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Biographies
Craig McFarland
Mayor
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Jeff Lavender
Mayor Pro-Tem
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Jeff Lavender has been a resident of Casa Grande since 1996, when he was hired as a principal by the Casa Grande Elementary School District. Presently, he serves as the principal of Villago Middle School. Under Mr. Lavender's leadership, Cactus Middle School received the Arizona Education Foundation's high distinction of "A+ School of Excellence" in its first year of eligibility. Likewise, Villago Middle School has received that distinction in its first and second year of eligibility with Mr. Lavender at the helm. Recognizing his effective and consistent leadership, the Rodel Foundation selected Mr. Lavender as an Arizona Exemplary Principal in 2010.
Throughout his adult life, Mr. Lavender has focused on community involvement. Jeff served 16 years in the United States Army, four years active duty stationed in West Germany, and 12 years in the Arizona Army National Guard. Jeff was appointed to the Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board by Governors Janet Napolitano and Jan Brewer, where he served as board chair for three years. He has also served on the Casa Grande Zoning Commission for six years, with one year as the Zoning Commission chair. In addition, Mr. Lavender has also served on the boards of the Casa Grande Boys' and Girls' Club, the Sunrise Optimist Club, Casa Grande Alliance, and the Pinal County Cesar Chavez Memorial Scholarship Committee. Mr. Lavender has also chaired the Casa Grande Annual Unity March for sixteen years, an initiative recognized in 2013 by Arizona Parks and Recreation as an event of Excellent Cultural Diversity.
Jeff is married to Casa Grande native Gracy Lavender. Gracy and Jeff have three adult children and one grandson. Jeff was elected to the City Council in 2020. His term will run through December 2024.
Matt Herman
Council Member
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An Arizona native who has called Casa Grande home his entire life, Matt Herman was appointed to fill a vacated seat on the City Council in 2008. He is a third-generation business owner in Casa Grande and cannot think of a better place to live. He was elected to serve his first full term through 2013 and was reelected in 2018. Herman served as Mayor Pro Tempore from 2011 to 2012 and from 2017 to 2018.
Matt graduated from Casa Grande Union High School in 1994 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Arizona State University in small business management in 1998. While at ASU, he held several leadership positions in the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He is a graduate of Project CENTRL Class XVI and the Casa Grande Leadership Academy. Matt is the Past President of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley, the Western Pinal Republican Club, and The Rotary Club of Casa Grande. He is a Fellow of the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce. He serves as the Council liaison to the Casa Grande Youth Commission.
He and his wife Erica are very proud to call Casa Grande home and are constantly promoting the community. Erica is a teacher and artist who has raised two daughters in the city they both grew up in and are very excited about the future here.
Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons
Council Member
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Lisa moved to Casa Grande in the early 1970’s, attended elementary school and high school in Casa Grande. After graduating, she earned a BS degree at ASU. Her work experience includes time with the Xerox Corporation, Arizona Governor’s Office, Shearson Lehman Brothers in New York City and, more specifically, at Pepsi-Cola Company (Phoenix) for 10 years. Upon returning to Casa Grande to raise her family, she worked for United Way of Pinal County and Fidelity National Title. She is currently Director of Marketing and Business Development for Fitzgibbons Law Offices.
In April 2010, she was selected to serve on the Casa Grande City Council to fill a vacancy. In 2011, she was elected to her first term on council and is serving her third term in office. Additionally, she held the position of Mayor Pro Tem twice, in both 2013 and 2020.
She currently serves on various Boards, including; The Latino Familia Initiative Board (Currently Treasurer/Past President); Founding member of the Hispanic Leadership Institute; Cesar Chavez Memorial Committee, The Faith Alliance Executive Committee, Mayors Task Force on Homelessness(Founding Member), and on the Board of Directors for Child & Family Resources . She previously served on the St. Anthony’s School Board, CAHRA Board of Governors, CGUHS Site Council and the Celebrating Women of Today and Tomorrow committee. In 2010, she received the Latino Advocacy Award from Valle Del Sol, a state wide organization that honored leaders in the Latino community.
She has been married to her husband Denis for 33 years and has 3 daughters who attended Casa Grande Schools.
