New Maricopa County official outlines priorities: election audit, public safety, customer service

A newly sworn Maricopa County elected official said on their first day in office that customer service, public safety and a comprehensive audit of the county's election system will be top priorities.

The official, who did not give a name in the remarks on the record, said customer service will be the "number 1 priority" for the office and that staff have been instructed accordingly. "My priorities will include customer service. I wanna make sure that the constituents in my con on my district are well served, and I've already told my staff that that's my number 1 priority, customer service," the official said.

The official also identified public safety as a priority and specifically named Sheriff Jerry Sheridan and County Attorney Rachel Mitchell as local officials she wants to ensure have needed resources. "Another priority I have is public safety. I wanna make sure that the sheriff's department, our new sheriff, Jerry Sheridan, and our county attorney, Rachel Mitchell, have the resources they need to make sure that our public is safe," the speaker said.

On election integrity, the official said she will push for a comprehensive audit of the county's election system and said she has discussed the idea with other state leaders. "I will be pushing, and have talked, to people about it, for a comprehensive audit of the entire election system in Maricopa County from a reputable firm," the speaker said. She said she and a colleague had a conference call with the state senate president, the Arizona House speaker and the Florida secretary of state to discuss differences between systems and areas for improvement.

The speaker also said she planned to use personal relationships with state and federal officials to help Maricopa County. In her remarks she said she had communicated with the governor's office and with people she named, including Lee Zeldin and Pam Bondi, and referenced President Trump. She framed those contacts as a way to seek help on county issues, including a problem the speaker said they anticipated at the Environmental Protection Agency.

The remarks included a brief personal background: the speaker said they served nine years in the Arizona State Legislature and roughly six years and eight months in the U.S. House of Representatives, noting their last day in Congress was "last Friday." The speaker also thanked staff members Scott Isham (chief of staff), Bill Leal (deputy chief of staff) and Jim Bull (outreach) and mentioned family support.

The comments were delivered in a short remarks period on the official's first day; no formal motions or votes were recorded in these remarks. The speaker said they look forward to serving as one of five votes on the county governing body and to working with colleagues on behalf of Maricopa County residents.

Less critical details: the speaker repeatedly framed their approach as using relationships with state and federal contacts to secure resources for the county, and emphasized taxpayers' interest in ensuring county funds are used "wisely."