On February 8, 2024, my colleagues and I appointed Russ Skinner as the new Sheriff for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).  Before becoming the new Sheriff, Russ served as the Chief Deputy for the past 6 years and brings with him over 33 years of valuable MCSO law enforcement experience. Sheriff Skinner has been a proven leader in the organization under both Republican and Democratic Sheriffs and will bring certainty and continuity to the agency, which is good for staff and the community as a whole. In addition, we also unanimously approved the appointment of Stephanie Molina as the new MCSO Chief Deputy.  Stephanie is the first Hispanic female chief deputy in the history of the Maricopa County Sheriff's office.  She has over 30 years of experience with MCSO, having worked in investigations and in the compliance area.  Stephanie is highly respected for her leadership and will be a great fit in her new role as chief deputy.

Earlier this month, Professor Mike Hayes invited me to speak to his students at GCU. I explained how networking can help them find interesting jobs and build successful careers in fields like politics, marketing, and public relations. I was impressed by how focused they are on their studies and how engaged they are in today's political environment. 

On February 22nd, I was invited to attend the Sun City PRIDES Appreciation Luncheon to celebrate their 44th anniversary. It is always such a great time visiting with PRIDES. I was very honored to receive the organization’s loyalty and 10-year service pins, along with a touching letter. The photo above represents the first of many beautification projects between Maricopa County and Sun City PRIDES. PRIDES is a non-profit organization with over 200 volunteers that depends on donations from citizens, clubs, and businesses to provide funds for tools and tree and shrub replacement. This helps the volunteers keep streets, parkways, and medians clean within their community.  Congratulations on 44 years PRIDES.

Human Services recently announced an updated Client Portal where Maricopa County residents can determine which programs they may be eligible for- from early education to career services, rental assistance, and home improvement help.  The improved portal offers expanded, 24/7 pre-screening for HSD programs in English and Spanish.

Since its original launch in March 2021, the portal has received over 180,000 applications from more than 73,000 individuals, with a total of over $200 million in services being provided.

Interested applicants can visit Maricopa.gov/HSDPortal to begin the application process.

See HSD Video

To celebrate the grand opening of its new shelter in early May, Animal Care & Control is inviting students to submit their original artwork for the "A Dog is a Kid's Best Friend" poster contest.  Maricopa County students in grades 3-6 can submit artwork in any art medium to 2500 S. 27th Ave, Phoenix, aZ 85009 by Friday, April 12.  Winning entries will be displayed at the new shelter and receive exclusive prizes. 

To learn more about entering, please click on the Pup Art Contest link below.

Pup Art Contest

Jurisdictional Elections for voters throughout Maricopa County will be held this March. The participating jurisdictions of Tempe and Litchfield Park will hold a “Ballot by Mail” election, and all qualified voters who live in the city or town boundaries will be automatically sent a ballot. Voters have the option to return it by mail, drop it off at a secure ballot drop box or voting location, or vote a replacement ballot in person.

Visit BeBallotReady.Vote to verify your registration information.

Visit Top 10 Things to Know Before the Presidential Primary Election (youtube.com)

Visit the FAQ page for more info.  

Maricopa County  |  301 W Jefferson St  |  Phoenix, AZ 85003