San Tan Valley swears in first town council, county pledges support

SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. — Seven members of San Tan Valley’s inaugural town council were sworn in on Aug. 5, 2025, in a ceremony that marked the town’s first formal step as an incorporated municipality.

A county official opened the event by quoting 1980 U.S. Olympic coach Herb Brooks: "Great moments are born from great opportunities," and told the new council that the day represented "a great opportunity for the city, the town of San Tan Valley." The county clerk, identified in the transcript as Natasha Kennedy, administered the oath of office for each council member.

The seven people sworn in were Tyler Hudgens, Brian Hunt, Igia Jenkins, Daniel Oakes, Darren Schneff, Brian Tyler and Rupert Wolford. Each repeated the oath to "support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of Arizona" and to "faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of San Tan Valley town council."

In remarks after the swearing-in, Brian Hunt thanked supporters and the incorporation committee, saying he had long wanted to serve on a town council and praising those who helped the city incorporate after "86 applications" were reviewed by five supervisors. "Your efforts were not in vain," Hunt said.

Igia Jenkins called the moment historic and said council decisions would "set a foundation upon which families will feel safe, businesses will grow, and neighbors will flourish." Jenkins pledged to serve with "integrity, transparency [and] fairness."

Tyler Hudgens used an anecdote about sitting in the "soak zone" at a Waterworld show to describe taking a risk together as a community, telling attendees, "On August 5, 2025, San Tan Valley stepped into the soak zone." Several council members emphasized gratitude to family, the incorporation committee and Pinal County supervisors for assistance leading up to incorporation.

A county supervisor who spoke several times during the ceremony stressed that until incorporation the county had been the governing body for the area but said supervisors will now be "supporting staff" to the council: "This is your team. I'm a supporting staff," the official said, urging residents to take local concerns — such as road and amenity issues — to their new council members.

The ceremony closed with thanks to county employees and the incorporation committee and an exhortation for the new council to "make it better than you found it." No formal policy votes or agenda actions occurred at the event; the primary actions were the administration of the oaths and brief remarks by the newly sworn members.

Next steps, as discussed at the ceremony, are for the council to begin setting local policies and for county staff and supervisors to provide assistance as San Tan Valley transitions to self-governance.