Town of Gilbert Town Council
The Gilbert Town Council consists of a mayor and six council members who serve four year terms. Unless otherwise noted, the council meets every other Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Gilbert Municipal Center, 50 E. Civic Center Drive. Council agendas are posted on this website at least 24 hours prior to the meeting time. Council meeting minutes from 1998 to the present are also available via this Town's website.
COUNCILMEMBER BIOS
Mayor John Lewis
Mayor John Lewis was elected as Mayor in May 2009. Prior community involvement included serving as Co-Chairman of the Town’s Diversity Task Force, Organizer of Community Interfaith activities, and Founder of Gilbert’s first “Constitution Week.”
He has 28 years of private sector business experience including 18 years with Apollo Group (parent company to the University of Phoenix), 9 years with Ernst & Young (International Accounting Firm), and one year in a staff position with U.S. Senator Jake Garn. Assignments have included information technology management, leadership development, and management consulting.
Mayor Lewis earned an MBA from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Science (Finance) from Brigham Young University. He has been married to LaCinda for 29 years and together they have eight children and four grandchildren. The Lewis Family has lived in Gilbert for 25 years.
Vice Mayor Les Presmyk
Councilmember Les Presmyk was first elected to the Gilbert Town in 1999 after serving on the Gilbert Planning and Zoning Commission for four years. He has been re-elected twice and is currently serving his third term. He served as Vice Mayor in 2001-2002 and 2005-2006.
Councilmember Presmyk has been with the Salt River Project and is currently the Senior Mine Engineer in the Fuels Department. He has been an active member of the Gilbert community for almost 20 years, serving as president of the Islands Community Association board of directors and chairman of its architectural review committee. He currently serves as co-chair of the Mercy Gilbert Medical Center gala event (Gilbert’s first such event).
Councilmember Presmyk earned a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from the University of Arizona. He has been married to his wife, Paula, for over 31 years. They have lived in Gilbert for the past 21 years and were both born and raised in Phoenix.
Councilmember Linda Abbott
Linda
C. Abbott was elected to serve a second term to the Town Council in March
2007. Councilmember Abbott’s previous service on Gilbert’s
Council was from 1991-1995.
Mrs. Abbott and her family moved to Gilbert in 1987. She is married to Tom; they have two grown daughters, Tara and Lauren, both graduates of Gilbert Public Schools.
Mrs. Abbott is a social studies teacher with Gilbert Public Schools. She graduated with a B.A. in Education from Arizona State University, and a M.A. from Northern Arizona University.
Councilmember Abbott has been active in the community and was instrumental in the development of Gilbert’s municipal fire department and the expansion of public safety services.
She is a co-founder of the Gilbert Leadership program and is active on several boards and commissions within the community.
Councilmember Ben Cooper
Ben Cooper was appointed to the Gilbert Town Council in May 2010. Prior to joining the Council, Ben served on a variety of Town boards and committees, including six years on the Gilbert Economic Development Advisory Board. Ben also chaired the sub-committee charged with updating the Gilbert General Plan 2011 chapters on Economic Development, Environmental Planning, and Energy.
Ben has small business experience with real estate investments, land development and entitlements. Before choosing to work for himself, Ben spent six years with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council attracting large businesses to communities within the Phoenix area, including Gilbert. He holds an MBA in International Management from the prestigious Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Ben first moved to Gilbert as a junior high school student in 1983 and, as such, he is a proud product of Gilbert Public Schools. He and his wife, Milena, love living in Gilbert and feel it is wonderful place to raise their three young daughters.
Councilmember Dave Crozier
Dave
Crozier is serving his fourth term on the Gilbert Town Council, including
a one year as Vice Mayor.
Mr. Crozier is currently Manager of Emergency Preparedness at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. Previously, he served in the fire service both in a municipality and private setting including Fire Chief at Palo Verde.
Prior to being elected to the Town Council, Mr. Crozier served on the Planning and Zoning Commission and was involved in the formation of Gilbert’s own Fire Department.
Mr. Crozier has served on several boards and commissions, including the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as chairman of the Gilbert Leadership.
He is married with five children.
Councilmember Jenn Daniels
Jenn Daniels was elected to a four-year term in May 2009. Jenn has served her community for five years on the board of a non-profit, worked on several state ballot initiatives, volunteers with charitable organizations and takes an active interest in our Gilbert community.
Jenn has a B.A. in Humanities and worked for six years in finance - three in the private sector and three more as the owner of her own small business.
Jenn is active in her church, enjoys reading and outdoor activities, is a precinct committeewoman and loves spending time with her family. Jenn is married to Eric Daniels and they have three young sons.
Councilmember John Sentz
John Sentz was elected to the Town Council in 2009 after four years on the Gilbert Planning Commission where he served as been both Chair and Vice-Chair. He is a graduate and former board member of Gilbert Leadership.
He has served on many boards and committees for the Town of Gilbert and several non-profit organizations. He was president of the Park Grove Estates HOA for six years.
Mr. Sentz and his wife own a consulting business in Gilbert. He previously worked for Motorola before retiring in 2001. He retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of Captain after a 34 year career. He was selected for membership in the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition of his many hours of volunteer service to his community.
Mr. Sentz holds two bachelor degrees from Arizona State University in business and has been a Gilbert resident since 1976. He has been married to Mary for 22 years and together they have a blended family of two children and six grandchildren.