Pima County supervisors elect Jennifer Allen chair, approve committee appointments

The Pima County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 6 completed its annual organizational business, electing Supervisor Jennifer Allen to serve as chair for 2026 and Supervisor Hines as vice chair. The board also voted to fill multiple liaison and regional appointments for the year.

Supervisor Cano opened nominations by thanking outgoing Chair Rex Scott for his leadership and nominating Allen, praising her attention to detail and efforts on budget and constituent outreach. The nomination was seconded and approved by voice vote; the record shows the motion passed 4–0–1 with Supervisor Christie recorded as abstaining. Supervisor Hines was nominated and elected vice chair in a 4–0–1 vote with Christie abstaining.

The board then confirmed its representatives to a range of regional bodies: Arizona Border Counties Coalition; the County Supervisors Association legislative policy committee; Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority; the Chamber of Southern Arizona; Visit Tucson; the Southern Arizona Education Council; and the Board of Health. Most appointments carried unanimously; several returned 4–0–1 tallies where an abstention was recorded.

Administrators and board members used the organizational portion of the meeting to highlight priorities for the year, including continuing budget stability and cross-jurisdictional cooperation on public safety, homelessness and workforce development.

Earlier in the meeting the board led a pledge of allegiance and offered tributes and employee recognitions, including a 2019 resolution honoring longtime Vail School District leader Calvin Baker and retirement acknowledgments for Chief Probation Officer David Sanders and judicial administrative assistant Mary Ruiz.

The board said Allen’s first meeting as chair will be Jan. 20; routine board business and committee assignments are expected to proceed under the new leadership.