The four officer positions and nine at-large director positions on the Willo Neighborhood Association board are up for election in 2025. The election will be held in March.
Only active 2025 members of the Association may vote. Residents may opt in as members by filling out the online form here. Members may request a paper ballot from Nikki Armstrong, the Secretary, by emailing a request to happinesstogo@gmail.com. Note that paper ballots must be returned by mail to the Association’s PO Box.
Officer Candidates
President: Brad Brauer (Monte Vista) Hello neighbors! I have lived in Willo for almost 21 years. During that time I have served as a Board Member, Vice President and President. I’m honored to have the opportunity to run for the position of President for another term. Our jobs in serving Willo are pretty much constant, working with neighbors, city staff and elected officials. We will have our hands full in the next year as we push our state legislature to protect our neighborhood as they attempt to create a miracle solution to the lack of housing in and around Phoenix. We are working in partnership with our two state representatives and our state senator to help protect established and historic neighborhoods. I look forward to this upcoming term and thank you for your support.
Vice President: W. Aaron Montaño Searles (Edgemont) I was raised in Willo and bought a home here in 2012. I have worked for three City Council members and formed a consulting business. I have served on the Willo Board for the past four years; two of those have been as Vice President and I was appointed to the Phoenix Encanto Village Planning Committee in 2016 of which I am now the Committee Chair. I am running for Board Vice President reelection because I believe my knowledge about the City and community connections will continue to help navigate Willo projects and ensure the neighborhoods priorities.
Secretary: no candidate
Treasurer: Scott Ferreira (Edgemont) Scott is an experienced entrepreneur and business leader with a proven track record of managing budgets and finances across a wide range of industries and organizations. With over 15 years of experience in running businesses with global teams, Scott has developed a keen ability to oversee and manage financial operations. He has successfully managed budgets of varying sizes for businesses and nonprofits alike. Scott previously served on the financial subcommittee for Willo Neighborhood Association before becoming Treasurer in September 2024. He was also on the financial and audit committees of his former HOA community. His work in these roles has equipped him with a deep understanding of the fiscal responsibilities and strategic decision-making needed to support the financial health of the Willo PHX Neighborhood Association.
At-large candidates
Ed Buckel (Granada) For over a decade, my husband, James Smith, and I have been proud residents of Willo. During this time, we’ve witnessed the community evolve in exciting and meaningful ways. As an active participant in neighborhood activities over the past few years, I’m eager to give back by offering my time and services to the community that has become such an integral part of our lives. Together with Jim, I’ve had the privilege of organizing and overseeing the construction, placement, and cleanup of the holiday luminaries along the 100 block of Granada. Additionally, we’ve hosted block-wide build parties on our front porch, which have become cherished traditions for us and our neighbors. We take great joy in opening our home to celebrate living in such a special neighborhood. I am excited about the opportunity to serve as a board member of the Willo Neighborhood Association and to continue contributing to the growth and strength of our amazing community.
Jennifer Cannon (Cypress) Jennifer Cannon has made Phoenix her home for the past 30 years, with the last year and a half spent in our amazing Willo neighborhood. Embracing the community spirit, Jennifer has served as the block captain for the luminaria event for the past two seasons. Alongside her wife Kelly, she was drawn to Willo by its beauty and overwhelming sense of friendship and community. Actively involved in the broader Phoenix area, Jennifer is a member of the Fiesta Bowl committee and the Phoenix Community Alliance board. With a desire to contribute further, Jennifer aims to join the Willo association board to ensure neighborhood consultation and involvement in future Phoenix developments, as well as in planning Willo events. Jennifer and Kelly have two adult sons who eagerly visit during the holidays to join in the neighborhood festivities, and a wonderful mastiff named Stella who completes their family.
