Thomas Galvin elected chair as Maricopa County supervisors are sworn in; Galvin lays out public-safety, housing and election priorities

Thomas Galvin was elected chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 6 after the board swore in five supervisors at a public ceremony that also included invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Galvin, the newly elected chair, asked the board to “be a board of action” and laid out a wide-ranging agenda that prioritized public safety, fiscal restraint, housing production, transportation and election reforms. "We aim to be a board of action, and I aim to deliver a consequential chairmanship that will achieve substantial results," Galvin said.

Why it matters: The chair controls the board agenda and can steer priorities for the county’s multibillion-dollar operations. Galvin told supervisors and the public he will push policies he described as supporting both “prosperity and security,” and he directed the county manager to create specific proposals on performance management and economic development.

What happened: The board began the session with an invocation by Rabbi Andy Green and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Rusty Bowers. Justice Clint Bullock and Judge Anna Huberman administered oaths to returning and newly seated supervisors. Supervisor Mark Stewart (District 1), Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee (District 3), Supervisor Thomas Galvin (District 2), Supervisor Debbie Lesko (District 4) and Supervisor Steve Gallardo (District 5) each took the oath of office and gave brief remarks focused on constituent service, public safety, housing and constituent outreach.

Elections and formal actions: The board nominated and approved Thomas Galvin as chair for 2025 and announced Kate Brophy McGee as vice chair. Votes were taken by voice with the ayes recorded and no recorded noes. The board then recessed and convened as the Stadium District Board of Directors, where members approved Thomas Galvin as stadium district chairman and Steve Gallardo as stadium district secretary.

Galvin’s stated priorities and specifics he announced or attributed to staff during his inaugural remarks included:

- Public safety and staffing: Galvin said properly funding public safety is the county’s highest priority, and he pledged to work with Sheriff Jerry Sheridan and County Attorney Rachel Mitchell to address vacancy and compensation issues for deputies, detention officers and dispatchers.

- Jail excise tax and funding: He said the county’s jail excise tax — a sales-tax funding source for corrections, probation and correctional health care — will expire in 2027 unless the state legislature allows it on the ballot; a citizen-led public safety committee has recommended a 20-year extension of the one-fifth-cent sales tax, Galvin said.

- Federal oversight and the Melendres matter: Galvin criticized long-running federal oversight tied to the Melendres court case and said the county has spent nearly $300 million in the past 15 years related to that oversight; he pledged to work with colleagues and county attorneys to seek an end to what he described as counterproductive monitoring.

- Economic development: He directed the county manager to create and hire a full-time economic development professional to coordinate county efforts with cities and regional chambers of commerce.

- Housing reform: Galvin said the county will examine regulations that add cost to housing production, convene a “kitchen cabinet” of housing experts, press for modernized zoning and faster floodplain/FEMA reviews where appropriate, and advocate for local control to speed development.

- Transportation and Prop 479/I-11: He praised passage of Proposition 479, which he said funds highways, streets and transit, and urged renewed advocacy for Interstate 11 (I‑11) to boost commerce between Phoenix and Las Vegas.

- Water and development policy: Galvin said Arizona’s assured 100‑year water supply requirement protects consumers and argued state and local leaders must collaborate to ensure reliable water for new development.

- Elections reforms: Galvin proposed a “95 to 1” plan calling for 95% of votes to be tabulated by the end of election night and suggested state-level actions — such as a cutoff date for early ballot drop-offs, use of government buildings for polling sites, and changes to emergency voting days — to speed tabulation and reduce misinformation opportunities.

- Animal care and county staff supports: He highlighted a new animal shelter in Mesa and announced plans for an employee on-site childcare center this spring and a “rising star” recognition program for high-performing county employees.

What supervisors said: Supervisors who were sworn in each offered brief remarks. Supervisor Mark Stewart emphasized customer service and innovation; Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee stressed public safety and constituent services; Supervisor Steve Gallardo highlighted housing and West Valley growth; and Supervisor Debbie Lesko reiterated priorities including public safety funding, election integrity and use of state relationships to assist county needs.

Votes at a glance: The meeting recorded voice votes for organizational officers.

- Thomas Galvin — Elected chair, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for 2025. Vote: voice vote; outcome: approved.

- Kate Brophy McGee — Named vice chair for 2025. Outcome: announced by chair after organizational vote.

- Thomas Galvin — Elected chairman, Stadium District Board of Directors. Vote: voice vote; outcome: approved.

- Steve Gallardo — Elected secretary, Stadium District Board of Directors. Vote: voice vote; outcome: approved.

Process and next steps: Galvin instructed the county manager to develop a performance management system, to draft a proposal to hire a full-time economic development official, and to return with proposals on compensation for public-safety staff. He also said the county will pursue coordination with state leaders to permit a jail-excise tax question on the ballot in 2027 if legislatively allowed.

Context and limitations: Remarks and proposals made by the chair are policy directions and requests to county staff; none of the policy items (for example, a ballot measure or compensation changes) were adopted at this meeting. Several of Galvin’s proposals — notably the proposed extension of the jail excise tax and state election-law changes — require action by the state legislature or voter approval and are therefore contingent on external bodies.

Looking ahead: The board adjourned after completing stadium district business. Chair Galvin emphasized a focus on delivering “prosperity and security” for Maricopa County residents and asked the public to pray for the board and its work.