Voting Record &
Policy Positions
When I take on a commitment – I take it seriously. One year into my first term I was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy and chemo. I am proud to say that during that time (other than the day of my surgery), I did not miss a single obligation - Council Meetings, Study Sessions, Budget Sessions or Work Sessions. All while raising kids and running a small business. If you return me to the Chandler City Council I will continue that level of commitment, continue to do the work, and continue listening to residents as I make decisions about the future of our community.
Jane Poston, Chandler City Councilmember & Candidate
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Meet Your Council Member
I’m not running for City Council because I think things are going so terribly wrong. I’m running because I believe Chandler’s best days are ahead of us, and that city leadership has a role in ushering that future into reality.
Housing
What are the main points you want voters to remember about you and your candidacy?
Workforce housing is a nationwide issue,and I have been part of helping Chandler find ways to meet the need. I led an overarching City Housing study, which is now part of the city's upcoming10 year General Plan. This study lets Council's decisions be led by resident and stakeholder input so we have a true understanding of the community needs for all levels of housing product. Additionally, I supported building public housing to help Seniors and Veterans, and remove aging public housing to continue housing availability to those who need it most. Finally,I'm supporting partnering with a nonprofit to create a land trust with city-owned land to help people find a path to ownership in perpetuity
In terms of housing, there are only so many things a city can do to get the right units built and/or made usable. Heading into 2027, is there an example of a new initiative or tactic the city could still employ to get more people housed?
Place city-owned land in a trust with a nonprofit partner so private builders can deliver homes without land costs, lowering purchase prices while allowing buyers to keep earned equity and enabling the process to repeat in perpetuity.
What is the biggest long-term issue facing your city?What’s the first thing you would do to address it? Be specific.
Housing prices affect families, workforce development and contribute to declining school population. While housing prices are market-driven, City Council can take measure to help more people achieve the American dream.I’ve voted to allow more flexible housing products like ADUs and container homes and approved a plan for public housing to accommodate seniors, veterans and families.I’m supporting a public/private partnership placing city property into a Land Trust with a nonprofit partner. The private sector’s reduced construction costs are passed along to qualified buyers who build equity for their next house. The process then repeats in perpetuity for other families.
How specifically would you prioritize employment corridors and housing needs?
It’s critical to preserve our employment corridors, but I want to be flexible enough to keep Chandler in the competition for unique, high-value projects.That’s why I voted in favor of a General Plan update allowing true mixed-use projects in the Price Corridor. This gives Chandler the ability to attract projects with enormous community benefits while preserving one of our most valuable employment centers. If approved by voters, a major employer could develop a mixed-use property that includes housing –but only if the housing is secondary to the employer and the entire project is cohesive in design and intent.
Ethical Governance
Under my leadership, meetings are more transparent as the public can now participate in work sessions and subcommittee meetings by providing comments at both. Also, our all-day budget hearing is now televised - without any additional cost to the taxpayer. I am currently working on an Ethics Policy for City Council through public input, written newspaper columns and social media to get the community involved while city staff researches options for consideration. One idea I'm exploring is an independent ethics commission made up of former elected officials and senior City of Chandler staff. These are people who understand how city government works, who carry no current political stake, and who could evaluate concerns with fairness and transparency. But that's just one idea because I genuinely want to know what residents think accountability should look like.
Development & Economics
What does the ideal mix of development for your city look like? Which two factors would you consider first when faced with voting on a proposed development?
The ideal mix of development is a delicate balance of businesses, housing, nonprofits and amenities that all contribute to a world class quality of life. Combine that with a municipal government like Chandler –that is fiscally sound and delivers the lowest cost of service of any City in the valley, and you have a community that is attractive to residents, visitors and businesses alike. Development is critical as we reach build out and factors I would consider first are whether a development is the best and highest use of the property, and whether it is a fit for the community.
How would you support economic opportunities that align with your community's needs, values, long-term water availability, and overall sustainability?
I’m running again because I believe I can be instrumental in helping Chandler move forward as our city is at a pivotal point in its growth.
I have been advocating for our City government to think differently when it comes to recruiting and retaining businesses as they reduce their footprint and have a growing demand for skilled labor.
Additionally, I am working to ensure the city has a strategy around, and staff with the expertise to manage the very different demands of redevelopment projects, rather than simply building new. As a councilmember, I’ve voted to remove obstacles in our code and continue to push to streamline development services. I don’t want businesses to think ‘built out’ means closed for business.
Finally, the investment in infrastructure is critical as Chandler ages. Reliable, accessible infrastructure is not only a sign of fiscal responsibility, it protects business and community assets.
While Chandler can rightfully claim it’s done well on keeping both property taxes and utility rates from skyrocketing, it seems inflation and other factors are finally catching up. What do you think about a more regular analysis that could lead to smaller increases on both of these fronts more often?
