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The New Chairman
A few hours ago, the Board of Supervisors unanimously elected Jack Sellers as Chairman for 2024. Sellers, who represents District 1, has been a board member since 2019 and served as Chairman in 2021. He takes the gavel from District 4 Supervisor Clint Hickman. Sellers began his chairmanship by telling employees, "I hope you take heart in knowing you are doing important work, and we see your value." He says it's more important than ever that employees work together "as one Maricopa County, that we support one another, and that we work across departments and divisions to improve the quality of life for all our residents."
Congratulations, Chairman Sellers, and thank you for your leadership in 2023, Supervisor Hickman!
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Priorities for 2024
Chairman Sellers outlined his priorities for the coming year in a short speech to an audience of county employees, residents, and journalists. Sellers says his #1 goal in 2024 is administering free and fair elections.
"We will protect people’s right to vote in person. We will protect people’s right to vote by mail. We will protect people’s right to vote, period."
Other priorities include:
- Long-term transportation and infrastructure plans
- Continued housing, education, and workforce investments
- The establishment of a citizen's committee to look at long-term funding options for public safety
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Past Year's Successes
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HOUSING HELP: County investments approved by the Board and administered by Human Services have led to 4,000 new affordable housing units in our region.
Watch the video >
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HEAT RELIEF AND RESPONSE: During the hottest summer on record, Maricopa County departments responded swiftly from the sensitive investigations of the Office of the Medical Examiner to providing emergency HVAC repairs and funding cooling centers.
Watch the video >
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FIGHT AGAINST FENTANYL: Departments and elected offices across Maricopa County teamed up to educate the public about a drug that is now the deadliest in Arizona. Take a look at all the county's prevention, protection, prosecution, and treatment efforts at maricopa.gov/fentanyl.
Watch the video >
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Message from County Manager Jen Pokorski
Hello colleagues,
I’ve spent some time reflecting on the past year, and I almost forgot how much has happened!
In January, we unveiled the first-ever unified county brand to create greater understanding and awareness of who we are and what we do. Now, that new, modern identity is everywhere from uniforms and vehicles to flyers and health insurance cards.
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FEATURED VIDEO
Fixer Upper
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The Board of Supervisors recently invested $1 million in the community of Guadalupe to help homeowners with run-down or damaged houses cover the cost of these important repairs. It's one of the many affordable housing investments Maricopa County has funded over the past few years. View them all at maricopa.gov/housing.
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2024 Benefits
The new benefits plan year is underway. Go to the Employee Benefits App in Workday to review your current benefit elections, and stay tuned! We'll be including some other benefit-related highlights in next Wednesday's issue of "The Resource."
Lost and Found
The new year typically brings more lost dogs into our shelters, many of them spooked by fireworks. Whether you're looking for a lost pet or you've found someone else's, this page has all the info you need to ensure a happy reunion!
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Thank You, Sheriff!
Sheriff Paul Penzone is stepping down from the position he has held since January 2017. His final day will be January 12. Penzone submitted his formal resignation last month. Look for the Board of Supervisors to announce a replacement soon. Thank you, Sheriff Penzone!
Detective Honored
Detective Marc Valenzuela received a challenge coin from County Attorney Rachel Mitchell after saving a woman from a burning car. Take a look at the video MCAO put together.
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IN THE NEWS
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County Uses Portion of Opioid Settlement Funds to Help Women Recover
via Cronkite News.
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Human Services Campus Name Change
via KJZZ.
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Twitter
Check out some of the recent events at our Library District. Kids got to build their own gingerbread houses at Aguila Library.
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Instagram
Hear from some guy who looks like Santa about all the investments Maricopa County made last year! Ho-ho-housing!
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CAPTION CONTEST
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Congratulations, Marlayna!
Marlayna Covington from the Air Quality Department says you aren't pulling the wool over this pup's eyes.
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Now For This Issue's Photo
It doesn't get much cuter than this. Jenny Frank from the Air Quality Department sent in this adorable photo of her kitty, Lily, enjoying her very first Christmas! Have a caption for it?
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Thank you Marlayna, and everyone who submitted a caption!
Send your caption our way using the link below,
or email us your favorite pet pic and we may use it in a future issue of Currents.
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