Mayor and Council

Current Term: January 2023 – January 2027

Email Vice Mayor Matt Orlando

Vice Mayor Matt Orlando has been a resident of Chandler since 1983 and began his sixth term on the City Council in January 2023. He also served as a City Councilmember from 1990-1998, 2004-2013, and 2019-2023.

In November of 2016, he retired from Honeywell. His final role was Director of Technical Sales and was responsible for business development, sales and marketing of more than $500M worth of satellite, space and missile technology communications products for the military and other government agencies. He led a world-wide sales and business team of 26 people and directed successful business ventures in both the U.S. and international markets.

Councilmember Orlando retired as a Colonel in the US Air Force after serving 30 years on active duty and in the Arizona Air National Guard. His last assignment was serving as the Chief of Staff for the Arizona Air Staff Headquarters.

He is married to Pat and they have three children and two grandchildren. A native of Newark, NJ, he graduated from Rutgers University, New Jersey with a BA in Political Science and received an MBA from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA.

Current Term: January 2021 - January 2025

Email Councilmember Christine Ellis

Councilmember Christine Ellis was born and raised in Haiti and moved to the United States in 1982. She has resided in Chandler since 1987. She has been married to her husband, Benjamin, for 36 years with daughter Taliah, and son Sean, who forever lives in their hearts.

Councilmember Ellis has a Bachelor of Science, in Nursing from Grand Canyon University and currently attends Walden University in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program . She has worked as an RN for many large hospitals and care facilities, while holding many high-level positions such as Director of Nursing in the Metro Phoenix area. Christine has also taught various medical field and certified nursing classes in Arizona’s community colleges.

From 1998 to 2015, she founded and operated Cedar Sanctuary LLC, realizing that families needed an alternative to caring for their loved ones. In addition to caring for the elderly, she has been a part of the foundation of the The Bridge/FCS Ministry for more than 22 years which helps feed the local homeless population and provides to their spiritual needs, partnering with other ministries in Arizona.

As a Councilmember, Christine serves on local and regional committees, including:

• Chandler City Council subcommittees for Mobility and Quality of Life
• Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Domestic Violence Council, Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Human Services and Community Initiatives Committee, National League of Cities (NLC) Women in Municipal Government and National Black Caucus

Current Term: January 2023 – January 2027

Email Councilmember Angel Encinas

Councilmember Angel Encinas is your hometown councilmember. Raised in the heart of downtown, where he still lives to this day. Councilmember Encinas manages an immigration consulting firm and also is a realtor. Both professions give him a reach into the community on several important levels. Councilmember Encinas is a product of our Chandler public schools and holds a degree in Business from Arizona State University with a minor in Sustainability.  

As a Councilmember, he serves on the following City of Chandler Subcommittees:

• Community Safety
• Neighborhoods
• Sustainability and Technology

Councilmember Encinas also serves on the Chandler Commerce Education Workforce Development Coalition

Current Term: January 2021 - January 2025

Email Councilmember OD Harris

Councilmember OD Harris began his first term in January 2021. He is a proud U.S. Army Veteran, successful entrepreneur, a best-selling author, and founder of the National Ready Set Go Foundation (RSG).

Councilmember Harris began his entrepreneurial journey by opening one of the largest minority-owned accounting firms and successfully franchised the business.

Councilmember Harris’ passion and commitment is to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Mental Health, and Economic Development. It is through his beliefs and forward-thinking on these issues and others unmentioned that makes Chandler a great place to live, work, and play.

Councilmember Harris is a man of faith, a devoted husband and father. He leads as a servant-leader on local, regional, and national committees and boards. With a master’s degree in accounting and lived experiences, formed through the perseverance and pursuit of education and business opportunities, that he brings a well-rounded and enthusiastic perspective when serving his community.

Current Term: January 2023 – January 2027

Email Councilmember Jane Poston

Councilmember Jane Poston owns J2 Media, a 22-year video production and communications company, in partnership with her husband Jason. Together, they have raised a family and built their business in Chandler, while devoting time to supporting their community through service. As a small business owner who grew up in the East Valley, Councilmember Poston has experienced the enormous growth of Arizona, and managed and grown her successful small business through times of prosperity and times of national crisis.

As a former city employee, Councilmember Poston has worked with every department and possesses a strong understanding of the workings of municipal government from the inside out, including the budget, economic development, Mayor & Council and community events. In short, she understands how government works, and which questions to ask. She is an advocate for fiscal responsibility, government transparency, communication and responsiveness.

She plans to apply her business experience to develop a creative and innovative vision of what Chandler can be.

Current Term: January 2021 - January 2025

Email Councilmember Mark Stewart

Councilmember Mark Stewart, a resident of Chandler since 2001, began his first term on the City Council in January 2017. Councilmember Stewart and his family moved from the Midwest expecting to stay for a couple of years before returning home. They fell in love with the community, the people, and the vision of what Chandler would become. His children both graduated high school through the Chandler Unified School District and are proudly attending Arizona State University. The Stewarts can’t imagine calling somewhere else home.

Councilmember Stewart believes good governance involves helping provide a community that is safe, livable and committed to facilitating an improved quality of life and business opportunity. He works to foster a community that embraces inclusion, innovation and spirit on entrepreneurial development. He knows that a good municipal fiscal policy provides the backbone for the most successful cities.

Councilmember Stewart has a Bachelor of Science degree from Missouri State University. Within the community, he volunteers and supports local nonprofits and maintains an active faith. Mark is a coach for the YMCA and Little League International.