Meet Kell:

Kell Palguta’s values were imprinted on him by his parents, in a small town of 1,200 people in the backwoods of Maine. Kell's blue collar parents worked in a shoe factory making Dexter Shoes, where they instilled in him the life traits of hard work, family values and always striving to be a positive influence in the community. Mom and Dad are proud Prescott Valley residents and of course Kell’s biggest supporters. 

 Kell relocated to Prescott Valley, Arizona in 1996 where he found his first job -ironically enough- selling shoes at the Sears Department Store in Prescott on Iron Springs Road.  

Once he was old enough, Kell pursued his lifelong dream and became a police officer with the Town of Prescott Valley. As the youngest police officer ever hired with the Prescott Valley Police Department, he found satisfaction in helping citizens every day and making the community of Prescott Valley a safer place to live. During his law enforcement career he earned a variety of awards and accolades, including:

• Rookie of the Year
• Officer of the Year
• Elk's Club Officer of the Year
• Mother's Against Drunk Driving Officer of the Year - 3 times
• Police Star for Bravery - 2 times
• Police Medal of Valor 
• More than 50 Citizen and Supervisory Commendations

While working as a Police Officer, Kell went back to college and earned a Bachelors Degree from Northern Arizona University and a Masters Degree from New Mexico State University. Kell used his education and experience to teach, both at the police academy, and at Yavapai College, where he taught Criminal Justice classes for over 10 years.  Kell also volunteered at a variety of different nonprofits throughout Prescott Valley to include Yavapai Food Bank, Yavapai Big Brothers and Sisters and West Yavapai Guidance Clinic during the last 28 years but he is most proud of being the Prescott Valley Little League President and Coach. 

Forced into an early and honorable retirement from the PVPD as a result of injuries sustained during an on-duty critical incident, Kell continued to teach at Yavapai College,and volunteer and even substitute teach at local schools throughout Humboldt Unified School District.  Recognizing his love for Prescott Valley, Kell sought out an opportunity to make Prescott Valley a place where you can be born, grow up, go to school, fall in love, raise a family, and retire.  In August of 2018, Kell ran for Mayor of Prescott Valley and won. In January 2019, Kell was sworn in as the youngest Mayor in Prescott Valley history.

The Palguta family includes his beautiful and talented wife Aubrey who is the glue holding their family together which also includes 6-year-old twins: Emma Jo and Memphis, and their 12-year-old big brother Lincoln.

When not spending 40 hours a week being Mayor and being chauffer to his three children’s extra curricular activities Kell and Aubrey can be found at home participating in and playing board games and Nerf Wars with their kids just like Kell did as a child growing up in Maine.