You know Mark as the Mayor of Paradise Valley. Barb knows him as the man who still makes her laugh, calls her several times a day just to check in, and somehow keeps life feeling light after more than twenty years of marriage. Their relationship doesn’t feel ceremonial or polished. It feels lived in and very much in motion.
They weren’t searching for love when they met. In fact, they both say plainly that they “weren’t looking for love that day,” but the moment their paths crossed, “something clicked.”
What followed wasn’t dramatic or rushed, just natural. As Barb puts it, “what started as a simple conversation quickly became the beginning of a love story we never saw coming.”
From the beginning, Mark’s energy stood out to her. He was “so funny and charismatic… and handsome.”
For Mark, it was Barb’s eyes that stayed with him. “They express joy and passion for life,” he says, a detail that never faded.
Time together moved easily. Barb remembers loving “listening to him talk about everything,” and that they “always had an exciting time no matter what we were doing.” Mark admired her intellect and her sense of fun. Those early years felt exactly as they describe them now. “Exciting. Non-stop. Never boring.”
When Mark popped the question, it felt true to who they were together. Walking along a pier in St. Tropez overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, “he went down on his knee and proposed.” The wedding followed soon after, outdoors at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego in July. “It was hot,” Barb laughs, “but it was an amazing event.” Their first dance was to Annie’s Song, and they practiced for weeks. These days, the soundtrack is lighter. One of their favorite songs to dance to now is Twist and Shout by the Beatles.
Marriage quickly expanded into family. Together they raised two children who are now 18 and 16, along with Barb’s two older children. Today, they’re also grandparents. “There is never a dull moment in our life,” Barb says. Kids changed everything. “We have to really plan our days around their schedule,” she explains, adding that despite the planning, “they continue to bond our love.”
Some things never shifted. “Our sense of fun and adventure,” Barb says, is still there. And, she adds with a smile, “we live in the same house.”
As Mark stepped into public service, responsibility grew, but their center held. Barb mentions it almost casually. “And, on top of that, Mark is the Mayor of Paradise Valley.” Staying connected means staying organized. “We try to review each of our weekly calendars so we are on the same page,” she says.
Disagreements happen, like they do in any long marriage. “Usually, Barb is the one that always gets mad,” Mark admits. When that happens, he listens, waits “till he has digested what she said,” and then responds “diplomatically.” It works because there’s respect on both sides.
Admiration runs deep. Barb says she admires that Mark has “the drive to volunteer and work for his community and his friends to the end.” Mark describes Barb as “a force of nature,” someone who “makes things happen and keeps all the trains running on time.” When Mark ran for mayor, Barb stepped in as his campaign manager. “It was so fun,” she says, especially “when he won.” Being First Lady of Paradise Valley, she adds, “is like a dream come true.”
Their definition of marriage is refreshingly grounded. “Listening to each other.” “Knowing you are and always will be individuals.” “Never forgetting the moment you fell in love.” And most importantly, “friendship.”
Date nights don’t need reinvention. They’re happy with “appetizers and drinks on the patio at Rita’s Kitchen at Camelback Inn,” or “a dirty martini at AZ88.” Sometimes those nights turn into memories, like the evening they unexpectedly found themselves dining with Mark’s high school friend Andy and his wife, Kate Spade.
Adventure has always been part of their story. Their honeymoon in Tahiti included scuba diving, zip lining, water skiing, and nights under the stars. Even now, Mark is more adventurous, swimming with sharks and skiing black diamonds. Barb is more likely to be early. Mark is more likely to be late. Barb is the better cook. Mark says sorry first. Mark is also the bigger romantic. He once had Tiffany’s in Maui close early just to surprise Barb with a babymoon necklace.
Public life requires intention. They prioritize communication, scheduling, and family first. Small gestures matter most. Mark makes the bed every morning. He calls Barb at least three times a day. Barb sets out their coffee mugs. Pride lives in the quiet moments too. Barb lights up watching Mark play bass guitar. Mark remembers standing beside Barb when she said she wanted to have children with him.
When asked to describe their marriage now, the answer is simple and certain. “Twenty years of marriage has been a beautiful journey, filled with laughter, growth and an unwavering love that only deepens with time.” Looking ahead, they’re excited for what’s next. “Having time to go on trips and make family memories.” And above all, “never stop choosing each other.”
Paradise Valley may know Mark as its mayor and the President at Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, but the real story lives in shared calendars, inside jokes, family dinners, and a love that keeps choosing itself, day after day.
“Twenty years of marriage has been a beautiful journey, filled with laughter, growth and an unwavering love. We never stop choosing each other."