Robert Cannon (Cypress) I have lived in Willo 26 years and served 16 years on the Willo board, holding the positions of President and Vice President. Other boards include the City of Phoenix Civil Service Board, the Light Rail Board, the Police and Fire Disability Board, and several educational boards. As a Willo leader, I worked on several key initiatives, including the Light Rail negotiations, street closures to Central Avenue, and access restrictions on 1st Avenue. I secured limited access from Tapestry on Central, aided in redeveloping the McDowell/7th Ave area, and achieved a legal victory with the FAA. I also coordinated the website launch and initiated our Block Watch grant, all while managing the eight-year journey of the 3rd/5th Avenue project. I want to return to the Willo board because of the recent housing laws passed by the state that could eliminate the Willo Conservation Plan. We must prioritize this issue. Do you want your taxes to increase? Would you like a 4-unit condo next to you without parking restrictions? As a community, we must act now to protect Willo from developers and dense housing projects and maintain our Historic Neighborhood status.
Dan Childers (Granada) Hello neighbors, I’m Dan! I have lived in Willo with my husband and our dogs for more than 16 years. As an ecologist, I study cities and am on the faculty of ASU’s School of Sustainability. Our home has been on the Willo Home Tour, and I’ve served on the Home Tour Committee for several years. As a returning Willo Board member, I will continue to blend this experience and my expertise with a real passion for the beauty and sense of community of our neighborhood. Thanks for your vote!
Eric Gilmore (Coronado) I love our neighborhood, and I am passionate about preserving the historical integrity of it. In the past two years on the board, I have spoken at City Hall and attended numerous meetings to represent Willo held by our Councilwoman Laura Pastor and the Encanto Village Planning Committee to help preserve the Willo Conservation Plan. I have also worked with City of Phoenix employees from the Flood and Streets Transportation departments, pushing for help to resolve the flooding issues and improvements on 3rd/5th Avenue. It would be an honor to serve again on the board, working to care for our beautiful community.
Sandra Lefcovich (Coronado) I have been a member of the WNA Board for seven years and am seeking re-election. Currently, I serve as the Editor of Inside Willo Magazine and was previously the Co-Editor of The Willo Architectural Book. Additionally, I chair the WNA Communications Committee. In the past, I've co-chaired the Home Tour Committee and assisted with Kids Club events. I hold a Master's degree in International Relations from NYU, speak several languages, and have lived in Willo since 2016.
Reid Mertens (Palm) I grew up in the Valley and graduated from ASU with degrees in Business and Sustainability, a Master's in Environmental Engineering, and a beautiful wife named Courtney. We moved to Willo in 2022 and showcased our home in the 2023 Home Tour. I have served on the 2024 and 2025 Home Tour Committees, first supporting Street Fair activities and now leading permitting, licensing, and event logistics. As an advocate for both historic preservation and building a unified community, I'd be honored to help shape the future of our beloved Willo neighborhood by serving on the board.
Chris Norton (Lewis) Chris Norton, a 12-year Willo resident, has spent the last 8 years spearheading Luminaria for the neighborhood including drafting budgets, working with the board and multiple vendors, and coordinating a small army of volunteers each year. During this time, he has also been a member of the Phoenix Community Alliance where he sat on three committees: Central City Planning & Development, McDowell Road Revitalization, and Social & Housing Advancement. He is an apartment broker and a housing provider (investor). In short, he cares about finding consensus and building stronger communities where everyone is given the opportunity to voice their input.
Bobbi Ryals (Lewis) I’m Bobbi Ryals, a 32-year Willo resident who’s passionate about preserving our historic neighborhood. I’ve spent 13 years as a Realtor specializing in historic homes, and my wife serves as a Historic Preservation Commissioner. For 17 years, I’ve been a Block Watch Captain on the 100 block of Lewis, and this past year, as Block Watch Chair, I relaunched the program, added 19 new captains, and organized events like our ice cream social, scavenger hunt, and G.A.I.N. event. I’m running for the board to strengthen our community and continue making Willo a safe, clean, and thriving neighborhood for all.
