Rui Pereira is a long-time resident of Wickenburg and previously served on the council from 2008 – 2012 and again from June 2016 through December 2018.  He was elected Mayor in June 2019.

Mayor Pereira was born in Portugal and has a background in hotel operations and information technology. He started his career as a software trainer/project manager for Micros Fidelio Software installing property management systems in South America and the Caribbean. He later served as Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer for Loreto Bay Company in Scottsdale, Arizona.

A Wickenburg resident since 1995, Mayor Pereira is a former General Manager of Rancho de los Caballeros Guest Ranch and the former Executive Director of The Wellik Foundation and the Flying E Guest Ranch. In late 2018, he purchased Ascend Security and Audio, Inc. a local security and home technologies company.