The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has once again been denied a victory in their ongoing attack on Recorder Justin Heap to claim control of certain election duties.
On Wednesday, the Arizona Superior Court denied the Board of Supervisors’ Motion to Stay, delivering yet another decisive loss to the Board in its ongoing attempt to retain powers the Court has already ruled it does not legally possess.
In its ruling, the Court stated: “…the Court finds it inexplicable that the Board of Supervisors – in the nine months since Recorder Heap filed the present lawsuit – would not have considered and planned for the possibility that the Court would rule in favor of Recorder Heap.”
The Recorder’s Office believes that rather than accept the Court’s ruling and work cooperatively to prepare for the upcoming elections, the Board continues to pursue delay tactics and taxpayer-funded litigation. The Board’s plan to appeal and seek yet another stay only prolongs uncertainty and disruption within our election system, just months before primary voting begins.
“This case was never about personalities or politics,” said Recorder Heap. “It was about whether Arizona law still means what it says. The Court answered that question decisively. It is time for the Board to accept reality, respect the rule of law, and focus on preparing for the upcoming elections.”
These delays carry real consequences, argues the Recorder’s Office. Election administration depends on clear authority, operational stability, and timely preparation. Every additional legal maneuver wastes taxpayer money, delays implementation of the Court’s order, and increases risk to the orderly administration of the upcoming elections.
The Court has now reaffirmed multiple times what Arizona law already makes clear: the Recorder must have the authority and operational control necessary to carry out the duties assigned to the office by statute. The Recorder’s Office remains ready to move forward immediately, comply fully with the Court’s orders, and focus entirely on preparing for the upcoming elections. The voters of Maricopa County deserve elections governed by the rule of law, not endless obstruction, and political gamesmanship.
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