Jeremy Schachter (Palm) A native New Yorker, Jeremy traveled to Arizona to attend the U of A and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Jeremy moved to Willo in 2009 and has been married to his husband Nick for over 12 years. He has served on the board for several years as the Social Media Committee Chair. He has over 23 years’ experience in the mortgage industry. He spends his time assisting clients and working with a variety of volunteer organizations and was recognized as one of Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 under 40.
Patrice Wappel (Windsor) I have served on the Willo board and it would be my pleasure to continue in volunteer capacities for Willo’s various needs. I have been the Block Watch Captain for the 100 block of Windsor, and I chair the Kleanstreets and Yard Sale Committees. I love living in such a wonderful close-knit neighborhood, and I have been in the same home for forty years. I enjoy doing what I can to help with Willo board needs.
3.5 TRAFFIC & SAFETY ACTION
- Dr. Robert Cannon, Chair: RLCannon7@gmail.com
BYLAWS REVIEW
- Lara Sands: lsands@hotmail.com
BLOCK WATCH
- Bobbi Ryals, Chair: WilloBlockWatch@gmail.com
COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY
- Sandra Lefcovich, Chair: lefcovichmoreno@gmail.com
- Linda Doescher: ldoescher@kcpagels.com
- Jeremy Schachter: jeremys@fairwaymc.com
- W. Aaron Montano Searles: wsearles@gmail.com
HISTORIC REGISTRATION AND RENEWAL
- Gene Nance, Chair: genenance1@gmail.com
HOME TOUR 2025
- Crawford Breedlove, Co-Chair: crawford@alliancebc.us
- Courtney Southerland, Co-Chair: willohometours@gmail.com
INSIDE WILLO MAGAZINE
- Sandra Lefcovich, Editor: lefcovichmoreno@gmail.com
- Megan Desmond Martinez, Advertising Director: insidewilloadvertising@gmail.com
- Ralph Groom, Art Director: ralphgroom3@gmail.com
KLEANSTREETS/YARD SALE
- Patrice Wappel, Chair: iwilliam13@gmail.com
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE COMMITTEE
- W. Aaron Montano Searles, Chair: wsearles@gmail.com
- Eric Gilmore, Chair: eric.b.gilmore@gmail.com
- Opal Wagner: opal.wagner@gmail.com
- Tom Doescher: tfdoescher@gmail.com
LUMINARIA
- Chris Norton, Chair: vividviews@gmail.com
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
- Jonathon Roberts, Chair: willosocialcommittee@gmail.com
SOCIAL MEDIA
- Jeremy Schachter, Chair: jeremys@fairwaymc.com
WILLO KIDS CLUB
- Valerie Lane, Chair: ValerieLane@hotmail.com
ZONING
- Eric Gilmore, Chair: eric.b.gilmore@gmail.com
The Willo Board meets on the second Thursday of each month, September through June, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. See below for specific upcoming board meeting details and dates. Visit our calendar page to see a schedule of upcoming board meetings and other events.
Meeting Location:
Arizona Opera
1636 N Central Avenue, Phx., 85004
Residents can also participate via Zoom - to join the Zoom meeting, click here.
The Willo Neighborhood Conservation Plan created a Special Conservation District for our neighborhood when it was approved by the Phoenix City Council in 1986. The neighborhood association exists to “promote and support” this plan, as stated in the bylaws. The bylaws also dictate the rules establishing our 13-member board. They provide other details regarding neighborhood association meetings, financials, and membership.
Membership in the association is not automatic when you move into the neighborhood.
Membership is not required to receive Inside Willo Magazine, attend association meetings, or go to neighborhood functions like happy hours. Membership is required to vote, though, and it is required for all individuals running for and serving on the board. Membership is “opt-in,” meaning that residents must indicate that they would like to become a member of the Willo Neighborhood Association.
This can be done by using either the online membership opt-in form or the paper opt-in form. The link to opt in can be found in the Membership section of willophx.com, and at the end of this article.
Membership must be renewed annually to be valid. All memberships expire on December 31 and should be renewed each year in January, or whenever a new resident wants to establish membership during the year when they begin residence in Willo.