No one wants to increase rates, but leadership includes making difficult decisions. Small, incremental increases will ensure that current users are paying for the services they receive, and prevent future residents from experiencing large, unfair rate hikes.
What are your top budget priorities, and how would you allocate resources among city services such as public safety, infrastructure, housing, and community programs?
This year I focused on investing in the future, approving items that pay for themselves and deliver better service to the community. In FY 26/27 Chandler will launch its new ambulance service within our Fire Department as opposed to a contractor. Not only will residents be treated with the professionalism and care of our accredited department, the investment will repay itself and become self-sustaining within five years. Much of the rest of our budget was for long-term CIP projects that invest in maintaining infrastructure like water plants, or create better savings and service to our residents, such as a forensic building that will greatly reduce the wait and expense to solve crimes.
Business
What motivated you to run for Chandler City Council, and what core priorities will guide your service if elected?
I believe that the City Council is a continuation of community service that has always been part of my life -much of which was in Chandler, including: six years on the Chamber Board, and a term as Board Chair, Committee Chair of Women in Leadership, Chandler Education Foundation board chair, along with service to many Chandler nonprofits. I want Chandler to be a place our kids can continue to thrive –with strong jobs, great housing, safety at all levels and a quality of life that can’t be beat. I’m running again because I believe I can be instrumental in helping Chandler move forward as our city is at a pivotal point in its growth. I strongly believe and have been advocating for our City government to think differently when it comes to recruiting and retaining businesses as they reduce their footprint and have a growing demand for skilled labor. Additionally, I am working to ensure the city has a strategy around, and staff with the expertise to manage the very different demands of redeveloping projects, rather than simply building new. As a council member, I’ve voted to remove obstacles in our code and continue to push to streamline development services.I don’t want businesses to think ‘built out’ means closed for business.Finally, the investment in infrastructure is critical as Chandler ages. Reliable, accessible infrastructure is not only a sign of fiscal responsibility, it protects business and community assets.
If elected, how would your leadership and decision making reflect the values and priorities of the Chandler Chamber and the broader business community?
I believe my decision making and leadership is very much in line with the values of the Chandler Chamber and the business community. Not only am I a small business owner, active in the Chamber, and a sponsor of Women in Leadership, I personally believe that Chandler’s superpower is the collaboration of city government, the business community, educational institutions and nonprofits. As a Council member I have strongly advocated for the City to work collaboratively with the Chamber as it represents the voice of the business community. Some examples include inviting President/CEO Terri Kimble to share the state of the business community on my Council show, partnering with the Chamber on hosting a business round table, and attending multiple business round tables (BR&E/Workforce Development) as a City Council representative to be a resource to Chandler businesses. I most recently supported the Chamber and City partnership in educating nonprofits, and have begun work to implement an ethics policy –a position the Chamber’s How We Stand document has called for over the last seven years. During my current term, I have worked hard to keep the lines of communication open to ensure the Chamber has a voice on critical issues, and I have appreciated in return being able to rely on the Chamber for its input and outreach to the business community. It’s a true partnership that, if elected, I will continue to grow.
How do you believe a Chamber endorsement would support your campaign, and how would you use that support to engage with the business community?
The Chamber's endorsement would signal to the business community that our vision and values are in alignment. My company has been an active Chamber member for more than a decade, and I have dedicated my time personally and as a Council member because I believe that the work the Chamber does is incredibly valuable. The Chamber is a community leader and its opinions carry weight.On a practical side, I would plan to share that endorsement widely through social media and signage and hope to have opportunities to engage with members of the business community who are interested in city issues and my campaign.Thank you for your consideration.
Public Safety
Chandler public safety professionals in Police & Fire are integral to Chandler's success.
For the first time in years, Chandler now has a fully-staffed police department. That means a safer community, and officers who are spending time with their families rather than working large amounts of overtime.
Results matter - and my work in keeping our communities safe speaks for itself from supporting advanced cancer screenings for our firefighters to approving Chandler's very own ambulance service.
Public Works
The city’s looking at major expenses for public works projects in the years ahead. What’s an element of spending where the city could cut back in order to free up more general funds for these projects?
Council reduced CIP funding for the Downtown Chandler Park by $10 million, and asked city staff to come back with a plan that produced the most benefit and impact to Chandler residents. All projects should get this review.
How have you contributed to improving the quality of life for Chandler residents?
I voted to develop the Mesquite Groves Park that neighbors there were promised 20years ago. It will include cricket, pickleball, a skate park a lake and amphitheater as residents were promised. I supported new Pickleball Courts, Softball fields and a Multigenerational Center at Tumbleweed park,along with accessible playground equipment at parks throughout the city.Finally, I voted for the redevelopment of AJ Chandler Park in Downtown,which will phase out aging infrastructure and is already bringing business to that side of the park. This phase one project maximizes the development with only a third of the original budget