The city of Buckeye will conduct its next consolidated election during the 2026 Primary Election, which will include City Council districts 4, 5, and 6. Buckeye holds municipal elections in even-numbered years.
Three incumbents are eligible to run again. They are District 4 Councilmember Patrick HagEstad, District 5 Vice Mayor Craig Heustis, and District 6 Councilmember Clay Goodman, PhD. HagEstad recently confirmed he will seek re-election, responding to an InBuckeye inquiry.
InBuckeye has not received a response to an email sent earlier this week to Heustis or Goodman regarding their intentions for the 2026 race.
Councilmember Dr. Clay Goodman
Dr. Goodman was appointed to the District 6 seat in June 2020 before being elected in August 2022. Goodman retired from Arizona Public Service, where he served as the Training Manager for the Non-Nuclear Generation Fleet, overseeing leadership and technical training programs for approximately 1,000 employees across six power plants in Arizona and New Mexico. Before joining APS, he spent 25 years at Estrella Mountain Community College, where he served in several leadership roles, including Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President of Occupational Education, and Vice President of Administrative Services. He contributed to significant education initiatives in Buckeye, including the Buckeye Education Center and the Southwest Campus for WestMEC.
Dr. Goodman has lived in the West Valley for 30 years and has been a Buckeye resident since 2012. He serves as council liaison on several boards including the WESTMARC Board, the Buckeye Public Safety Retirement Board Police Division, the MAG Human Services Division, and the Community Development Advisory Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the White Tank Mountain Conservancy.
Vice Mayor Craig Heustis
Vice Mayor Heustis represents District 5 and was re-elected to his fifth term in August 2022. Originally from St. Louis County, Missouri, Heustis served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam era. His career included work in sales, law enforcement, business ownership, and more than 25 years with the Anheuser Busch Company where he advanced from security roles to corporate management. He is a graduate of the Buckeye Leadership Academy and a former member of the Buckeye Planning and Zoning Commission. Heustis has lived in Buckeye since 2006 and currently serves as council liaison for the Buckeye Pollution Control Corporation. He is also a founding member of the Patriotic Committee and a member of the Way Out West Coalition.
Councilmember G. Patrick HagEstad
District 4 Councilmember HagEstad was elected in August 2018. He is a graduate of the University of Tulsa and the University of Tulsa College of Law. HagEstad has practiced law in Montana for 18 years and is a shareholder with the Milodragovich, Dale and Steinbrenner law firm. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell which recognizes legal ability and ethical standards through a peer review process. HagEstad is also the Managing Partner of HagEstad Law Group, a multi state firm with offices in Surprise, Arizona and Missoula, Montana. He has lived in Buckeye since 2013 and recently confirmed he will run for re election in 2026.
Anyone interested in seeking office may begin the process by completing the Information About Serving on Council Form available on the city’s website. This form provides an introduction to council responsibilities, qualifications, and the necessary steps to become a candidate.
