Mary Rose Garrido Wilcox, District 5 Maricopa County Supervisor, has played a major role in Maricopa County Government, embracing its diversity as an organization. Born in Superior, deep in the mining country of Arizona and a fourth generation native from a pioneer Mexican-American family, Wilcox is the first Hispanic women to serve on both the Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. She is serving her fifth four-year term on the Board in Maricopa County – named "best run county" by Governing Magazine and Syracuse University.

She has been in the forefront in the push for comprehensive Immigration Reform and serves as President of the National Association of Counties Hispanic Elected Officials Board and co-chair of the National Association of Counties Immigration Task Force. She has created numerous programs to strengthen families and communities, including leading the County’s efforts to create a homeless campus to centralize services for the homeless in downtown Phoenix. Along with her husband, Earl Wilcox, she coordinates a tremendously popular annual Late Night Basketball Program designed to keep kids off the streets.

Some of the highlights of Mary Rose's career include revitalizing downtown Phoenix through both county work and efforts as a member of the City Council. Mary Rose cast the deciding votes in favor of funding for the America West Arena and Chase Field Ballpark. She is a leader in comprehensive land planning and has championed such projects as the El Rio Masterplan, Laveen Area Conveyance Channel and Hassayampa Master Plan. Currently, she is leading the efforts in ushering in the Solar Energy Industry in Maricopa County. She is a fearless, indefatigable advocate for her constituents, particularly those who have very little clout in government policy circles.

Recent honors, awards and recognition she has received include: the 2012 “48 Most Intriguing Women Award,” a Centennial Legacy Project from the Arizona Historical Society and the Arizona Community Foundation, the 2011 Award of Excellence in Appreciation by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO); 2011 Latina Trailblazer Award by Latino Perspectives Magazine.

Supervisor Wilcox serves on various national boards including the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), the National Association of Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), former chair of the NALEO Education Fund, former board member of the National Council of La Raza, vice president of the NACo Health Services and Education Committee, co-chair of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Immigration Task Force.

Mary Rose has been involved in numerous local boards and commissions, including her membership on the boards of the, Greater Phoenix Convention Bureau, Friendly House, Downtown Phoenix Partnership, ASU/U of A Medical School Advisory Board, and chairman and founding member of the Arizona Diamondback Ambassador Club. She also serves on the Maricopa Association of Governments' (MAG) Regional Council, MAG Air Quality Policy Committee, MAG Human Services Coordinating Committee and Ryan White Planning Council and the Maricopa County Head Start Policy Council.

She and her husband, Earl, a former state legislator and justice of the peace, reside in downtown Phoenix and continue to stay involved in the community. For more than a decade, the Wilcoxes have been working to revitalize downtown’s Grant Park neighborhood. They are the owners of El Portal, a local authentic Mexican restaurant. They also recently dedicated the Grant Park Boxing Club so neighborhood kids can box for free. For Mary Rose and Earl, their greatest source of pride is their daughter and five grandsons.