Arizona's Secretary of State expressed confidence that Yuma County and all counties in the state will have the support they need to ensure fair and clean elections this November and beyond.

During a visit to Yuma this week, Adrian Fontes also denounced threats against election workers, an issue that has become a problem in Arizona and across the country, with many workers quitting their jobs out of fear for their safety.

Fontes traveled to Yuma on Monday and met with local election officials, including Yuma County Recorder Richard Colwell and Director of Elections Kika Guzman. Fontes said his job is to meet with election officials in all 15 Arizona counties, tour their offices and make sure he supports Phoenix. .

He said 12 of Arizona's 15 counties have had new leaders since the last presidential election in 2020.

“The good thing is (Yuma County) has a lot of experienced staff, support staff and personal knowledge that can help,” Fontes told reporters outside the recorder's office in downtown Yuma. “I'm working on it,” he said. “It's important for me to visit every county because these are the people who are running the elections.”

There have been reports of verbal and physical threats against election workers in Arizona and across the country, but Fontes said Arizona is defending itself and such threats will not be tolerated.

“The attacks on election offices across the country and right here in Arizona are frankly un-American,” Fontes told KAWC. “That has to stop.”

Fontes said Arizona is working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and investigative agencies such as the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Arizona Counterterrorism Information Center to ensure the protection of election workers. Ta.

Yuma County Recorder Colwell keeps things simple.

“My goal is to have a clean and well-run election,” he said.

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Scroll down for KAWC's previous coverage of Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.