Carolyn Flowers, who has served on the Sierra Vista City Council for eight years and has been appointed vice mayor twice during that period, has launched a campaign for mayor. Flowers framed her bid as an extension of long-running involvement in local government, saying her tenure on the council and work with regional planning bodies have given her a clear sense of how to manage municipal operations and deliver on community priorities. She stressed a practical understanding of what it takes to move city projects forward and said her record demonstrates a focus on residents’ needs.
Sierra Vista officials accept a framed certificate at a local VFW hall; the city's vice mayor has announced a bid for mayor after eight years on the council.
The mayor’s office will be open this fall after Mayor Clea McCaa, who has served since 2023, announced in December that he will not seek another term and plans to pursue a campaign for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. Flowers is one of four candidates who have declared for the Nov. 4 mayoral ballot; she will face Mark Rodriguez, Brandon Martin and Steven Stefanov for the city’s top post. Voters will also elect four members to the city council in the same election, one more than the usual number of seats on the ballot because of a recent council resignation.
Flowers traces her Sierra Vista ties to 2008, the year she moved to the city. Over the last decade and more she has held roles beyond the council, including service on the board of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and as a council liaison to multiple local commissions. Those experiences, she said, offered on-the-ground exposure to the mechanics of municipal government and to the networks of partners—both public and private—needed to deliver infrastructure and services. "I do have a deep understanding of how the city works, how the government works, how to get things done realistically," Flowers said. "I've spent years working on these issues that matter to residents and I'm very proud of my record of always putting the community's priorities first."
Volunteers ring bells for the Salvation Army outside a Sierra Vista business; community service and local ties are central themes in the vice mayor's mayoral campaign.
On the stump and in campaign materials, Flowers has emphasized a set of core priorities that she says reflect both immediate needs and longer-term community values: securing funding to upgrade and maintain city infrastructure, preserving public safety, supporting the military and veteran population tied to nearby Fort Huachuca, and bolstering local businesses. She also lists protecting water resources and the natural character of the area, keeping Sierra Vista affordable for families and expanding opportunities and amenities for youth among her guiding goals. Flowers framed these objectives as pragmatic items that require steady leadership and collaboration across agencies and sectors.
Her campaign narrative frequently returns to service and local roots. "I'm running for mayor because I love Sierra Vista. (There's) a saying when you love something or someone, you take care of it," Flowers said, describing her time on the council as a form of caretaking for the community she calls home. That sentiment informs her stated desire to sustain partnerships with Fort Huachuca and to ensure the city’s policies and investments recognize the military community’s presence and contributions.
Flowers pointed to her experience as a small business owner in Sierra Vista as another qualification for the office. She ran a dog grooming shop from August 2009 until she closed the business in December 2024, and said the enterprise grew to about 400 steady clients after its first year. "It was a very popular business and I absolutely loved it, but it also gave me firsthand experience of running a small business in Sierra Vista," Flowers said. She argued that local government should aim to be an asset rather than an obstacle for business owners by maintaining infrastructure, streamlining processes and supporting workforce development through partnerships with local organizations.
Veterans and military families feature prominently in Flowers' campaign messaging. She noted that many people on the council are veterans or have spouses who served, and stressed the importance of recognizing the veteran population’s role in the community. "We have the largest per capita veteran populace here in Cochise County. It can't be understated that we have so many veterans here and it really is a characteristic of our community," Flowers said, adding that a life of service often continues into retirement through ongoing community involvement.
As the campaign moves forward, Flowers described her bid as rooted in both longevity and a commitment to the city’s future. "This is my home. This is the longest I've lived anywhere," she said, emphasizing that her personal ties to Sierra Vista underpin her decision to seek the mayor’s office. "I'm rooted here and I'm committed to our future. … I offer a combination of experience, proven leadership and community involvement."
The calendar for the municipal election includes a primary on July 21. Early voting begins June 24, with a mail-ballot deadline of July 14. Pima County voters are able to register, check their registration or request a mail ballot through county election resources. The general election for mayor and council seats will take place on Nov. 4, when Sierra Vista voters will choose who will lead the city and fill the council vacancies on the ballot.
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As the July 21 primary nears with early voting already underway, Flowers recently hosted a campaign booth at Sierra Vista's 59th Annual 4th of July Celebration, thanking attendees for their support via her campaign's Facebook page. She currently serves as chair of the Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization, building on the regional planning experience highlighted in her bid.
The City of Sierra Vista’s official election information lists the municipal general election date as Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, and shows the mayoral and council races will be included on that Nov. 3 ballot.
The City of Sierra Vista election page also notes that because four council seats are being filled this cycle, the top three vote‑getters will receive four‑year terms (ending Dec. 31, 2030) while the fourth‑place winner will be elected to a two‑year term (ending Dec. 31, 2028).
Flowers’ campaign website indicates she was first elected to the Sierra Vista City Council in 2018 and was reelected in 2023.
The City Clerk’s 'Running for Office' guidance says the city will not use the online petition platform for the 2026 mayoral petition process, so candidates must follow the alternate filing procedures described by the clerk’s office.