As Maricopa grows, Tena Dugan believes public safety must grow with it. That means planning ahead for police, fire, emergency response, staffing, retention, equipment, training, traffic safety, and the long-term resources needed to protect residents.
Public Safety
Public safety is one of the most important responsibilities of local government.
As Maricopa grows, our public safety needs grow with it. That includes police, fire, emergency response, dispatch, traffic safety, mental health support, school safety, and the resources needed to keep up with a larger population.
I am proud to be endorsed by the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police and the Maricopa Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 78. Their support means a great deal to me because public safety is not just a campaign issue. It is a commitment to the people who protect our community and the residents who depend on them.
Supporting public safety means more than saying we appreciate first responders. Appreciation matters, but it does not replace staffing, training, retention, equipment, competitive pay, and long-term planning.
We need to make sure our departments are looking toward the future, not stuck in a holding pattern. Growth does not wait for us to catch up. As new neighborhoods, businesses, roads, schools, and community needs are added, we must plan ahead for the public safety resources that growth requires.
That means having active conversations with our police and fire chiefs. It also means listening to the unions and the line-level employees who are doing the work every day. The people on the front lines often see problems before they show up in a report. Their experience matters, and their input should be part of the decision-making process.
A safe city also depends on smart planning. Roads, development, neighborhood design, traffic flow, emergency access, and response times all matter. When we approve growth, we need to understand how it affects staffing needs, equipment needs, station locations, public safety infrastructure, and future costs.
Residents should not be left paying for poor planning later.
Public safety also requires trust. People need to feel comfortable calling for help, asking questions, and knowing city leaders take their concerns seriously. That trust is built through transparency, accountability, and consistent communication.
Maricopa is still a community where people care about their neighbors. That is one of our strengths. As we grow, we need to protect that by making sure public safety remains a top budget and planning priority.
A safe community does not happen by accident. It happens when leaders plan ahead, listen to residents, and support the people who protect us.
Tena Dugan
Tena Dugan is a lifelong Arizonan and proud Maricopa resident since 2013. A licensed REALTOR® with West USA Realty, seven-year HOA Board President, and community advocate with over two decades of civic involvement, Tena knows what it takes to show up and get things done. She has served on the City of Maricopa Parks, Recreation and Library Board, the Citizen Transportation Tax Oversight Committee, and the Pinal County Transportation Board. As a wife, mother of four Maricopa High School graduates, and grandmother, she is deeply invested in the future of this community. Tena is running for Maricopa City Council because she believes every resident deserves a seat at the table — and your vote is your voice.