Donna McBride
Council Member
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Elected to her second term to the Casa Grande City Council in 2020, Donna McBride served as Mayor Pro Tempore from December 2018 to December 2019. Donna McBride is a believer that you get out of your community what you put into it. After retiring from Students Against Destructive Decisions after serving 20 years in positions ranging from Arizona SADD Coordinator, President of the SADD National Board of Directors, and National Director of Field Services, Donna returned to Pinal County, where she has worked for Pinal County Juvenile Court for 18 years as the Program Administrator II, Public Information Officer and oversees the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Unit.
Donna is a Chairman of the Casa Grande Alliance Against Drugs, where she has been a member for 18 years. Previously she served as Chairperson and board member of the city's Parks and Recreation Board and the Police Advisory Board. Donna was also the Youth Adviser for ten years for the Casa Grande Youth Commission, where she played an active role in opening the Casa Grande Teen Center. Donna serves as the Vice-Chair of the Pinal County Town Hall Board and was appointed by Governor Doug Ducey to his Commission on Volunteerism and Service Learning.
Donna's notable recognition awards include the 2010 Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Community Service Leader of the Year and a 2012 finalist for the Arizona Hon Kachina Awards. Her work has been recognized by both the Attorney General's Office, Arizona Supreme Court, and the Governor's Office. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from SADD and was honored as the 2010 Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Community Service Leader of the Year.
Donna was recently recognized by her peers, being named the Supervisor of the Year for Pinal County Juvenile Court, and will be honored by the Arizona Supreme Court as the Arizona Supervisor of the Year for the judicial branch in September.
Donna and husband Mike have two sons and three grandchildren. She is an active kayaker and, in her spare time, is a freelance writer and photographer.
Robert Huddleston
Council Member
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Bob Huddleston is a 33-year veteran of the Casa Grande Police Department. Bob started his career with the police department in 1980 as a patrol officer and worked his way up the ranks to become chief of police in 1999. He held that position until his retirement in 2013.
As police chief, Bob strongly focused on community policing and forming working partnerships with citizens, businesses, community groups, and volunteers, which helped cut the crime rate in Casa Grande in half during his tenure.
Bob has served as a board member on the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission and as a board member and past president of the Pinal County Law Enforcement Association. He currently serves as the president of the Board of Directors of Horizon Health and Wellness and was a volunteer for the Mayor's Reading Club, visiting Casa Grande Elementary Schools to read to children and talk about public safety.
Bob is currently retired from law enforcement and serves as a judge pro tem in the Pinal County Justice Courts system.
Bob has lived in Casa Grande since 1966, attended grade school and high school in Casa Grande, and is proud to call Casa Grande his hometown. Bob is married to Doria Garza, who has been involved in real estate in Casa Grande for over thirty years. Bob and Doria live in the Villago subdivision.
Anthony Edwards
Council Member
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An Arizona native, born and raised in Casa Grande. Anthony Edwards has always given back to his community as a motivational speaker at all the schools in Casa Grande and also held the F.A.I.T.H. youth football camps and a former Honorary board member for the boys and girls club where he would hold a golf tournament to help raise funds.
Anthony is currently the senior Pastor of a local church, Greater Evangelist Temple C.O.G.I.C.
Anthony graduated from Casa Grande Union High School in 1984 and then went on to college at New Mexico Highlands University where he majored in Business management. While at NMHU he broke all the school records as a wide receiver and was a team captain 1985, 87, 88.
In 1989 Anthony was an undrafted free agent of the Philadelphia Eagles where he played wide receiver/ special teams for two seasons and then in 1991 he joined the Phoenix Cardinals/ Arizona Cardinals for 8 seasons. After 10 years in the NFL as a player, Anthony was asked by William Bidwill owner of the Arizona Cardinals to stay on staff as the director of player program/ player development, a position he held for 23 years. During his tenure with the Cardinals Anthony wore many hats; 18 years as the Training Camp Director, 18 years as Travel Advance Man, and 18 years as the Team Chaplain. Anthony retired from the Cardinals May of 2021.
Anthony served on the Casa Grande Union High School Board from 2003-2006.
He became a License-Minister in 1995, and in 2000 he became an Ordained Elder through Arizona State Jurisdiction of the C.O.G.I.C.
Anthony attended the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program by Stanford Graduate School and attended the NFL Athletic Development Professional Certification Program through Wharton School Business. Anthony has served on the steering committee for the national football league player development/ player engagement for 10 years.
Anthony and his wife Maryann have three children, Tony, Torrey, and Tynette.