Who is on Guadalupe Town Council? What to know about the members

Madeleine Parrish, Arizona Republic
·3 min read

In Guadalupe — a town of less than 1 square mile nestled along Interstate 10 between Tempe and Chandler — a seven-member Town Council represents approximately 5,300 residents.

Many of Guadalupe's residents have family roots in the community that go back to before the town was incorporated in 1975. More than 3,500 of its residents are members of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, according to Mayor Valerie Molina, and more than 70% are Hispanic, according to census data.

All of the Town Council members were raised in Guadalupe, and six of seven are members of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

Elections for the council take place during even-numbered years. Guadalupe councilmembers serve four-year terms. The mayor's terms last two years.

Town Council meetings generally take place on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 9241 S. Avenida Del Yaqui at 6 p.m. Meetings are also livestreamed on the Town of Guadalupe's Facebook page.

Mayor Valerie Molina

Valerie Molina was first elected mayor of Guadalupe in 2016. She was born and raised in Guadalupe and has worked as the Native American Program Coordinator at Tempe Union High School District for 18 years.

Her term expires in November 2024.

Vice Mayor Ricardo Cota Vital

First elected to Guadalupe Town Council in 2016, Vice Mayor Ricardo Cota Vital is the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Tribal Administrator for Guadalupe. His term expires in November 2024.

Councilmember Mary Bravo

Mary Bravo worked for 25 years as a Tempe Elementary School District bus driver and bus driving trainer before retiring. She's lived in the community since she was 5, and until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, was involved with Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in a variety of capacities, including teaching religious education, giving holy communion, fundraising and serving as a reader. Bravo was first elected to the Town Council in 2018. Her term expires in November 2026.

Councilmember Elvira Armenta-Osuna

First elected to the Guadalupe Town Council in 2016, Elvira Armenta-Osuna is an elder services social worker for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Her term expires in 2024.

Councilmember Anita Cota Soto

Anita Cota Soto is a youth case manager in the Pascua Yaqui Behavioral Health Centered Spirit Program. She serves as a youth leader for her church, Eagles Wings Faith Center, and volunteers with Flight 33, Inc., a nonprofit that advocates for Guadalupe youth.

She was first elected to Guadalupe Town Council in 2016. Her term expires in November 2024.

Councilmember Esteban Fuerte

First elected to Guadalupe Town Council in November 2022, Esteban Fuerte is a first-generation college graduate and a project manager for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Housing Department.

He graduated from Arizona State University in 2019 with a degree in urban planning. He is a leader of the Tempe Guadalupe Little League. His term on the Guadalupe Town Council expires in November 2026.

Councilmember Joe Sánchez

Joe Sánchez was first elected to the Guadalupe Town Council in 2010. He was a maintenance manager at Tempe Elementary School District for almost four decades before retiring. His term expires in November 2026.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who is on Guadalupe Town Council? What to know about the members