Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar announced to the Board of Supervisors Friday that she has filed to run for second vice president of the National Association of Counties (NACo), a national organization that lobbies on county issues and provides training and networking for county officials.

Benatar told the board the campaign would highlight local control and financial stewardship, and she framed her candidacy as a way to lift rural counties voices in national policy discussions. "Our focus on this campaign really is about local control and restoring that local power to counties and advocating for that at the federal level," Benatar said. "There are many counties similar to us facing the same strugglesand so that's really gonna be our big focus."

Board members responded with praise and offers of help. Chair Horstman said Benatars leadership would create visibility for Coconino County and described the candidacy as a natural extension of her work. "You have my very strong support for this position," the chair said.

Other supervisors individually voiced support. Supervisor Ontiveros praised Benatars fiscal approach and said she had the board members backing. Supervisor Vasquez cited Benatars national connections and leadership roles including her work with the National Association of Hispanic Counties and said he would support her candidacy. Supervisor Fowler emphasized the historic nature of the bid; Benatar said she would be the first treasurer and the first Latina in NACo's 90-year history to be elected to the NACo officer role if successful.

Benatar described the campaign as a year-long effort with a vote in July and asked for the boards support in outreach and campaigning. She said the goal was to strengthen counties fiscal voice in federal policy conversations during a time of tight federal budgets. "Having a strong voice in this role, a strong fiscal voice, we felt was really important," she said.

The board did not take formal action on the announcement; members said individually they would help with the campaign and publicize Benatars candidacy when appropriate.

Ending

Benatar told the board she was honored to run and thanked supervisors for their support. The board signaled broad, informal backing but did not take any formal vote or expend county resources for the campaign during the meeting.