Around the Districts Podcast

Chandler Vice Mayor Angel Encinas returns for part two of our conversation. Direct public access keeps municipal government accountable to residents. Angel maintains an open door policy and answers calls from constituents day and night.
When hot topic issues come before council, local leaders must put residents first. The Chandler City Council voted to reject a massive data center project and reinforced municipal codes to set strict guardrails for future developments. Local control ensures corporate applicants clear high environmental and operational hurdles before approval.
Angel also breaks down his work with the East Valley Partnership Board, his professional role as an immigration consultant, and how visible LGBTQ+ inclusion fosters safety across the city.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/angel-encinas-chandler-part2
== Learn more about Angel Encinas ==Website: https://www.angelforchandler.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Angel-Encinas-for-Chandler-City-Council-104787555253515/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelforchandler/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angelforchandler
The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Systems engineer turned election reformer Kazz Fernandes joins Around the Districts to explain how open primaries and ranked ballots restore power to Arizona voters. Closed primaries lock independent voters out of decisive elections and hand control of public policy to extreme partisan bases.
Kazz details how Voter Choice Arizona uses direct neighborhood education, local cookoff elections, and municipal ballot measures like the Tempe initiative to demystify election reform. By shifting state rules to Final Five voting, candidates must earn broad consensus across communities rather than launch personal attacks.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/kazz-fernandes-part1
== Learn more about Kazz Fernandes & Voter Choice Arizona ==Website: https://voterchoicearizona.org/Better Ballot Arizona: https://bbaz.org/

In this second installment with Chandler City Councilmember Jane Poston, we examine how Chandler adapts as available land reaches 94 percent capacity. Councilmember Poston outlines a smart infill strategy to convert older commercial centers and closed school sites into entry-level workforce housing for young families, teachers, and firefighters.
We explore how Chandler launches its own emergency medical response service through the fire department and fights corporate equipment monopolies on the National League of Cities Public Safety Committee to protect city budgets from sky-high fire truck costs.
We also detail municipal technology guardrails, from resident privacy controls for Flock license plate readers to artificial intelligence policies in municipal courts and direct shelter teams for unsheltered residents.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/jane-poston-chandler-part2
== Learn more about Jane Poston ==Website: https://www.janeposton.com/Email: jane.poston@chandleraz.gov
The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Here’s part 1 with Chandler Vice Mayor Angel Encinas. Raised in the heart of downtown Chandler, he brings a lifelong connection to the families and streets of his hometown. 
We discuss his direct outreach in Chandler traditional neighborhoods, where he connects residents directly with police, firefighters, and municipal teams to secure street lights, speed bumps, and alley cleanups. He details how neighborhood roundtables transform residents into active partners who connect unsheltered individuals with city navigators to secure temporary shelter and permanent placement services. He also covers municipal support for first responder wellness, local student pathways into government, and how landlocked Chandler manages high-density redevelopment while preserving iconic downtown landmarks.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/angel-encinas-chandler-part1
== Learn more about Angel Encinas ==Website: https://www.angelforchandler.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Angel-Encinas-for-Chandler-City-Council-104787555253515/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelforchandler/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angelforchandler

Municipal decisions shape the immediate realities of our neighborhoods. In this episode, we sit down with Chandler City Councilmember Jane Poston to discuss her transition from municipal public affairs to write city policy. Poston leverages her  experience as a former twelve-year city employee and local small business owner to demand structural accountability.
We discuss how Chandler enforces some of the strictest land-use zoning laws in the country to protect community resources. The council recently rejected a massive data center due to water and power grid constraints, which sets a necessary barrier against unchecked corporate growth. Poston also breaks down how Chandler became the first Arizona city to fully eliminate its public safety pension debt. This fiscal strategy secures the city's AAA bond rating and frees up millions of dollars for immediate neighborhood services.
Watch to learn how Chandler partners with Arizona State University to fund the ASU Chandler Innovation Center, a shared space that teaches local entrepreneurs how to manage administration and launch successful brick-and-mortar operations.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/jane-poston-chandler-part1
== Learn more about Jane Poston ==Website: https://www.janeposton.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janepostonchandlercitycouncil/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janepostonchandlercitycouncil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeposton/
The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Chandler transformed from a quiet farm town into a global economic hub. As the July 21st mayoral election approaches rapidly, the city requires leadership that understands this massive demographic shift.
In part two of our talk with Chandler mayoral candidate Matt Orlando, we examine the three pillars necessary for the future of the city. He prioritizes community safety, economic development, and quality of life. Orlando shares stories from decades of public service, highlights the impact of a diverse workforce, and explains why he gives his personal cell phone number to the residents.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/matt-orlando-chandler-mayor-part2
== Learn more about Matt Orlando ==Website: https://www.mattorlandoformayor.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattorlandoformayor
Verify your registration status: https://beballotready.vote
The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Local districts must collaborate to defeat well-funded political machines. In this episode, Legislative District 12 Chair Melissa Galarza details how grassroots campaigns swap resources and bypass the consultant class. We discuss the direct path from local school boards to federal office. When we elect strong leaders at the municipal level today, we block bad national policy tomorrow.
Watch to learn how to secure power in your neighborhood.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/collaboration-melissa-galarza-part-2
== Learn more about LD12 Democrats ==Website: https://azld12dems.org/Melissa Galarza Profile: https://azld12dems.org/2026/05/melissa-galarza/Contact: contact@azld12dems.org
The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Chandler Council Member Matt Orlando campaigns to become the next Mayor of Chandler. He brings 25 years of public service to city hall. In this episode, we sit down with Matt to discuss the true cost of high-tech industry sprawl, data centers, and community safety. He explains his recent vote to reject a massive artificial intelligence data center where developers failed to guarantee local jobs. We also examine his collaborative model for safety, which includes addiction recovery and mental health access. Finally, Matt shares his practical approach to local peace and neighborhood compromise.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/matt-orlando-chandler-mayor-part1
== Learn more about Matt Orlando ==Website: https://www.mattorlandoformayor.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattorlandoformayor
Verify your registration status: https://beballotready.vote
The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Welcome back to Around the Districts! In this episode, we sit down for Part 2 of our conversation with Chandler City Council candidate Cicely Rocha-Miller to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a grassroots local campaign.
Cicely shares her perspective on why the arts are a fundamental connector—not a luxury—for the Chandler community, detailing the unique partnership between the Chandler Center for the Arts and local public schools. She also gets real about the physical and financial grind of local politics, from overcoming the "guilt" of campaign fundraising to canvassing in 105-degree Arizona heat.
If you want to know what municipal leadership looks like when it is built on real relationships rather than corporate PAC money, this episode is for you.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/cicely-rocha-miller-part2
== Learn more about Cicely Rocha-Miller ==Website: https://www.cicelyforchandler.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cicelyforchandlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cicelyforchandlerFacebook: http://facebook.com/cicelyforchandler
The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

In the second part of our conversation, Maritza Saenz returns to expose the deep conflict over ballot access in Arizona. The state legislature maintains a steady assault on early ballots and mail-in access. We dissect the Free, Fair, and Secure Elections Act (I-08-2026), a citizen measure that establishes voter rights in the Arizona Constitution. This measure places established ballot access out of reach for partisan politicians.
Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/maritza-saenz-protect-vote-part-2
== Learn more about Protect the Vote Arizona ==Website: https://protectthevoteaz.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578510954989Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protectthevoteaz/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@protect_the_vote_az
The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.