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Maricopa County Supervisor Mark Stewart announced today that he is retaining independent legal counsel related to ongoing negotiations over the Shared Services Agreement with County Recorder Justin Heap and the administration of election duties.
Over the past year, it has become clear that while my Board colleagues and I remain aligned on nearly all county business and share a commitment to delivering best-in-class public services, we are not aligned on how to implement our agreement with the Recorder. This disagreement dates back to January 2025.
On Friday, I formally requested that the Chair postpone the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 18. I vehemently reject any notion that this meeting could or should be used to remove the Recorder. That is an absolute nonstarter for my office and inappropriate at any level.
From the beginning, the decision made in late 2024 between the general election and the installation of the incoming Recorder, to substantially strip him of his election-related duties, has been unacceptable to me.
My position has been consistent and straightforward: at a minimum, Recorder Heap should be restored to the same baseline election responsibilities exercised by the prior Recorder, with any adjustments negotiated from that starting point. This recommendation has been formally presented multiple times in meetings and in formal writings to the previous Chair. This notion has been continually rejected.
This disagreement is narrow in scope but significant in principle. It centers on statutory interpretation, institutional roles, and the expectations voters have when they elect a County Recorder. While I continue to work productively with my colleagues on all other major county matters, this issue warrants independent legal review.
Retaining independent counsel ensures my position is guided by objective legal analysis and firmly grounded in Arizona law, including A.R.S. §§ 11-251 and 16-401 et seq.
Maricopa County residents deserve election operations that are lawful, transparent, and timely. My focus remains on restoring trust, ensuring statutory compliance, conducting public meetings in the open, and reaching an agreement that respects the authority of duly elected officials while maintaining efficient and secure election administration.
I remain committed to working constructively with the Board, the Recorder, and county staff to reach a resolution that serves voters and strengthens public confidence in Maricopa County elections.
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Contact:
Kristy Dohnel
kristy.dohnel@maricopa.gov
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