The new chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors says he is seeking new funding solutions for the county's jail infrastructure.
The board of directors unanimously elected Jack Sellers as the company's new chairman following the expiration of the term of outgoing chairman Clint Hickman on Wednesday. Supervisor Thomas Galvin will become the new vice chairman of the board.
Sellers, a Republican, has served on the board since 2019. He represents District 1, which covers south Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek. This will be the second time he has taken up the gavel, as the board elects a new chairman and vice chairman every year.
During his State of the County address, Mr. Sellers announced the creation of a Citizens Commission on Public Safety Funding to explore long-term funding sources for criminal justice reform and public safety.
Prison facilities and programs are funded by a 15-cent prison excise tax enacted in 1998. The tax was renewed for 20 years by voters in 2007, and Sellers said the commission plans to make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors later this year. However, the proposal must be approved by Congress before being submitted to voters.
“That's what smart, flexible and transparent government looks like,” Sellers said. “But unfortunately, to put this matter before the voters, Maricopa County will need approval from the state Legislature. We are the only county in the state that must take this additional step. ”
Sellers said his top priority is ensuring Maricopa County has the resources and support to continue holding lawful, free and fair elections this year.
“We will have three elections in a very competitive county in a very competitive state. The eyes of the free world will once again be on Maricopa County,” Sellers said.
He listed several ways the county could prepare for upcoming elections, including hiring key leadership staff and purchasing additional high-speed tabulation machines and printers for vote centers. Vendors also called on the public to volunteer for local election staff positions.
Supervisors praised Hickman's efforts as president before handing over the gavel. Mr. Galvin cited Mr. Hickman's 30-month prison sentence for threatening Mr. Hickman over President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election in Arizona. He said the price he had to pay from those denying the election was high.
“The fact that he comes here every day, he doesn't whine, he doesn't complain. There's no one on this platform to complain,” Galvin said. “There are people who come in every day and just get the job done.”
Hickman said he would be honored to lead the board in 2023, but is prepared to relinquish the leadership role and focus more on District 4, which he represents, which covers Peoria and the western part of the county. said.
“I'm so grateful to be able to pass this gavel today because I'm tired,” Hickman said.
Sellers told officials that the county will support them and should not tolerate abuse from election-related conspiracies.
“This committee and this county intend to have an election in accordance with the law, just as I have done every year since I took this job, and as in the past four years We're going to stand firm against this, because it undermines the will of the people,” Sellers said.
Another top priority for Sellers is transportation infrastructure and getting voters to approve the half-cent extension to the transportation infrastructure tax that the Legislature and Gov. Katie Hobbs approved during the 2023 session.
“I truly believe that in 2024, our future will be on the ballot in many ways, from electing a visionary leader to deciding whether we grow or stagnate.” Sellers said.
