Maricopa County recorder, supervisors reach settlement on election matters

By Jeff Wendt
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The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap have reached a settlement to end their legal wrangling over election matters.

The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday in what was posted as an emergency meeting to approve funding that was in the county’s budget to go to Heap’s department as well as approve the settlement’s terms.

The settlement came after three days of mediation with Maricopa County Judge Christopher Coury, who went back-and-forth between the parties to get the deal hammered out.

The move sends approximately $3.55 million in legislative one-time funding and $2.4 million in recurring funding to the recorder’s office for 24 new elections positions and new technology equipment for a new elections office under Heap’s control.

Until the new elections IT system is built, the Board of Supervisors and Heap will co-own the current elections equipment.

Heap will get eight new positions for IT personnel, and more officials for elections under the proposed settlement, according to attorney Kory Langhofer, who represented four of the five members of the Board of Supervisors.

Langhofer said the recorder will be responsible for early voting, and the equipment and staff to accomplish that.

The Board of Supervisors will be responsible for emergency voting and for day-of-election voting. The board will also be responsible to oversee tabulation and will continue to do the canvas of the voting.

In agreeing to the settlement, the Board of Supervisors will vacate all current court matters with Heap.

Although Heap wanted full control over all election matters, the settlement gives some powers to Heap and some to the Board.

“It’s a mystery to me why they wanted less,” Langhofer told Supervisor Steve Gallardo when Gallardo pressed on why Heap baked off his control request,

Gallardo chose to vote no on both the budget adjustments and the settlement agreement in the 3-1 vote, with Supervisor Mark Stewart absent because of an illness.

“For over 40 years, it’s been a tradition for the Board and the Recorder to work together despite political differences,” Gallardo said. “He (Heap) doesn’t care to carry out the previous traditions.

“It’s up to him now to fulfill the commitment of that office,” Gallardo added.

Vice Chair Debbie Lesko voiced that everyone is a winner with this settlement that was reached.

“This is a win for the Recorder, it’s a win for the Board of Supervisors,” Lesko said, “But it is also a win for the voters of Maricopa County.”

Supervisor Thomas Galvin thanked everyone for their work over the last few weeks.

“I want to thank Justin Heap for signing the agreement,” Galvin said. “I want to thank the judge for what he did over the last few weeks. I want to thank our attorney, and I want to thank our county manager for overseeing everything.

“This is the best outcome that could have possibly been made,” Galvin added.

Chair Kate Brophy McGee said she is pleased the settlement is done.

“This agreement lets us do what I wanted to do, make Maricopa County boring again,” Brophy McGee joked. “I like boring. I’m sick of drama.”

Brophy McGee wanted to make clear to Maricopa County voters that their vote matters.

“We want our voters to know to vote confidently,” Brophy McGee said. “Your vote will count.”

Jeff Wendt
Reporter | Phoenix/Cave Creek

jwendt@iniusa.org

Meet Jeff
Jeff Wendt started at Independent Newsmedia in January 2023, after 25 years working for Gannett and The Arizona Republic. Started as a high school sports scoretaker, worked up to reporting high school sports and then became an associate high school sports editor in 2002. Also worked in the Design Studio as a copy editor.

Community: Jeff serves on the Board of Elders at his local church.

Education: Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication

Random fact: Attended Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.

Hobbies: Playing video games (yes still the kid in me), watching reality TV, playing poker.