Voters will decide key elections in Pinal County

Voters are ready to decide several contested races in Pinal County Tuesday as they head to the polls.

The district is one of the fastest growing and heavily conservative in the state. Most of his places were determined in state primary elections over the summerbut some remain in doubt ahead of the general election.

The positions in dispute include the position of county sheriff and the position of county supervisor. Additionally, the current county recorder is battling a challenger for the seat.

The election comes at a key time for the county, which is increasingly faces questions about his future. Sandwiched between Phoenix and Tucson, it is often forgotten in favor of its larger neighbors. But as its population grows, the county is going through a period of transition.

Once deep blue, about a decade ago it became a Republican stronghold, with only a handful of Democrats in charge each election cycle. Its edges are quickly becoming Dense suburban communities filled with residents seeking affordable housing and a reasonable commute to work in the state’s largest cities..

Now its leaders must navigate, among other issues, rapid population growth and the needs of economic development.

Meanwhile, the difficult 2022 election cycle means many residents of this deeply conservative district don’t trust the election system. County officials were Over the past year, we have worked to resolve this issue and ensure the smooth running of the 2024 Primary and General Elections.. However, questions around hand-counted ballots and other election proposals remain in effect.

Polling stations will close today at 19:00. The first results are expected around 20:00. Stay tuned.

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There’s a competitive race for supervisors on the western edge of the county.

Only one in five county supervisor seats is contested in the general election.

In District 1, Republican Rich Vitiello, a former Maricopa City Councilman, will face former Coolidge City Councilman George Arredondo Sr., a Democrat.

Vitiello pledged to take a fiscally conservative approach to the county’s budget and support economic development while creating a business-friendly climate in the region. He considers supporting public safety his top priority.

Arredondo said he hopes to take steps to address county staff salary issues and improve planning for capital projects. He said he will strive for economic development that is environmentally compatible with the county’s desert ecosystem and called for partnerships to help with workforce development.

Vitiello has already made it into the primary, defeating Republican Ron Weber over the summer. Whoever wins this time will replace retiring Supervisor Kevin Kavanaugh, who lost the county GOP primary for sheriff.

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Recorder Dana Lewis appeared poised to run unopposed until Supervisor Kevin Kavanaugh filed paperwork to run for the seat as a write-in candidate in August.

The move comes after Kavanaugh lost the GOP primary for county sheriff. The secretary’s position is now among the few candidates in Pinal County. This is a key position that gives enormous power over the conduct of elections in the district.

Lewis has served as county clerk since 2022, when she was appointed by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. She came to the position after the district endured a disastrous election cycle that drew statewide attention and frustrated candidates and voters.

During her tenure, Lewis prioritized developing new county election procedures and staffing. She developed succession plans and revamped staff training in an effort to retain talent.

Kavanaugh has falsely denied his defeat in the Republican primary for county sheriff. A review of voting systems in Pinal County found no evidence of malfeasance despite his claims. He often questioned tabulators, the machines that count votes, and at times insisted the county recount ballots by hand.

He is also known for peppering election officials with questions at county meetings. Earlier this month, he, along with the rest of the Supervisory Board, voted to confirm the initial results, but said he did it “under duress” and believed the results were “wrong” — an allegation that drew the ire of Supervisor Mike Goodman and other county officials.

Kavanaugh has little chance of winning as a write-in candidate, chances he acknowledged in an interview with The Arizona Republic when he announced he would challenge Lewis for the seat. But he and Lewis have a frosty relationship, and he said he can’t let the place go unquestioned.

Voters will choose a new sheriff

Two candidates, Republican Ross Teeple and Democrat Patrick Melvin, will face off for control of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

Both have long experience in law enforcement. Teeple is a lieutenant with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and a U.S. Navy veteran. He previously worked as a construction electrician and a correctional officer.

Melvin most recently served as a chief deputy for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. He also served as chief of police for the City of Maricopa and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. He served in the US Army.

Tipple has committed to protecting the “inalienable rights” of citizens if elected to office. He presented himself to voters as a law enforcement officer who would focus on arresting criminals to keep the public safe.

Melvin said he is focused on taking “politics and partisanship” out of office and following the letter of the law. He criticized current Sheriff Mark Lamb’s involvement in the national “constitutional sheriffs” movement, which argues that local sheriffs have the right to refuse to enforce laws they consider unconstitutional.

Both candidates say staffing is a challenge for the sheriff’s office as the county continues to grow.. They will seek additional resources from the Pinal County Board of Supervisors to keep up with population growth.

Whoever wins will replace Lamb, a Republican who ran for the U.S. Senate but lost the primary to former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake.

This story will be updated as election results are reported.

Sasha Hupka covers county government and elections administration for the Arizona Republic. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on X: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or threads: @sashahupkasnaps. Subscribe to her weekly campaign newsletter, Republican recount.

Helen Rummel talks about higher education at the Arizona Republic. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter): @helenrummel.