Phoenix City Council candidate stresses responsible growth

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) – A mother, fourth-generation Arizonan and advocate of responsible growth is running for Phoenix City Council District 2.

Julie Read is also a former Deer Valley Unified School Board member, nonprofit co-founder and small business executive.

“I have been an active community advocate in north Phoenix since 2016, trying to help the community to resources and elected officials to problem-solve, you know, every day, common-sense things,” Read told The Center Square Wednesday. “I really want to carry forward the legacy of the councilmen that have served before me. They built a really strong foundation, and I would love the honor of taking that and continuing to build upon it and move forward as the city continues to grow and prosper in this area.”

Read said District 2 has “the largest section of state trust land in the city of Phoenix.” The candidate in the 2026 city council race sees it as a hotbed for potential growth.

“I want to be very thoughtful in how this area continues to develop and grow,” said Read, a Republican. “I know that there are other parts of the district that are facing growth issues similarly, but they are facing density and height issues, so I want to be a thoughtful advocate between the development committee and the residents that I serve.”

As a co-founder of BlockWatch Phoenix North, Read helped mobilize 6,500 residents to pass bipartisan public safety laws. If elected, Read said she would work with other council members on bipartisan measures.

“I don’t think that city politics is red or blue,” said Read. “Regardless of which party you agree with, we all want the same things.”

Those “same things” include a safe place to live and that people have access to natural resources that are cared for responsibly.

“I’m looking forward to bringing a commonsense viewpoint to the council when it comes to those areas,” said Read. “So, public safety, responsible growth, investment in the arts and public parks.”