According to the bylaws, membership is open to any member who resides in the conservation plan’s boundaries, and who is of voting age (18), including renters. Membership is limited to four members per household. Membership is free of charge!
The Willo Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization whose budget plan runs from May 1 – April 30 each year. Much of the Association's funds are raised during the annual Home Tour: tour tickets, vendor booth rental, sponsorships, and so on generate funding that pays for necessary items like meeting spaces, printing Inside Willo, and landscaping in our two parks, traffic bump outs, and roundabouts. The Association also applies for several grants that help fund holiday luminarias, rubbish bins at neighborhood events, and other administrative costs. Each spring, the next year’s annual budget is presented and approved by the board no later than the April meeting.
Each month thereafter when a meeting occurs, the Treasurer prepares a report with an update on the budget, which is then reviewed by the board and generally approved. Neighborhood association meetings happen each month, usually on the second Thursday evening, with the exception of July and August when the association does not meet. View our calendar here.
Typical agenda items at the meetings include reports from our Phoenix Police Department’s Community Action Officer, updates on zoning issues in and around Willo, various requests from neighbors for the board to address a question or concern, and updates from committees.
Historically, meetings are held in person at the Arizona Opera on Central Avenue. The link to join the meeting online is posted on willophx.com, and is shared in the neighborhood Facebook page prior to the meeting. Unfortunately, attendance at monthly neighborhood association meetings is often low, although spirited discussion frequently occurs.
If you haven’t done so, consider attending a neighborhood association meeting. Perhaps you will be inspired to run for a board position in a future election or volunteer on a committee.
The biggest event in Willo each year is the Home Tour, which happens every February, usually on the third Sunday. Since the Home Tour’s beginnings in the 1980s, it has happened every year except for 2021.
When Home Tour planning gets going each winter, expect to hear about many opportunities for neighbors to volunteer at the event. Other fun things brought to you by the neighborhood association are Kids Club events that focus on our youngest residents (and their parents), the monthly neighborhood happy hours and other events organized by the Social Committee, the holiday luminaria lining every street at the end of December, and this and every issue of Inside Willo that is hand-delivered to your door by volunteers…the list goes on and on.
All of these fun things involve work to create them, so the neighbors who get together to organize them are appreciated. If you have questions about any of these events, please come to a neighborhood association meeting, or contact your favorite board member or committee chair.
Contact information for all of these individuals can always be found on page 5 of Inside Willo Magazine.
The Willo Neighborhood Association is NOT a homeowners’ association.
This means that the association does not have the authority to issue citations for blight, regulate the paint colors residents choose for their homes, or dictate what kind of landscaping residents use. Residents must refer to and follow the regulations that apply within the City of Phoenix; for example, Willo neighbors sometimes ask whether the City is responsible for trimming palm trees that grow in the easements (the strips of land between the street and the sidewalk). Phoenix City Code, Chapter 39, Section 39-7D states:
Property owners are responsible for keeping their properties, and the adjacent rights of way, free of dead or dried vegetation (weeds, tall grass, tumbleweeds, shrubs, trees, palm fronds, etc.). All dead or dried vegetation must be removed and disposed of properly.
Property owners are also responsible for assuring that grass and weeds on their property and in the adjacent rights of way do not exceed six inches in height.
So, the answer is no, the City is not responsible for trimming those palm trees or maintaining that easement – it’s up to the property owner and/or resident.
Sidewalk repair and maintenance is similar: owners whose property abuts the sidewalk are responsible, per Phoenix City Code, Chapter 31. Furthermore, if someone is injured due to a defective sidewalk, the property owner who is responsible for that sidewalk shall be liable. Read more at this link to relevant sections of the Code regarding sidewalk repair: https://phoenix.municipal.codes/CC/31_ArtIV_Div2. At least we don’t have to shovel snow from our sidewalks in the winter.
While it is not always the most captivating reading, taking a look at the Phoenix City Code once in a while can be informative and enlightening. You can find the complete Code at this link: https://phoenix.municipal.codes/