Navajo County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Tenney formally announced on Monday resigning his position at the Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, February 10th to accept a job with the Ducey administration. Ducey tapped Tenney to be the new director of the Residential Utility Consumer Office (RUCO) replacing Mr. Patrick Quinn, effective Monday, February 16th.
Tenney has been in government most of his adult life. He was elected in November 2004 to represent District IV (Show Low, Linden, Pinedale, Clay Springs and Heber/Overgaard) on the Navajo County Board of Supervisors, occupying the same position that was formerly held by his late father – Lewis Tenney. Tenney most recently served in a number of capacities, including, the chairman of the Natural Resources Working Group (NRWG), the chairman of the REAL AZ Economic Development Committee, a member of the County Supervisors’ Association Legislative Policy Committee and Arizona’s representative to the National Association of Counties Western Interstate Region (WIR).
RUCO was established in 1983 by the State Legislature to represent the interests of residential utility customers whenever a rate-related issue involving a public service utility is brought before the Arizona Corporation Commission, and to advocate on behalf of rate-payers in general.
Tenney has served as the President of the Arizona County Supervisors’ Association in 2011 along with serving as the Chairman of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors in 2007 and 2011. He was serving as the Navajo County Board Chairman for 2015.
Tenney took the unusual step to recommend his replacement on the Board of Supervisors. He urged the appointment of attorney Steve Williams of Show Low, as his replacement to fulfill the remainder of his term.
Tenney says he intends to Chair the February 10th Board meeting, where he will ask the Board of Supervisors to accept his resignation, pass the gavel to Vice-Chair Dawnafe Whitesinger, and consider appointing and swearing-in Williams at the end of regular business.