Phoenix City Council Four Candidate Ashley Harder Reacts to September 8 Candidate Forum

With District Four Phoenix City Councilwoman Laura Pastor retiring from her seat, eight candidates are campaigning to succeed her. Five participated in a forum on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, to discuss various issues facing the district in the fifth-largest city in the country, including affordable housing, public safety, community-public school partnerships, and how to address extreme heat.

These candidates were Ashley Harder, Ed Hermes, Megan Schmitz, Michael Mazzocco, and Robb Olivieri.

Currently, Harder and Hermes are considered by some political observers to be the frontrunners.

If no candidate earns the majority of the vote, the top two vote getters will face off in a March, 2027 runoff election.

During the candidate discussion, considerable time was devoted to the following topics:

• Removing reverse/suicide lanes on Seventh Street and Seventh Avenue while also making additional roadway transportation investments.
• The economic necessity for investing in the expansion of light rail and valley busing.
• The need for more shade and other heat mitigation devices, like cooling centers, expanded library hours, shading at bus shelters, more trees, and different colored pavement, during times of extreme heat.
• Affordable housing assistance to help the homeless and those finding it difficult to afford a home.
• Flock Cameras and Speed Cameras.
• On education: Public partnership with school districts about facility management, along with the creation of bike bus lanes, better funding for childcare, pre-school/Head Start, career pathways, and after-school programs, and free summer camps like STEM-Robotics.

In a statement following the forum, Ms. Harder said:

“It was a pleasure to speak directly with District Four voters and have a substantive conversation about the issues shaping our community as a neighbor, not a politician. Voters are looking for practical leadership on affordability, public safety, housing, transportation, and protecting the character of our communities. Forums like this are an important opportunity to show who has done the homework, understands the challenges facing District Four, and is prepared to deliver results. I’m ready to put my experience to work and deliver real results for our district!”