The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Thursday nominated for sheriff a longtime Republican who recently switched political parties to meet eligibility requirements for the appointment.
Russ Skinner, chief deputy for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office since 2018, was sworn in as sheriff on a 4-1 party-line vote with Republican supervisors voting in his favor.
Skinner registered as a Republican in May 1987, but switched to the Democratic Party on October 3, 2023, one day after former Sheriff Paul Penzone, a Democrat, announced his resignation. State law required the supervisor to appoint someone from Penzone's political party.
Chairman Jack Sellers spoke of the change in the party.
“In my opinion, and the opinion of many people I've talked to, law enforcement shouldn't be a partisan political position. So we as a group really ignored that,” he said. Told.
Sellers said they are looking for an appointee who already has the confidence of Sheriff's Office officials and other law enforcement agencies in the county.
“You need someone who can step in from day one,” he said.
Mr. Skinner described himself as “apolitical.” He said he chose to switch to the Democratic Party soon after Penzone announced his resignation.
He said he has “no intention of going back” to the Republican Party and has not yet decided whether to run for sheriff.
He said he feels he can tackle issues such as the 2024 election cycle, fentanyl and other deaths in prisons, and compliance measures required of the president by federal courts. He said his familiarity with the firm's processes will be an advantage. Skinner has worked for the Sheriff's Office for 33 years.
Supervisor Steve Gallardo, the board's only Democrat, voted against the appointment but said he looked forward to working with Skinner. Gallardo said mistrust stemming from the time of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio still weighs heavily on the community.
“There are trust factors that need to be addressed. Concrete steps to building that trust that go far beyond just an advisory board,” Gallardo said.
Skinner acknowledged that Arpaio's “taint” remains on the department. The department is under federal court supervision because of racial profiling that occurred while Arpaio was sheriff.
Skinner will serve until the person elected as sheriff is sworn in in November.
As of February 5, five people have filed papers to run for sheriff. Four are Republicans: Frank Crawford, Jerry Sheridan, Joel Paul Franklin Ellis, and Joe Melone, and one is Democrat: Tyler Kump.
Here's where to contact the reporter: miguel.torres@arizonarepublic.com.
