First Newsletter of 2026!

Maricopa County, Arizona sent this bulletin at 02/05/2026 09:00 AM MST

February 2026

The Stewart Report

Dear Neighbors,

We hope your 2026 is off to a great start! At the county, we've hit the ground running hard. In January, we elected Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee as the new Chair, listened to different budget presentations from our department heads, toured the Pima County election center, and connected with many of you out in the community.

Our team held a strategic planning session to evaluate our office's priorities and create a mission and vision statement to laser focus our initiatives.

VISION: Maricopa County is a model of trustworthy and transparent government, reliably delivering exceptional service and real value for taxpayers, businesses and the broader community.

MISSION: We deliver customer service with an innovative mindset to improve the lives of our constituents using business-minded strategies and conservative principles.

On March 10, 2026, Maricopa County Elections is administering a jurisdictional all-mail election for the City of Tempe.

Important Dates to Remember:

2/9 - Voter Registration Deadline

2/11 - Ballots Mailed (all mail-in election)

2/27 - Last day to request a replacement ballot by mail

3/3 - Last day to mail back your ballot

To verify your voter registration status, visit BeBallotReady.Vote.

First Formal Board Meeting of 2026

Every 30 seconds, someone falls victim to human trafficking.

Last week, we accepted a $400K federal grant for training and software to help the Sheriff's and Attorney's offices track and prosecute.

On February 22nd, I will be attending Night of Hope 8 at Pure Heart Church for an event to hear directly from survivors of human trafficking. I encourage everyone to attend.

Event Details Here

I'm on Substack!

I'm officially on Substack! Check out my first post where I dive into my role as a Maricopa County Board of Supervisor and how the county works for you.

I’ll be posting weekly — subscribe for in-depth updates, priorities, and behind-the-scenes insights you won't always see in my newsletters.

What's Substack? It's a social media space where I am able to expand on topics in a longer form similar to a blog. I encourage you to join! There are amazing creators sharing in-depth information that you don't want to miss!

Read Article Here

In the News

LAST WEEK: Goldwater Institute Filed a Friend of the Court Brief in Federal Court

The Goldwater Institute on Tuesday filed a friend of the court brief in federal court asking the judge to allow Maricopa County taxpayers see where their money has been going for the dozen years that the county sheriff’s office has been subjected to federal oversight. The brief comes in the midst of a lawsuit that asks the judge to reconsider a 2013 judgment imposing federal control over the county’s law enforcement arm and asks the judge to also reconsider a 2014 order that keeps the federal overseer’s expenditures away from taxpayers’ eyes.

Read Article Here

Budget Presentation Comments

Public safety is the foundation of our society.

The County Attorney's and County Sheriff's offices work hand in hand to keep the bad guys off the streets. We're here to make that happen.

View My Full Comments

Meeting + Event Recaps

We have been working to improve our ballot box chain-of-custody process.

Pima County uses an inventory tracking system that incorporates geofencing and a barcode scanning process, where each box is scanned when leaving the polling location and again upon arrival at the election center.

I am encouraged by this approach and will be working to explore how Maricopa County can implement similar best practices to enhance transparency, accountability, and election security. Watch video to learn more!

Chandler Unified School District keeps raising the bar. I was honored to be invited to celebrate the opening of Hamilton High School’s new semiconductor classroom, a clear signal that CUSD is sharpening the saw and helping build the workforce of the future.

With the help of industry partners like Intel, NXP, and U of A, launches one of the first of its kind in the county, taking some of the brightest young minds in the East Valley and connects them directly to the fastest-growing semiconductor industry in the nation. Innovation like this puts Chandler and the East Valley at the tip of the spear, not just for Arizona, but for the nation.

View Tour of Classroom

Community Spotlight

Rita's Burrito - Chandler

After nearly three decades in restaurants, the owner of a South Chandler burrito shop decided it was time for a new chapter and announced he was closing for good, until the community spoke out. Watch this video to learn more!!

Eat Here

County Initiatives + Updates

Animal Care and Control

Did you know our website is filled with resources for pet owners in need of support? Find information about pet behavior helplines, 24/7 emergency veterinary services, community cats and more click the orange button below.

Learn More Here

East Valley Measles PSA

We’ve identified a new public measles exposure location connected to a non-county resident. Measles community transmission is ongoing in Maricopa County. If you were at the listed location during the dates and times shown, please:

Check your vaccination status
Watch for symptoms
Stay home and call a health provider if you're sick

Learn More Here

Maricopa County is Hiring

Join the Maricopa County Family! Forbes has rated Maricopa County one of Arizona's Best Employers in 2024. Working at the County means you'll be providing services to one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, with over four million residents! We have over 50 departments to work at, so take a look and see what piques your interest. Positions range from entry to executive level.

View All Postings