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Fellow West Valley residents,
It is with heartfelt appreciation that I share my last update as your Maricopa County Supervisor. I’ve been honored to represent the good people of District 4 since 2013 and, during that time, I’ve learned so much and met so many incredible people. I will cherish for a lifetime the friendships and partnerships I’ve built with cities and towns, community organizations, various boards, nonprofits, and individual residents and families.
When I joined the Board of Supervisors, I made it clear I would put the county taxpayer first and I feel good knowing, that’s exactly what I’ve done. My colleagues and I have presided over one of the most fiscally responsible county governments in the country. Maricopa County is efficient in its budgeting, in some cases spending a third of what similar-sized counties spend per resident. Our staff to population ratio is among the lowest in the country. Shortly after taking office, I led the effort to put a moratorium on new county government regulations. That moratorium has been in place during my entire time in office. And we’ve kept the tax burden low, which doesn’t just help individuals but also supports the growth of business and industry. In fact, we’ve cut the property tax rate four years in a row. Last year, we reduced overall spending by 11% while still investing in public safety, workforce development, and affordable housing. I’ve also prioritized county park projects, so we all have access to well-maintained trails and open space. And I have supported our West Valley libraries, from negotiating a new lease extension for the Sun City libraries to getting funding for the construction of a new library in Litchfield Park.
There have been challenges along the way. The COVID-19 pandemic required us to make some difficult decisions to protect the health and well-being of the entire community. I’d like to think we got the balance right, leaning on our public health professionals to limit loss of life while investing federal recovery dollars in the years that followed to support local businesses, food banks, and nonprofits; address issues with affordable housing and homelessness; and strengthen our public health infrastructure. At all times, my actions were led by my care and concern for all residents of Maricopa County.
The fentanyl crisis has impacted so many families in our community and, in 2023, I made it a priority of my chairmanship to bring all county partners together in a coordinated effort to make sure drug peddlers got arrested and prosecuted and that every parent and grandparent understood just how deadly this drug is and how to get access to resources to protect their loved ones. That information has a permanent home at Maricopa.gov/fentanyl
During my time in office, Maricopa County administered dozens of elections including three presidential elections. These were free and fair elections, conducted in accordance with Arizona law, with results that accurately reflected the will of Maricopa County’s registered voters. Sometimes my candidates and causes won and sometimes they lost. But I am proud to have stood up for county election workers, and ultimately, all voters, when certain people questioned the competence and integrity of our system. I would do it again in a heartbeat, and I appreciate those who have stood by me, especially when threats were made against me and my family.
All the successes and accomplishments during my time as a county supervisor would not be possible without the support and skill of my colleagues, county leadership, and staff. They are true public servants, and I will be forever grateful for their work to make Maricopa County one of the best-run and most innovative governments in the United States.
You’re in good hands with my successor, Debbie Lesko. Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a former state lawmaker and, most recently, a Congresswoman representing the West Valley in Arizona’s 8th District. I wish Debbie well as the new District 4 Supervisor and will be here to support her in whatever way I can.
It has been my honor and privilege to serve as your Supervisor. I hope I’ve left the County in a better place than I found it.
And you should know, this is not a goodbye. The West Valley has been home all of my life, and that’s where I’ll be in the years ahead. I hope our paths cross again.
In your service,
Clint
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