Maricopa County supervisors pick new chairman, focus on elections, public safety in 2024

Maricopa County leaders voted Wednesday to appoint Supervisor Jack Sellers as this year's chairman of the board.

The move puts Sellers, a Republican who represents parts of the southeast Valley and is running for reelection, in the hot seat heading into a pivotal presidential election year.

"The eyes of the free world will once again be on Maricopa County," Sellers said.

He and other supervisors faced unfounded accusations of widespread fraud and a stolen election after Donald Trump's loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race. The situation continued to intensify in 2022, with conservative candidates and personalities launching challenges and criticism at Maricopa County before, during and after Election Day.

Sellers said he will ensure elections staff have the resources and support to smoothly navigate 2024. He said the board remains unwavering in its commitment to democracy and that it will continue to "push back hard" against false claims.

County employees should not "have to endure abuse" as a result of conspiracies, he said.

"We have your back," he told staffers. "While doing your job with integrity and the best of your ability, my colleagues and I support you."

His other priorities include getting voter buy-in on the county's new transportation infrastructure tax, which was approved by state lawmakers last year after much negotiation, and launching a task force to develop a plan to fund public safety.

The transportation tax, formerly known as Proposition 400, will now appear as Proposition 479 on voters' ballots in November.

The county currently charges a 0.2% sales tax that goes toward its jails, but that excise is set to expire in coming years. Sellers said the task force will issue recommendations before the end of the year on long-term funding options for the jails and the county's overall criminal justice system.

The board votes to select a chairman and vice chairman annually. This is Sellers' second time in the position. Members last year chose Supervisor Clint Hickman, who represents the northwest Valley, to fill the role.

"I'm looking forward to it," Seller said. "I know there will be some challenges and some noise, but that's what we need to deal with and that's what we'll do."

Sellers intends to continue many of Hickman's efforts, including funding affordable housing projects and continuing workforce development initiatives.

He will be assisted by Supervisor Tom Galvin, who was chosen as vice chairman. Galvin, a Republican, was appointed to his seat in 2021 and is the board's newest member. His district encompasses parts of Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley, Mesa and Gilbert.

Who is Jack Sellers?

Sellers was first appointed to the board in 2019 after former Supervisor Denny Barney resigned to take over as the full-time East Valley Partnership CEO and president. He later was elected to a full term in 2020.

Before joining the board, he served two terms on the Chandler City Council. He has lived in the county for more than 30 years and is a retired facilities manager for the General Motors Desert Proving Ground.

Sellers is the former chairman of the Arizona State Transportation Board and is widely known as a transportation advocate. He currently serves on the Maricopa Association of Governments' Transportation Policy Committee.

He also holds positions on the GPEC International Leadership Council, the Arizona-Mexico Commission and Arizona Sister Cities.

Sasha Hupka covers county government and regional issues for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maricopa County leaders focus on elections, public safety in 2024