Maricopa County superintendent Bill Gates said he would not seek re-election in 2024, prompting election officials to resign or withdraw their candidacy amid a spate of unsubstantiated voting conspiracies and threats. is increasing.
Gates now represents District 3, a political purple region that stretches from north-central Phoenix to Anthem and New River. Includes parts of Paradise Valley and northern Peoria.
The news that he will not run for the next district representative election comes after the oversight board faced false allegations of election fraud following the 2020 and 2022 elections. In a statement Thursday, he said he intended to remain in office for the remainder of his term and pursue “other interests and opportunities.”
“As this chapter comes to an end, it is a comfort to know that I have led with honesty, compassion and dignity,” he said. “Regardless of personal partisan preferences or outside pressures, I remained focused on making this area a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Who is Bill Gates?
Gates, a Republican, was first elected as Overseer in 2016 and won re-election in 2020.
Prior to joining the Board of Directors, he served on the Phoenix City Council for seven years, representing Sunny Slope, Moon Valley, and other areas of Northeast Phoenix. Maricopa County’s Third Ward contains most of the former congressional districts.
He holds a law degree from Harvard University and has practiced law in Phoenix for 25 years. He also serves on numerous non-profit boards.
Gates will serve as chairman of the board in the November 2022 midterm elections. A few weeks later, at a board meeting filled with allegations of conspiracy, verbal abuse and intimidation, he and his colleagues voted in favor of recognizing the results of those races in front of a crowd of angry protesters.
In May, he publicly shared his diagnosis of PTSD as a result of election-related harassment, which is often endorsed by members of his own party.
In a statement on Thursday, he thanked his wife and three daughters for their support during the turmoil of the past few years.
“Thank you for being my rock, my foundation and my inspiration,” he told his family. “The last few years have not always been easy, but you have made me a better person, colleague, and civil servant.”
What will happen in the 3rd Ward?
The race for District 3 is expected to be fiercely contested.
Candidates for seats in District 3 have until early next year to submit documents of interest.
So far, only one Republican, Tabitha Lavoie, has applied to run. He is an attorney who previously served on the Arizona-Mexico Commission for five years under former Governor Janet Napolitano.
But other potential candidates are starting to line up.
Former Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCicio plans to run for District 3 in a phone call Thursday with supporters.
“This morning, I had a conference call with a group of supporters who had asked me to run, and told them I was running,” DiCicio said. “The official announcement will be after the summer. It doesn’t help to make that kind of announcement so early now. But I’m taking the race seriously. On the phone. We promised close to $500,000, and ended up with $475,000.” “
Republic reporter Taylor Seeley contributed to this article.
Sasha Hapka covers regional issues in Maricopa County, Pinal County, and the Republic of Arizona.Do you have any tips for her to share?Contact her sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SashaHupka.
