoral hopefuls offer voters clear choice at Republic forum
