Meet Mesena
Parker resident. Business owner. Community servant. Candidate for Town Council.
Mesena Tunnell-Gilbert
Candidate — Parker Town Council
"My service to Parker didn't start with this campaign, and it won't end after Election Day."
Mesena Tunnell-Gilbert has spent her life in service to this community. Long before she decided to run for Town Council, she was already showing up — as a youth sports president, as a scholarship committee chair, as a board member, and as a neighbor who genuinely cares about Parker's future.
She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security & Emergency Management and brings 22 years of auditing and compliance experience to everything she does. She is a business owner who understands what it takes to make payroll, navigate regulations, and build something that lasts.
She is running because Parker is her home — and because she believes the Town Council needs someone who has the experience.
Education
Bachelor's Degree, Homeland Security & Emergency Management
Experience
22 Years Auditing & Compliance
Business
Business Owner, Parker AZ
A Record That Speaks for Itself
Mesena's commitment to Parker is measured in years — not campaign promises.
Parker is Our Home
I have lived, worked, and served in Parker for most of my life. I have coached your kids, helped your seniors, patrolled your streets, and sat on the boards that shape this community. Parker is not just where I live — it is who I am.
I am running because I believe Parker deserves a council member who has actually done the work. Not someone who showed up when it was convenient, but someone who has been here — year after year, meeting after meeting, season after season.
I am not a career politician. I am your neighbor. And I will govern like one: with honesty, accountability, and a genuine commitment to making Parker stronger for every family, every business, and every generation that calls this place home.
My service to Parker didn't start with this campaign. And it won't end after Election Day.
Chairperson
Parker Library Board, Parks and Recreation
Vice Chair
Parker Senior Center Advisory Committee
President
Pop Warner Football Association
Member
American Legion, Parker Chamber of Commerce
Auditor
Miss America Scholarship Program
4-H Swine Leader
Scholarship Chair
Elks Lodge #1929
Lead
Community Outreach Events
Class Motivator — Law Enforcement Training Academy
Arizona Western College, Class of 2001
Mary Kay Director
Top 3% Nationally
Live Your Dream Award
Soroptimist International
Dean's List and Honor Society
Grand Canyon University
Dodie Londen Excellence in Public Service Series
Class of 2024
Record of Service
This is where the resume meets reality. Here is what Mesena has actually done for Parker.
Certified Reserve Police Officer — 18 Years
Mesena served as a Certified Reserve Police Officer alongside La Paz County's law enforcement community. She understands firsthand what it takes to keep our community safe and the challenges officers face every day. She will always make sure Parker's public safety personnel have the support and resources they need.
President — Pop Warner Football Association
As President of the Pop Warner Football Association, Mesena built one of the most active youth programs in the region. She organized seasons, managed budgets, recruited coaches, and made sure every kid who wanted to play had the chance to. That's not a resume line — that's years of Saturday mornings on the sidelines.
Scholarship Chair — Elks Lodge #1929
Mesena served as Scholarship Chair for Elks Lodge #1929, helping local students access funding for higher education. She believes investing in young people is the best investment a community can make.
Vice Chair — Parker Senior Center Advisory Committee
Parker's seniors built this town. Mesena has served as Vice Chair of the Parker Senior Center Advisory Committee because she believes our older residents deserve dignity, resources, and a voice in local government. She will always be an advocate for Parker's senior community on the Town Council.
Chairperson — Parker Library Board, Parks and Recreation
Mesena served as Chairperson of the Parker Library Board and Parks and Recreation, working to strengthen the community resources that Parker families depend on every day — from literacy programs to recreational spaces that bring neighbors together.
Auditor — Miss America Scholarship Program
Mesena has served as Auditor for the Miss America Scholarship Program, bringing her 22 years of auditing and compliance expertise to ensure the integrity and transparency of the scholarship process for young women in the community.
4-H Swine Leader
Mesena served as a 4-H Swine Leader, mentoring young people in agriculture, responsibility, and hard work — values that are foundational to the Parker community and the rural way of life she has always championed.
Dodie Londen Excellence in Public Service Series — Class of 2024
Mesena is a graduate of the prestigious Dodie Londen Excellence in Public Service Series Class of 2024 and was one of only four women selected from Arizona. Her leadership experience and commitment to service have prepared her to effectively represent and serve the people of Parker.
Ready to Stand with Mesena?
Volunteer, spread the word, and make your voice heard on July 21, 2026.