May you have a joyous holiday season, full of love, peace, and health! We are sending you kind wishes from our hearts to yours and from our home to yours!

Yeti on Camelback Mountain

By Julie A. Pace, Paradise Valley Town Council Member

I served as a law clerk to Judge Joe Contreras on the Arizona Court of Appeals, who was a good friend of Justice O'Connor. Justice O'Connor visited and maintained her friendships with her former colleagues on the Arizona Court of Appeals, and they revered her.

Justice O'Connor was an inspiration for generations of lawyers, including me. I have always kept the signed photo of her to me in my law office for our entire legal team to remember who we are as lawyers for quality of work, justice and for women to be inspired to grow and lead, despite the obstacles that might arise.

In college in 1979, guidance counselors steered me toward a career in business and advised that practicing law was not a good career for women. They said it was still too restrictive and discriminatory for women to excel or be equity partners in large law firms. They were right during that time period, but glass ceilings were meant to be broken eventually.

Justice O'Connor's appointment to the Supreme Court by President Reagan in 1981 changed the perception of women in the legal profession and helped open doors for women lawyers to eventually have more opportunities in private law firms. 

The passing of retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor stirs multiple and conflicting emotions: sadness, reflection, celebration of her life, recognition of her accomplishments, and a renewed commitment to be inspired by her accomplishments and life story, especially for women. She inspired.

By Julie A. Pace, Paradise Valley Town Council Member

Town Volunteers are needed! If you would like to serve to help preserve Paradise Valley, please consider being a volunteer.

The Town has vacancies on the Hillside Committee, Board of Adjustment, the Arts Board, and the Personnel Appeals Board.

Please submit your application to Dmiller@paradisevalleyaz.gov or click on this link to apply. You can identify which committees you are interested in or leave it blank.

The deadline to apply as a volunteer for a Town Committee is January 26, 2024. 

Applicant interviews and meetings with the Town Council will occur on February 15.  

By Julie A. Pace, Paradise Valley Town Council Member

If you are interested in serving as Mayor or a Town Council Member and working with others to preserve Paradise Valley, come and learn about how to run and what actions to take to be on the ballot. 

A candidate orientation will be held on January 10, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Boardroom to answer questions about running for office.

Candidate Information Packets will be provided and will include all the forms and instructions necessary to run for office.  

The deadline to collect signatures and file as an official candidate is April 8, 2024.  The signature requirements for both Mayor and Council in this election is 172. Please make sure to have PV residents who actually live in PV and who are registered to vote in Arizona and PV sign petitions. 

The Primary Election for Mayor and Council will be held on August 6, 2024.  

A run-off election if necessary will be held on November 5, 2024.  

Newly elected Council Members will take office on January 9, 2025.

We have had wonderful travel experiences in 2023 but it's always good to come back home to our beautiful Paradise Valley that we all work together to preserve our special town! Happy Holidays!

Enjoying the total solar eclipse in the Timor Sea

Enjoying TAKAYAMA in Japan

Observing wild jaguars in the Pantanal in Brazil

Taking photos in a zodiac off the West Coast of Australia

Paradise Valley Town Council Member Julie Pace proactively engages to preserve the mountains and open space and focuses on substance, action, and doing good work for the best interests of the Town, while building a sense of community.

Julie Pace for Paradise Valley Council | 5501 E Solano Drive

Paradise Valley AZ 85253 | paceforpv@gmail.com

Paid for by Julie Pace for Paradise Valley Council

Authorized by Julie Pace.