New Maricopa County Board of Supervisors chair says elections are priority
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously elected Jack Sellers to be its new chair on Wednesday, replacing Clint Hickman.
Sellers previously served as vice chair and was chair in 2021. The passing of the gavel is routine, as a new chair is chosen by the five-member board every year.
Supervisor Tom Galvin will serve as vice chair. It’s his first time in the role.
In his acceptance speech, Sellers said his number one priority is supporting the county elections team.
“We will push back hard as we have done for the past four years against false claims and dishonest narratives that try to undermine the will of the people. I believe every eligible citizen who wants to vote should have the opportunity to do so,” Sellers said.
Maricopa County officials faced criticism and even death threats from those who falsely believe that former President Donald Trump defeated President Joe Biden in 2020 or that Republican Kari Lake beat Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2022.
Sellers also emphasized the importance of infrastructure expansion, affordable housing and workforce development.
The county’s one-fifth of a cent sales tax is set to expire in a few years. Known as the “jail tax,” it’s largely used to fund the county’s criminal justice and public safety systems.
Sellers announced that he’s creating a committee to permanently fund those systems. The committee will provide recommendations to the board before determining what to refer to voters.
Maricopa County has to get approval from the state Legislature before they can refer the question to voters. Sellers called it an extra step and noted that Maricopa County is the only county required to do that.
Supervisor Bill Gates — who is stepping down at the end of the year — will play a significant role in this year’s elections, according to Sellers. Gates was chair during the 2022 election, and testified to Congress about the vitriol he faced.
