Waitman-Powell With Peoria Fire Fighter Endorsement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2026
Joysaphine Waitman-Powell Earns Firefighter Endorsement For Peoria City Council Race
UPFFA Local 493 Backs Peoria City Council Candidate as Family Legacy of Service Inspires Commitment to Public Safety
PEORIA, Arizona. — Peoria City Council candidate Joysaphine Waitman-Powell announced this week that she has earned the endorsement of the United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association Local 493, whose membership includes firefighters serving Peoria and communities throughout the Valley. Local 493 and the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona collectively represent more than 8,000 firefighters and their families across Arizona.
In announcing the endorsement, Darin Fox, Chapter President of Peoria UPFFA Local 493, stated:
“Local 493 and the PFFA represent more than 8,000 firefighters and their families across Arizona. This endorsement reflects our confidence in Joysaphine Waitman-Powell’s leadership and our intent to continue working with her to prioritize community safety and firefighter issues.”
For Waitman-Powell, the endorsement carries significance far beyond politics.
“I am honored to earn the endorsement of the United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association Local 493,” said Waitman-Powell. “Firefighters dedicate their lives to protecting our communities, and I am grateful for their confidence in my leadership and vision for the Pine District. This endorsement means so much to me because service to others was a value deeply instilled in me by my grandfather.”
Waitman-Powell’s late maternal grandfather, Otmar Renwick Chaar, dedicated more than twenty years of his life to the fire service. His career included specialized Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighter training through Suriname’s Civil Aviation Division, a program conducted in cooperation with the United Nations Technical Assistance Branch and in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards. Beginning as a cadet, he learned the value of discipline, responsibility, and perseverance. Through hard work and determination, he rose through the ranks and ultimately became a Fire Chief.
“My grandfather taught me that leadership is not about titles. Leadership is about service,” said Waitman-Powell. “He started as a shoe-polishing cadet and worked his way up to become a Fire Chief. He showed me that real leaders are willing to do the work, earn trust, and put the needs of others before their own.”
After retiring from the fire service, her grandfather became a successful farmer and entrepreneur. He operated a government contracted fuel and gas distribution business that provided essential resources families relied upon for cooking, heating water, and daily living. His commitment to serving others did not end when he left the fire service. Instead, he continued finding ways to strengthen and support his community.
Known for his generosity, integrity, and commitment to others, he became a respected community figure whose influence extended well beyond his profession. He received numerous recognitions and awards for his service and contributions throughout his lifetime. Community leaders, elected officials, and residents alike knew him as a man who cared deeply about people and believed in giving back. His dedication to public service established a legacy that continues to inspire future generations of his family.
Some of Waitman-Powell’s fondest memories were made on her grandfather’s farm alongside cousins and extended family members.
“That farm was one of the most important places in my childhood,” she said. “It was where our family gathered. It was where we learned responsibility, hard work, and service to others. Looking back, I realize my grandfather was teaching us lessons that would stay with us for the rest of our lives.”
Waitman-Powell’s grandfather passed away in 2020. She remains grateful for the opportunity to spend time with him during his final days, hearing stories about leadership, perseverance, sacrifice, and community service.
“Being able to spend those final days with my grandfather was one of the greatest blessings of my life,” said Waitman-Powell. “I had the opportunity to hear firsthand about the people he helped, the challenges he faced, and the values that guided him. His unwavering dedication to serving others left a lasting impact on me.”
The endorsement also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices firefighters and first responders make every day. Watching her grandfather face health challenges later in life gave Waitman-Powell a deeper appreciation for the physical and emotional toll that years of service can take.
“Firefighters answer the call on some of the hardest days in people’s lives,” she said. “They put service before self and often sacrifice time with their own families in order to protect ours. Their families make sacrifices alongside them. That reality has given me an even deeper appreciation for the men and women who wear the uniform and the loved ones who support them.”
As a Commissioner and candidate for Peoria City Council, Waitman-Powell said she looks forward to continuing strong partnerships with public safety professionals and advocating for safe neighborhoods, responsible growth, and strong communities.
“This endorsement means so much because it connects my family’s legacy of service to the work I hope to continue here in Peoria,” she said. “I am grateful for the confidence firefighters have placed in me, and I will work every day to earn that trust.”
Joysaphine Waitman-Powell currently serves as a Planning and Zoning Commissioner for the City of Peoria, serving her third term since 2020 and has held every body-elected office on the commission. She now offers herself as a candidate for the Peoria City Council Pine District seat in the November 3, 2026 election.
MEDIA CONTACT
Friends of Joysaphine Waitman-Powell
waitmanpowell.peoria@gmail.com| 602-529-4808