Town Council

Tom Murphy was elected to the Town Council in 2013. He and his family moved to Sahuarita in 2003 as their final stop, culminating 42 years of combined military service for him and his wife Lynn.

Murphy is passionate about serving his community and public service. After retiring from the USAF in 1995, he earned his Associate’s Degree in Business from the University of Maryland. He then spent 14 years in service to his family. During this time, Murphy was actively involved in his daughters’ schools. He volunteered in classrooms, tutored disadvantaged children, and was active in the PTA. Soon after moving to Sahuarita in 2003, he was elected to the Sahuarita Unified School District school board, where he served 14 years with two terms as president.

Murphy believes that furthering the economic development of the town is the key to making the town a place where everyone will want to call Sahuarita home. He loves serving the residents with a focus on economic development, mutually beneficial relationships, and drawing all elements of the community together. He believes that creating an atmosphere of communication and collaboration is vital to our growth and success.

Mr. Murphy was selected as Mayor in December 2016.

Council Term Expires: 2026

Kara Egbert was elected a member of the Sahuarita Town Council in 2009 and elected again in 2013. In 2018, she was appointed to serve as the Vice Mayor. Egbert is a fellow of the Flinn Brown Civic Leadership, chairman of the Southern Arizona Red Cross Board, a member of the planning team for Better Together and teaches a high school religious class during the school year. Previously she served as the Director of For Our City Sahuarita, served in the Boy Scout organization, participated as one of the directors of a leadership camp for girls and served on the Parks and Recreation Commission for the Town of Sahuarita.

Egbert earned her Bachelor degree from Brigham Young University in Leisure Management Service and was the Manager of Operations for one of the largest fitness centers in the state of Utah, she also helped orchestrate successful special events such as First Night and the Freedom Festival in Provo, Utah. Beyond serving in the community, she stays busy being a mom of 5 kids who range from fifth grade to sophomore in college.

Council Member Egbert has enjoyed serving on the Town Council and is excited for Sahuarita to grow in future years. She looks forward to improving communication from the Town to the residents as well as bring the town together with special events and service opportunities. She will continue to work hard to keep our small town values in our growing community.

Council Term Expires: 2026

Deborah Morales was re-elected to the Town Council in 2022 to a 4-year term. Prior to her term on the Town Council, Morales immersed herself in the community, and has been involved in multiple events and organizations; including spearheading the Walden Grove Grad Night for 7 years, the Food Truck Round Ups, involvement with her church, in Youth Group, Shopping Angel, El Rio Health, National Disaster Team Rubicon, and various other Town events. In 2018, Morales was highlighted as one of “I-19 Most Influential People” by the Green Valley News, and also received the Manager’s Choice Award for the Town of Sahuarita. Morales has also sat on the San Xavier Little League and Pop warner Redskins Football Association boards.

Morales moved to Rancho Sahuarita in 2003. When she first moved to the area, Morales worked as a 911 operator/dispatcher for the City of South Tucson Police, Fire and Meds, which also included the Town of Sahuarita Police Department. A year later, she began a career with the Town of Sahuarita in the Building Safety Department, working as a permit clerk. Morales is the first former employee of the Town to be elected to its Town Council.

Morales’ goal on the Town Council is to have open communication with everyone, to not make any promises but to work hard to accomplish whatever challenges are being met. Her goal is also to make sure that the safety of residents and employees are continuously met.

Morales has eight adult children, three adult stepchildren and 26 grandchildren that keep her super busy.

Council Term Expires: 2026

Dr. Steven Gillespie was re-elected in 2024 to a 4 year term. He originally started serving on the Sahuarita Town Council in 2022.

Dr. Gillespie attended Utah State University for his undergraduate studies and he earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University. He moved to Sahuarita in 2013 to complete his three-year surgical residency at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System in Tucson. Since that time he has worked as a podiatrist in the Sahuarita/Green Valley community. He has his own podiatry practice, Southern Arizona Podiatry, and he enjoys being able to work with and serve his neighbors on a daily basis.

Dr. Gillespie loves living in Sahuarita. He said, “This is a fantastic place for myself, my wife and our children. We love this community and there are so many great people here. It’s a great place to be involved and we feel safe here.” He has been involved in the community coaching youth soccer teams, being a Venturing scout leader, working with cub scouts, working on the Tech Crew for local theater plays and being involved in his church.

Dr. Gillespie and his wife have five active children which keep them busy. In addition, he enjoys waking up early to play basketball, going to his children's theater performances, playing board games with his family and trying to come up with the best Dad Jokes.

He is thrilled to be able to have this opportunity to serve the residents of Sahuarita.

Council Term Expires: 2028

Diane Priolo was appointed to the Sahuarita Town Council in June 2022 and was elected in August 2022. Then re-elected to a four-year term in August 2024.

She is the proud mother of two accomplished daughters, both of whom are currently reserve officers in the USAF and veterans of the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her dad was a Marine and her mom was a WAC during WW II.

Having left NYC at age 38, she spent the next thirty years in the Chapel Hill, NC area primarily employed at the University of North Carolina Hospital. Her skills as the Complex Case Manager are well respected within that institution.

Diane also has a strong calling to serve others. She earned her Masters Degree in Social Work in 1976. Diane is a seasoned clinical social worker making her a valuable member to the residents of Sahuarita and the Town Council.

Enamored with the Sonoran Desert after visiting her daughter who had moved to Rancho Sahuarita, she decided to retire and move to AZ in January 2020. Diane found herself drawn to the spirituality of the land, the majesty of the mountains, and the allure of the monsoon.

Diane hit the deck running, so to speak, after choosing to call Sahuarita her home. In that short time she was elected a Precinct Committeeman, elected to serve as the Secretary on the Executive Committee of Legislative District 2, and appointed to be a state representative. Her candidacy for the Sahuarita Town Council is a natural progression of her governmental calling.

Diane consider herself to be:

"a cowgirl now...with an unmistakable Brooklyn accent."

and the Town couldn't be more excited for her to join our team.

Council Term Expires: 2028

Kim Lisk was elected to council in July of 2024 and officially got sworn in on November 18th, 2024.

Kim and her husband Stuart moved from a small town in the Pacific Northwest, Carnation, WA in October of 2022. She served her community in many ways being very active in non-profits, school district and serving on her city council for 9 years, five of those years as the mayor.

Kim is very excited to part of the community and wanted to run for Town Council to get to contribute and give back to the Town of Sahuarita. She is looking forward to serving the wonderful people of Sahuarita.

Council Term Expires: 2028

Edgar Lytle was elected to council in July of 2024 and officially got sworn in on November 18th, 2024. Before calling Sahuarita home, Lytle served in the USAF for seven years, stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, where he was honorably discharged in 1976. Ed spent over 30 years working for Anchorage Telephone Utility before retiring in 2007. Along the way, he coached Little League and high school football, which taught him valuable lessons – most importantly, how to listen.

Now, as a resident of Sahuarita, Ed is committed to being an active voice in the next chapter of the town’s growth and prosperity. He believes that every neighborhood in Sahuarita, no matter where you live, contributes to the strength and pride of the community. He is excited to work together with the residents to make Sahuarita an even better place for everyone.

Council Term Expires: 2028

Tom Murphy/Mayor

Kara Egbert/Vice Mayor

Deborah Morales/Council Member

Steven Gillespie/Council Member

Diane Priolo/Council Member

Kim Lisk/Council Member

Edgar Lytle/Council Member

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