Pinal County election 2024: Voters to decide on board of supervisors, sheriff, other races

ARIZONA ELECTION 2024

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This year's election cycle is expected to be a pivotal one for Pinal County's governments.

The county is one of the state's fastest-growing and is increasingly facing questions about its future ahead of a key election. Sandwiched between Phoenix and Tucson, it is often forgotten in favor of its larger neighbors. But as its population booms, the county is in a time of transition.

Once bright blue, it flipped about a decade ago to a conservative stronghold where only a handful of Democrats run each election cycle. Its edges are quickly becoming dense suburban communities filled with residents seeking affordable housing and a reasonable commute to work in the state's largest cities.

The Arizona Republic has been covering the candidates in each race. Read about them here.

Pinal County Board of Supervisors

Pinal County's board is made up of five elected supervisors. They control a $1.1 billion budget in one of the fastest-growing counties in Arizona.

Supervisors, who are elected out of districts covering different areas of the county, appoint a county manager who serves as the chief administrator of Pinal County. While the county manager handles day-to-day operations across most departments, the board is responsible for overseeing their work and handling the county's checkbook.

Most of the action in the supervisor's races was in the primary. Only District 1 will have a contest election.

Here's who's running:

• Rich Vitiello, District 1: Vitiello is a former member of the Maricopa City Council. He was named vice mayor in December, but resigned on April 1 to run for county supervisor. He is originally from New York and has lived in Arizona for nearly 20 years. Vitiello, a Republican defeated Ron Weber in the GOP primary.

• George Arredondo Sr., District 1: He is a former member of the Coolidge City Council with a wide-ranging career. Arredondo worked as a cattle rancher before taking a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Later, he worked as an information technology specialist for the U.S. Navy and saw three combat tours of the Middle East. He is running as a Democrat.

• Mike Goodman, District 2: First elected to the board in 2016, Goodman is a former independent insurance broker, farmer and small-business owner who lives in the San Tan Valley area. An Arizona native, he's lived in Pinal County for about 15 years. He is running as a Republican and advance uncontested through the primary.

• Steve Miller, District 3: He was elected to the board in 2012. Miller is an Arizona native and a resident of the county for more than 45 years. Previously, he served more than a decade on the Casa Grande City Council. He worked in the lumber and truss manufacturing business and as a licensed contractor. He is running as a Republican and defeated Luke Myers in the GOP primary.

• Jeff McClure, District 4: He has served on the board since 2020. A small-business owner, he served eight years on the Oracle School District Governing Board before becoming supervisor. He lived in Southern California and Seattle before moving to Saddlebrooke. McClure is running as a Republican and defeated Pete Sabin in the GOP primary.

• Jeff Serdy, District 5: He was elected to the board in 2020. An Ohio native, Serdy previously served on the Apache Junction City Council. Later, he became the city's mayor. Serdy also owns a local firearms business. He is running as a Republican. Serdy defeated Todd House and Rhonda Mattachione in the GOP primary.

Coverage of the Pinal County supervisors:

• In their words: We asked all the candidates for county supervisor six questions. Here’s what they said.

• "We didn't just sit on our hands": Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer says his office investigated anonymous allegations made against the county's recorder and found them to be entirely unsubstantiated.

Pinal County recorder

The county recorder manages public records, including property documents and governmental information.

The recorder is also responsible for maintaining voter registration records and administering early voting, including mailing out early ballots, providing on-site early voting locations and verifying voter signatures on early ballot affidavits and petitions.

The recorder holds tremendous power over how elections are run within the county, and previous politicians in the position have pushed massive changes to the way their county votes.

Pinal County Recorder Dana Lewis is running unopposed.

Coverage of the recorders' races:

• Pinal County elections: Recorder Dana Lewis is running unopposed.

• In her words: We asked Lewis five questions. Here's what she said.

• First test: Pinal County bounces back from disastrous 2022 election operations with a smooth November vote.

