Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson announced Thursday that she is ending her reelection campaign.
Her decision comes amid reports about a series of violent assaults by a group of teenagers in the East Valley. Gilbert police and the Town Council, on which Peterson serves, have faced criticism from community members who say they have not moved fast enough to address those crimes.
Peterson has served as mayor since 2021 and says she’ll finish out her current term, which ends in January 2025. In a statement, Peterson said she wants to focus her energy on her family from now on. She made no mention of the town’s ongoing teen violence scandal.
“A new chapter has begun, almost 15 months ago my grandson was born; life is short and I am choosing to focus my energy on my family,” Peterson wrote.
Her aide added in an email that Peterson’s “decision is solely based on her choosing to focus on her family.”
