Two key races in the upcoming election — one in the southeast Valley and another in central and north Phoenix — will determine whether a Democratic or GOP caucus controls the influential Maricopa County Board of Supervisors next year.
But no matter who wins out, the regional giant is poised for a new era.
Three of its five seats will see new faces next year, a massive leadership shake-up after nearly a decade of static. The last time the body saw such a monumental shift, longtime politicos who warred with other elected officials over county dollars gave way to sharp businessmen eager to make the most of the area’s economic boom.
In the years since, the board has largely continued its practice of quietly conducting county business. But as new challenges have emerged — the coronavirus pandemic , election denialism , water availability and other issues — supervisors have been forced to the forefront of political conversation in Arizona.
The next board is now poised to take a more prominent position on high-profile regional issues. Candidates of both parties said they feel the time has come for county supervisors to embrace their bully pulpits.