By Julie Pace, Town Councilmember
Thanks to the hard work and diligence of Paradise Valley Mayor Mark Stanton and Town Manager Andrew Ching, our beloved PV Post Office, which has been around for more than 60 years, is being removed from the closure list after the United States Postal Service informed the town of their plans to shut it down.
Mayor Stanton has had his hands full managing and overcoming the challenges presented to preserve PV and to ensure smooth and efficient operations for the Town.
Mayor Mark Stanton is a calm voice to lead, is respectful of all and wants the best interests of the Town. This is who he is. Please thank Mayor Stanton for his service. Thank you all for caring about our special community!
Click here to read the official statement.
Paradise Valley, Ariz. (Sept. 25, 2025) – The Town of Paradise Valley today announced an agreement with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) that ensures the community’s Town Hall Post Office will remain open with no interruption in service.
“This is a big win for Paradise Valley,” Mayor Mark Stanton said. “When we received the termination notice in June, many of our residents made it clear they wanted to keep the Post Office open. I took the lead on the issue and, working with Town Manager Andrew Ching, we investigated options for appeal or engaging other postal service options.
“I have always felt that extensive contacts and relationships are of high value for the Town and my longstanding friendship with Congressman Schweikert is an example of that successful connectivity,” said Stanton.
Councilmembers requested Mayor Stanton to add to the Council agenda whether to rotate the position of Vice Mayor in the same way that Scottsdale and other communities do.
Councilmember Christine Labelle has been a strong advocate to have the Council consider rotating the Vice Mayor position for a variety of good, solid reasons.
She stated at our meetings that she wanted to adopt policies that reduce divisiveness and internal politics. She correctly noted that everyone who has been elected by the voters of this special community qualifies to serve as Vice Mayor.
I also believe rotation helps to improve cross training of Councilmembers and foster good relations among Councilmembers who then focus on the Town’s best interests. It will reduce factions, game playing and improve the Council team working together. That is the right way to be in the Town of Paradise Valley.
Regarding Councilmember Scott Moore’s article against rotating Vice Mayor, first, Councilmember Scott Moore is misleading because this is not a Mayor Mark Stanton initiative.
In 2025, Councilmember Moore has gone down a path of obstructionist and anger issues on a variety of items with the town staff, Council and Mayor. He regularly undermines the Mayor, tries to derail projects and deadlines, does not follow protocol and has been a distraction to Council and the items that need to be addressed in the Town this year.
Scott Moore strongly opposed Vice Mayor Ellen Andeen Keller to serve as Vice Mayor — yet, she has hands-down been one of the best Vice Mayors we have seen in the past decade.
Scott Moore vehemently opposed certain female Councilmembers from being included to participate on Council for the last couple years. Moore made it his cause during the last election to support only those mayoral candidates who would agree to exclude or attempt to isolate specific women who serve on Council.
Fortunately, Mayor Mark Stanton and candidate Mary Hamway would not agree with Scott Moore’s demands. They had more class and integrity for the benefit of what’s best for the Town of Paradise Valley.
Mayor Stanton repeatedly rises above the inappropriate comments and behaviors of Scott Moore. Mayor Stanton includes everyone in the process on the Council even those who engage in obstruction behaviors for their own personal or political gain.
The Town needs more people like Councilmembers Christine Labelle and Vice Mayor Ellen Andeen Keller who are smart, committed and genuinely care about the Town and make decisions for the best interests of PV.
Rotation of the Vice Mayor helps involve everyone on the Council. If the Council adopts the ordinance tonight on rotating the Vice Mayor, the next Vice Mayor will be Christine LaBelle and after that would be Karen Liepmann, followed by after the next new Councilmember who served a year unless they waive the position and do not want to be Vice Mayor.
The accusations by Scott Moore and his ally, defeated former Councilmember Paul Dembow, that the rotation proposal is an initiative of mine or is for my benefit is 100% false. Such accusations by them are symptomatic of conspiratorially obsessive behavior towards me and other women.
The rotation proposal is truly is helpful to the Town and will foster experience and improves relationships and dialogue on for the effectiveness of each person that the voters have chosen to serve on Council.