More than half of Arizona’s population lives in Maricopa County, the fourth most populous County in the nation. The county is divided into five districts and governed by five elected district supervisors (the Board of Supervisors), and other elected officials (Sheriff, County Attorney, Assessor, Recorder, Treasurer, Superintendent of Schools, and Clerk of the Superior Court.)

Like a city council, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors acts as the governing body of the entire region. Some authorities, such as zoning, only apply to unincorporated areas. Other authorities such as air quality, flood control and restaurant inspections encompass the entire county because a big picture approach is necessary for better outcomes.

My role as Supervisor is to provide regional leadership and to make sure our policies ensure safe communities, protect public health, promote economic development, and plan and manage land use for sustainable development. I take my job as a Supervisor seriously with the goal of representing District 1 professionally and fairly. To accomplish this, I talk to my constituents and local governments about their issues, attend many community meetings, and provide a vote that best serves my constituents needs. I also work closely with our state and federal partners to get the best outcomes for our region.

People who suggest dividing the County or adding additional Supervisors don’t understand what we do or how we work. First of all, our size is a definite advantage in our ability to attract new companies and residents to this area. This is evidenced by Maricopa County continuing to be the fastest growing County in the U.S.

Secondly, our municipal leaders worry that adding more Supervisors would just cause the County to interfere more with their municipal operations rather than providing them support where needed and a bridge that brings the communities and the unincorporated areas in a District together.

And that’s in addition to the huge additional expense of making either of those changes.

The first question we should ask when making major changes is, what problems are we trying to fix?

Join me, the Maricopa County Farm Bureau, and Maricopa County Cooperative Extension for a breakfast on Sossaman Farm Thursday, April 7 from 7:00-9:00 am.

Your local farmers and ranchers will be there to answer questions about farming practices and what is grown in the county.

Please bring a canned good or non-perishable item to donate to the local food bank and RSVP to lizfoster@azfb.org by April 1. You can also bring a neighbor or two!

Questions? Call (480) 276-7442.

Construction is scheduled to begin on the 23-mile section of I-17 between Anthem Way and Sunset Point in 2022. This major stretch of highway has more than 1 million travelers each year and currently has only two travel lanes in each direction between Anthem Way and Flagstaff.

The project includes 15 miles of widening from Anthem Way to Black Canyon City, replacing two bridges and widening 10 others, and constructing eight miles of flex lanes from Black Canyon City to Sunset Point.

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) anticipates construction will take three years to complete. Lane closures will primarily be limited to weeknights from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, the construction zone will be active seven days a week. 

You can find more information and updates about this project here.

Special Master Report Confirms County's Election System Works

Special Master John Shadegg's report has been released and it confirms what our election professionals have said for months: the 2020 General Election was secure and the County's election system works.

Three independent technology experts, including one recommended by the Senate, concluded the county's ballot tabulation system was not connected to the internet. The report states "the special master and expert panel found no evidence of data deletion, data purging, data overwriting, or other destruction of evidence or obstruction of the audit." The investigation also debunks the idea that the county’s routers were connected to the election tabulation system.

Whenever impartial, independent, and competent people have examined the County's election practices, they have found no reason to doubt the integrity of those practices. The Board of Supervisors remains committed to free and fair elections that conform to federal and state laws.

Tempe Jurisdictional Election

The March Jurisdictional Election for Tempe voters recently wrapped up. The final results are posted here. 

Upcoming Primary Election

The Primary Election is less than four months away. Our elections department will be mailing out 90-day notices to all voters on the Active Early Voting List. If you’ve moved or if you need to register to vote, visit BeBallotReady.Vote to check your status, update your address, or find out more about Maricopa County elections.

Poll Workers Needed

Our Elections Department needs to hire over 2,500 temporary workers for the August Primary and November General Elections this year. 

• Pay starts at $12.80 and varies depending on the job
• Most workers must be registered to vote and live in Maricopa County
• Job openings range from one day to six months

Interested? Visit GetInvolved.Maricopa.Vote.

Polling Places Needed

With just four months until the 2022 election cycle begins, the Maricopa County Elections Department is asking facility owners to open their spaces to voters and sign up to become a voting location. Interested facility owners can email pollplace@risc.maricopa.gov. Download a facilities handout here.

Job seekers in Maricopa County will benefit from more than $14.5 million in investments in job training, education, and placement programs thanks to a recent vote by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

These programs help people like Edward Medina, featured in the video, who went from addicted to drugs and nearly homeless to getting a high school diploma, buying his first car, and starting a new career with the help of a Maricopa County career advisor.

Find out what career services are available >

View all county assistance programs >