Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar announces run for NACo second vice president; board offers unanimous public support

Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar told the Board of Supervisors Oct. 14 that she has filed to run for second vice president of the National Association of Counties (NACo), a national organization that represents county governments.

Benatar told the board she would be the first treasurer and the first Latina to hold NACo's second vice president post in the organization's history if elected. "We would be the first treasurer in the history the 90 year history of NACO, to hold that position and also, the first Latina," she said, and framed her campaign as an effort to lift rural county priorities and a strong fiscal voice at the federal level.

Board members offered public endorsements during the meeting: Chair Patrice Horstman called Benatar's candidacy "a natural" and offered personal support; Supervisor Geronimo Vasquez praised her leadership and national relationships; Supervisor Lena Fowler and others said they would be proud to assist with campaign outreach.

Benabar said the vote for NACo officers will be held next July and that she welcomes the board's support as she begins a national campaign and outreach to other counties.

Ending

Board members did not take a formal action; they expressed unanimous informal support and offered to help with campaign outreach and introductions within NACo networks.