Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson announced that she is hoping to stay out of the limelight and will will cease occupying public office at the end of her current term.
Peterson departed from the 2024 mayoral race suddenly last Thursday. Although her announcement came amid unrelenting grievances from the community over the progress on the “Gilbert Goons” teen violence investigations centered on the October assault and killing of 16-year-old Preston Lord, Peterson’s official statement made no mention of the controversy — though she did allude that there were “many reasons” she’d chosen to step down.
“Over the last 24 years, I’ve served this community as an appointed (volunteer) and elected official and it has been an honor, pleasure and worth the sacrifice of my family time. Now a new chapter has begun, almost 15 months ago my grandson was born; life is short and I am choosing to focus my energy on my family and so as of now I’m ending my reelection campaign. I always knew that I would know, in my heart, when it would be the right time to step away and for many reasons I’m choosing now for this next step.”
Peterson’s generally positive announcement also emphasized her work schedule as mayor: six to seven days, 50-75 hours a week.
An assistant of Peterson’s later told KJZZ that the “many reasons” meant nothing, and that Peterson was simply bowing out of the race to see her grandson more.
Just a week ago, Peterson had confirmed to The Arizona Republic that she was running for reelection.
According to an email Peterson sent on Thursday morning, it appears that not even her fellow town executives were made aware of her decision to withdraw. Peterson told her executives that she wouldn’t resign but would see through her final year in office.
“I promise you, I will not be resigning before the end of my term. I will not put this team and the current council through that process and I will fulfill my obligation,” said Peterson.
That leaves Vice Mayor Scott Anderson and former Maricopa County attorney Shane Krauser in the race. Anderson announced his bid earlier this week, while Krauser signaled his intention to run over a year ago.
Part of the community ire against Peterson concerned her perceived lack of involvement and outspokenness on the Gilbert Goons investigations. Critics noted that it took her several weeks after media reports on the teen violence to issue a statement — although as it’s been reported, Peterson and other town leaders apparently don’t have the final say in their social media or most public statements that they make.
Statement from
Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson pic.twitter.com/tjkPwCbDtV— Mayor Brigette Peterson (@GilbertAZMayor) January 5, 2024
The Gilbert Goons investigations weren’t the only source of discontent for Gilbert residents concerning Peterson. The mayor has been the subject of nine ethics violation complaints, and resisted transparency in public records on progressive advocacy within town leadership.
The mayor was sued last summer in both state and federal court over alleged civil rights violations for kicking residents out of a meeting in 2022. The residents who sued were removed from a meeting for silently holding signs critical of Peterson. In response, the town required Peterson to undergo remedial training on upholding others’ constitutional rights.
Peterson assumed office in 2021 after former Mayor Jenn Daniels, who resigned suddenly in August 2020 for “personal reasons” after months of turmoil over Black Lives Matter activism and COVID-19 pandemic policies. Daniels then joined former Sen. Martha McSally’s reelection campaign and is currently a lobbyist.