PVNA Elections - 2024
2024 is an election year! Per the current PVNA bylaws, the roles that make up the Executive Committee (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Communications) are up for election as their two-year terms expire.
Nomination form has closed. Meet your 2024 candidates below.
Next PVNA elections are in 2026. Apply to join the board, or we’re always accepting volunteers.
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Election Process:
Current members of the neighborhood association may run as a slate or as individuals. (Membership in the Association is open to any adult resident, owner of real property, or business proprietor within the neighborhood. Membership is automatic for anyone who meets these criteria.)
The nomination/application period is from August 1 to September 17
All candidates will be published on the PVNA website, and the webpage will be shared on all PVNA channels
An absentee voting option will be provided for any members who are unable to attend the annual meeting due to work, travel, or being homebound. Details to be announced.
Voting takes places, and the outcome will be announced, at the Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 17.
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Election Timeline:
July 21: Initial announcement of election process in e-newsletter & all channels
August 1: Nominations open (“at least 60 days out”)
September 17: Nominations close 30 days out
September 15: Voting process initial announcement in e-newsletter & all channels
October 17: Annual meeting & elections take place
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Vote in the PVNA Election:
Update: As PVNA only received one application per role, the election will still take place, and it will be to approve the candidates rather than voting between multiple candidates.
Help select the next PVNA Executive Committee.
All PVNA members are eligible to vote. Per the current PVNA bylaws: Membership in the Association is open to any adult resident, owner of real property, or business proprietor within the neighborhood. Membership is automatic for anyone who meets these criteria.
PVNA membership must be verified to receive your voting ballot.
Bring valid ID with your name & PVN address, or TWO of the following:
Current Utility Bill
Bank or Credit Union statement from last 90 days
AZ Vehicle Registration
Indian Census card
Property tax statement
AZ Vehicle Insurance card
Voter Registration Card
Mail addressed to you with “Official Election Material” logo.
You DO NOT need to be a registered voter, just a legal resident or property owner in the PVNA neighborhood (business or residential) with proof of such
Meet Your PVNA Executive Committee Candidates
President
Val Santillan
Secretary
Maribeth Slebodnik
Treasurer
Nancy Stromp
Communications
Micah Samuelsen
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Share a bit about yourself: I am a first-time-mom to an 8 month old baby girl, a dog-mom, a wife, and a business owner. I consider myself a localist, environmentalist and entrepreneur, and shape my life around these passions. My family has lived in the Palo Verde Neighborhood since about 2009 when my dad purchased a home here when I was a senior at Tucson High Magnet School. Since moving out of our first Palo Verde home, I have stayed in Palo Verde because I love the neighborhood, its central and bike-able location, and to be close to my dad.
In 2019, I opened Cero, a zero waste shop that retails eco-friendly goods, carries locally-made products, and creates community around sustainable living. Before opening Cero, my career has been focused around marketing, social media, and events which I still enjoy doing today. I also own and operate a second company, MVT Marketing, that provides freelance marketing services to a select few small businesses and organizations.
I graduated from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona with a Bachelors in Business Administration.
Besides work and volunteering, I enjoy time with friends and family, live music, art, cooking, birding, cycling, camping, and generally enjoying the outdoors.
Share about your qualifications or relevant experience for the position: Over the years, I have been engaged with a variety of nonprofit organizations through volunteering, board service, and my profession. I enjoy collaborating with others to create meaningful and memorable experiences for the community, lending my marketing, events, and leadership skills along the way.
I have volunteered for Local First Arizona, and held positions on the Board of Directors of Ad 2 Tucson Chapter, Tucson Young Professionals, Living Streets Alliance, and the Palo Verde Neighborhood Association (PVNA).
I first dabbled in volunteering with PVNA circa 2015 when there were opportunities to help install the Pocket Park on Willard/Fairmount St. or join in on other park workdays. Some years later, a friend invited me to attend the board meetings with her. Ever since participating in those board meetings, I have remained involved as a resident, volunteer, and board member, ultimately being elected as President in 2022.
If re-elected as President of PVNA, I will bring my passion, positivity, expertise, and strong organizational and leadership skills to the role. With years of hands-on experience in teamwork and leadership, along with completion of High5 Leadership's Intensive Training Course, I am well-prepared to continue serving our community.
It brings me great joy to collaborate with the PVNA board and volunteers to serve our community, foster a vibrant neighborhood culture, share resources with our neighbors, and host fun, impactful events. Together, we're shaping the future of the Palo Verde Neighborhood and making a positive difference. -
Share a bit about yourself: I've been a resident of Palo Verde since 2015, and a homeowner here for over seven years. My husband and I live in the Southwest Quadrant and love the location and our neighbors. We have a dog, two cats and a large garden. I also volunteer at an urban farm that's less than a mile away. I deeply appreciate working with the PVNA Board, whose members are collegial, kind and collaborative.
Share about your qualifications or relevant experience for the position: I have been the PVNA Secretary for the last two years, and a Board member for two years before that. I love being part of the team delivering important information to our neighbors via the e-news and Board minutes. I am a librarian at the University of Arizona, so attention to detail is part of my nature. I am also a nurse, and worked in neonatal intensive care units around the US, including Phoenix Children's Hospital.
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Share a bit about yourself: I have been a resident of the PVN for over 3 years. I am currently the VP of the Board but I believe my experience aligns better with the Treasurer role. I have been very active on the Board participating in all of the events but particularly Art in the Gardens and HalloVerde. I enjoy traveling, reading, cooking vegan meals, staying healthy and doing yoga. I love living in PVN. I walk my two dogs around the neighborhood almost every day. I know most of my neighbors that live close to me and have built many wonderful friendships. I care about PVN and want PVN to be the best place to live in Tucson.
Share about your qualifications or relevant experience for the position: I am a retired CPA with over 30 years of experience working in accounting, finance and project management. Last year, I was the lead person to acquire the 501c3 status and drafted the annual budget for PVNA. After the resignation of our Treasurer, I assumed many of the monthly banking and accounting responsibilities. I was instrumental in having the banking relationship moved from Wells Fargo to Tucson Federal Credit Union. I have previous experience working with various nonprofit entities. I have also been involved in the recruitment of other Board Members. I believe my dedication to PVNA and my past professional experience makes me a perfect fit for the Treasurer role.
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Share a bit about yourself:
I’m a new mom, beginner gardener, houseplant enthusiast, and photographer.
Quad or cross street location: Camilla/Fairmount (SW)
Years Lived in PV: 5!
Where are you from? Born in Seattle Washington, raised in Tucson. I returned to the Seattle area for college, lived there for 7 years until I moved back to the desert in 2018.
Trade/Occupation: Marketing and social media manager and photographer.
Hobby, passion, how you spend your time: I love to read, slowly renovate my 50s home with my husband, see films at the Loft, and sit on a patio with a glass of wine.Share about your qualifications or relevant experience for the position: I'm a great fit for this role because I bring a decade of marketing, freelance photography, and social media experience. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and a Minor in Management I went on to start my career as an Executive Assistant and quickly promoted into an Influencer Marketing role. I took that knowledge with me as I moved cities and worked for a small business, then a small marketing firm where I expanded my knowledge of communication, email marketing, web UX, and client management.