District 1 county supervisor candidates talk growth, elections and housing

Candidates vying to represent the southeast Valley on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors laid out their plans to fuel economic development in the region.

Their appearance at a Sept. 10 forum hosted by the PHX East Valley Partnership marked the first time Democrat Joel Navarro and Republican Mark Stewart have shared a stage while battling for the key county seat.

Both seek to represent one of the most prosperous areas of the county. The district, which stretches from Tempe to Queen Creek, leans conservative. But it is also home to a number of business-friendly, education-friendly Republicans who have played a pivotal role in recent elections and have shown a willingness to split their tickets. Democrats believe the seat is winnable and see it as a chance to gain a long-sought-after majority on the influential board.

Whoever pulls through the race in November will serve on a board with oversight of the county's budget, giving them power over other county offices. They'll hold sway over issues ranging from election administration to land use issues, and they'll be part of a powerful body that influences the direction of the region as a whole.

Both candidates said they are focused on bringing in businesses and economic opportunities — but they have different ideas on how to do so.

Navarro, a member of the Tempe City Council and a firefighter, said fostering an educated workforce and promoting amenities such as stadiums and universities was crucial to maintaining growth and supporting a business-friendly environment.

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"We're talking about atmosphere," he said. "We're talking about having the things people want."

If elected, Navarro said he would work to develop a long-term regional business plan for the county and deepen relationships with cities to promote economic growth. He also proposed launching a regional Pre-K program in partnership with cities, similar to one he spearheaded in Tempe. The city's program offers a full-tuition option to all families and free and half-tuition options to income-eligible ones.

"Programs like these are vital to a county, vital to a community," Navarro said.

Stewart said the East Valley is already a "hot" area for businesses and economic investments. To continue that trend, he said he would focus on tackling issues like the county's housing crisis and focusing on vital infrastructure upgrades.

"There is so much opportunity for growth," he said.

He proposed expediting building permits to create more housing supply. The county issues such permits for those building in unincorporated areas, which include so-called county islands, pockets of land surrounded by city streets. Stewart said he supports an extension of the county's half-cent sales tax that funds road improvements and public transit.

He also said he'd prioritize keeping county taxes low. Still, both he and Navarro have called for investments in regional public safety. Stewart called it "smart spending."

"We need to hire more sheriff's deputies and we need to pay them fairly," Stewart said.

Talk briefly veers into state of down-ballot race, election issues

The discussion briefly touched on the importance of the race, the candidates' stances on election conspiracies and how the two view collaboration across the political aisle.

Stewart emphasized the importance of the supervisor contest at the top of the conversation.

"Much of the air is being sucked out of the room by the presidential race," he said, thanking PHX East Valley Partnership officials for inviting both him and Navarro to share the stage. The race isn't currently scheduled for future debates, even though organizations like the Arizona Clean Elections Commission are holding events for some other county contests.

Navarro brought up election administration while talking about his priorities if elected to the board. The issue has dominated county discourse amid a wave of election denialism that has led to threats against sitting elected officials. Protecting democratic norms is a major point of Navarro's campaign.

Stewart's views on election issues have been harder to pin down. He previously told The Arizona Republic that many voters "still have questions" about election outcomes, citing an Arizona State University study that found 33% of respondents were "very confident" in election results, 32% were "somewhat confident" and 34% were "not confident."

On Tuesday, he didn't affirm whether he was confident in the results of prior elections. But Stewart commended the county for a primary election that "ran like a top." He said his ultimate goal remains "getting Maricopa County out of the news."

"The elections are in our past," he said. "We're ready to move forward."

The two also briefly discussed cross-aisle collaboration. They both pledged to work to create connections with politicians at various levels of government, including those who may have a different party label.

"We provide service to the public," Stewart said. "These are not 'R' or 'D' issues."

Navarro praised sitting Supervisor Jack Sellers, a Republican, for his leadership. He said he'd "lean" on Sellers and listen to him if elected, as well as continue some of his "good initiatives."

"We all live together, so we all have to work together," Navarro said.

Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on X: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. Sign up for her weekly election newsletter, Republic Recount.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: County supervisor candidates in Arizona talk plans to fuel growth