Maricopa’s Planning & Zoning Commission now has an opening for both a commissioner and chair.
James Singleton resigned at the end of Monday’s meeting, just two weeks after commissioners re-elected him chair and nearly two months before he originally planned to step down in April.
“I am running for council, so signatures are due on [March] 23 by 5 p.m. Our meeting is at 6 p.m., so [I] kind of can’t make the 23rd,” he said during the meeting.
The software engineer joined the commission in January 2023 following a nomination from Mayor Nancy Smith. Last year, fellow commissioners unanimously elected him chair for the first time.
City code requires any non-salaried member of a committee, commission or task force to resign upon filing nomination paperwork for a salaried seat in local, state or federal office. If elected to city council, Singleton will earn an annual salary of $23,290.
Singleton told InMaricopa he planned to continue serving until April 6, the original nomination filing deadline. However, the primary election date was moved up by two weeks, forcing him to accelerate his resignation. The next Planning & Zoning Commission meeting is scheduled for March 23, when members will review portions of Maricopa’s general plan update.
“I felt it was in the commission’s best interest to resign now. This provides the mayor and council ample time to appoint a successor,” Singleton said Tuesday. “My priority is ensuring the commission has a full, seated body before that session.”
When asked why he chose to remain for one additional meeting before stepping down, Singleton said he wanted the commission to “keep a steady helm.”
“We had been without a vice chair since late 2025, and when we opened nominations for 2026, I wanted to make sure we kept a steady helm. I did not want to leave the commission with a total leadership vacuum during a transition period,” he said.
The P&Z is composed of Maricopa City Council-appointed volunteers who plan and advise the city’s development. They are responsible for reviewing development applications and making recommendations for the city council to consider before voting on development projects.
Residents interested in serving on Maricopa’s Planning and Zoning Commission can apply online.
![RJ Ruiz and Elvenee Dees practice roping at their Hidden Valley home on May 9, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260509-spencer-dees-rodeo-family-web-04-300x200.jpg)
![RJ Ruiz and Elvenee Dees practice roping at their Hidden Valley home on May 9, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260509-spencer-dees-rodeo-family-web-04-150x150.jpg)
4 Responses
“If elected to city council, Singleton will earn an annual salary of $23,290.”
Why is it so low? The living wage for Arizona, according to MIT, is at least $50k. Is there something that I’m missing about how city council members are paid? If so, please tell me what.
It’s not a full time job. Many council members have a full time job. It’s a bit different in a much larger city, where you have a defined geographic area and many more constituents.
Ah, gotcha. Thanks!
Honestly, it’s so people don’t become career politicians. That being said, the other side to this coin is that it makes a great job for those who already live comfortably and don’t need the money. Essentially, if you are a councilmember, you already have other income streams; the $23k is ostensibly a stipend for your time.