13 put in papers for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors opening
Jan 29, 2019, 12:35 PM
(Screenshot)
(Screenshot)
PHOENIX – The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors wanted applicants for an upcoming opening and that wish was fulfilled when 13 responded, including a former state legislator.
The East Valley Tribune reported that ex-Rep. Jill Norgaard was among the group who had written of their interest in the post by last week’s deadline.
Other candidates listed were Frank Schmuck, who unsuccessfully ran for Arizona Senate in 2018; Chandler Councilman Mark Stewart; and former Chandler Councilman Jack Sellers.
The opening was created when Denny Barney of District 1 announced earlier this month he was stepping down to focus on his job as president of the nonprofit East Valley Partnership. His last day with the county is Friday.
Filing for the supervisor job closed Jan. 25, according to the agency website.
District 1 includes Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe and part of Phoenix.
The four other supervisors will appoint the replacement who will finish Barney’s term, which ends in 2020. That person will have to run for the seat after the term is up if he or she wants to stay on the board.
Applicants had to be registered to vote in the district and be in the same political as the outgoing supervisor. Barney is Republican.
The lone Democrat on the board is Steve Gallardo, who represents District 5.
The board approved a 2019 budget of $2.45 billion and voted two weeks ago to set up a group of county workers to evaluate the local election process.
Over the years, Election Day has been plagued by technical issues, long lines and incorrect instructions from poll workers.
One of the changes could water down the authority of the county Recorder’s Office.
