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Resident asks Navajo County to end ties with Real AZ Economic Development Group
Summary
At a county board meeting, resident Donna Sherwin asked the board to place an agenda item to end Navajo County’s participation in Real AZ Economic Development Group (and iterations) and requested Supervisor Whiting recuse from any Real AZ-related matters, citing dissolution records and state law.
Donna Sherwin, a 31-year resident of Navajo County, told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 23 that public records show Real AZ Economic Development Group Incorporated voluntarily dissolved on Oct. 17, 2024, and asked the board to place an item on the next agenda formally ending county participation in the group and any of its iterations.
“I respectfully request the board place an item on the next board meeting agenda to formally end all government participation in Real AZ Economic Development Group Incorporated and any other of its iterations,” Sherwin said during the public-comment period. She said county ledgers indicate payments and membership receipts continued into 2025 and alleged the county prepaid fiscal-year dues on July 31, 2025.
Sherwin asked that Supervisor Whiting — whom she said is listed as Real AZ’s president in Arizona Corporation Commission filings — be recused from any county discussion or vote concerning projects developed by or associated with Real AZ to avoid an appearance of a conflict of interest, citing “ARS 38-503” as the basis for a recusal request.
County staff and the chair thanked Sherwin for her comments. The chair invited staff to look into the matter; no formal agenda item or board action on Real AZ was recorded at the meeting.
What happens next: Sherwin requested placement of a formal agenda item; the board did not vote on that request during the meeting. Staff indicated they may investigate the matter before the next meeting.