Pinal County assessor

The assessor is responsible for identifying, mapping and assessing all properties in their county.

It's a job that is little known but vitally important. The assessor determines the value of properties, which dictates how much a property owner pays in taxes, and works with other county offices to maintain records and provide valuation information.

Incumbent Douglas Wolf defeated December "Storm" Cox in the GOP primary. He is unopposed in November.

A Republican, Wolf has served as county assessor since 2012. He was previously a real estate broker in California. He was born in Minnesota and now resides in San Tan Valley.

Coverage of the county assessor races:

• In his words: We asked Wolf three questions. Here’s what he said.

Pinal County treasurer

The treasurer acts as the county's tax collector and safeguards the county's money.

They are responsible for disbursing money from the county treasury and pursuing those who have not paid their county taxes. They receive all county revenues, manage credit accounts and invest county funds with guidance from county supervisors.

They also serve as treasurer for all schools and special districts within their county.

Incumbent treasurer Michael McCord will retain the office. He was unopposed in the GOP primary and will be unopposed in November. He has served as county treasurer since 2016. McCord previously worked as a middle school teacher at a charter school in Apache Junction. He eventually became the school's executive director. He lives in San Tan Valley.

Pinal County attorney

The county attorney serves as the lead prosecutor of the Pinal County Attorney's Office.

The office reviews and determines charges for felonies occurring in the county, and misdemeanors occurring in unincorporated areas. The office also provides legal services for the Board of Supervisors and county departments and agencies.

Brad Miller, a criminal defense attorney and a former prosecutor for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, will be the next Pinal County attorney.

He is unopposed in November after defeating incumbent Republican Kent Volkmer in the GOP primary. Volkmer had served as county attorney since 2017.

Miller also previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He lives near Florence.

In his words: We asked Miller about abortion, the death penalty, fentanyl and more. Here's what he had to say.

Pinal County sheriff

The Pinal County Sheriff's Office is tasked with patrolling unincorporated areas of the county, as well as municipalities without a designated police force.

It also serves Superior Court orders and warrants, collects delinquent taxes, coordinates search and rescue missions and oversees the county's jails.

Here's who is running:

• Ross Teeple, Republican: Teeple is a lieutenant with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He previously worked as a construction electrician and a corrections officer. Originally from Tucson, Teeple has lived in Pinal County for more than two decades. He resides near Florence and defeated Kevin Cavanaugh and Charles Austin Jr. in the GOP primary.

• Patrick Melvin, Democrat: Melvin most recently worked as a deputy chief at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. He was the first chief of police in the city of Maricopa after it incorporated, and then served as police chief for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. He also previously worked for the Phoenix Police Department and served in the U.S. Army.

In their words: We asked the candidates about their priorities and how they would lead. Here's what they had to say.

Pinal County school superintendent

The county school superintendent provides services to support school governing board elections and bond and override elections, as well as manage school board appointments, oversee school finances and maintain home-school and private school records.

The superintendent also appoints new members to school board vacancies. That can give whoever holds the position great influence over the makeup of school boards countywide.

Republican Jill Broussard is unopposed in November after defeating Tara Walter in the GOP primary.

Broussard has served as Pinal County's school superintendent since 2011. She previously worked as a teacher. Broussard also is a youth sports coach and Sunday school teacher.

Justices of the peace

Justices of the peace preside over limited-jurisdiction justice courts and hear cases such as small claims, evictions, orders of protection, misdemeanor crimes and some traffic infractions.

They serve four-year terms. Candidates do not need to be attorneys or have any specific education.

Pinal County only has one justice of the peace race on the ballot this year, and it is uncontested. Patricia Glover, a Republican, is running for the position in District 4.

See all the races for Arizona

Voter guide: Election Day is Nov. 5. Here is a guide to help you learn about all the candidates and the voting and tabulating process.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pinal County election 2024: Voters to elect sheriff, supervisors, more