Election 2024: Voters to decide three key Pinal County contests amid population boom
Voters are poised to decide a handful of contested Pinal County races on Tuesday as they head to the polls.
The county is one of the state's fastest-growing and heavily conservative. Most of its seats were determined in the state primary over the summer , but a few remain in question heading into the general election.
Contested positions include county sheriff and a county supervisor spot. Additionally, the county's current recorder is running against a write-in challenger for the seat.
The election hits at a key time for the county, which is increasingly facing questions about its future . 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 Republican 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 .
Now, its leaders must navigate its rapid population growth and economic development needs, among other issues.
Meanwhile, a rough 2022 election cycle means many in the heavily conservative county lack confidence in the electoral system. County officials have been working in the last year to remedy that issue and ensure a smooth 2024 primary and general . Still, questions around hand counting ballots and other election proposals remain .
Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. A first round of results is expected around 8 p.m.
Election 2024: See Arizona election results | Live coverage on Election Day
At county's western edge, a contested supervisor race
Only one of the county's five supervisor seats is contested for the general election.
In District 1, Republican Rich Vitiello, a former member of the Maricopa City Council, will face former Coolidge City Councilmember George Arredondo Sr., a Democrat.
Vitiello has pledged to take a fiscally conservative approach to the county budget and support economic development by cultivating a business-friendly climate in the region. He lists supporting public safety as a top priority.
Arredondo said he hopes to take steps to address the county's personnel salary issues and improve its capital project planning. He said he would pursue economic development that would be environmentally compatible with the county's desert ecosystem and has called for partnerships to assist in workforce development.
Vitiello already fought his way through a primary, defeating Republican Ron Weber over the summer. Whoever wins this time around will replace outgoing Supervisor Kevin Cavanagh, who lost the county's GOP primary for sheriff.
Recorder faces write-in challenger
Recorder Dana Lewis appeared poised to run unopposed until Supervisor Kevin Cavanaugh filed paperwork to run for the seat as a write-in candidate in August.
The move came after Cavanaugh lost his GOP primary for county sheriff. Now, the recorder's seat is among the handful in contention in Pinal County. It is a key position that holds immense power over election administration in the county.
Lewis has served as county recorder since 2022, when she was appointed by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. She came to the position after the county experienced a disastrous election cycle that attracted statewide attention and frustrated candidates and voters.
In her time in office, Lewis has prioritized developing new procedures for election administration in the county and staffing up. She has created succession plans and revamped training for staff in an effort to retain talent.
Cavanaugh has falsely denied his loss in the Republican primary for county sheriff . An audit of Pinal County's voting systems found no evidence of malfeasance, despite his claims . He has often questioned tabulators, the machines that tally votes, and has at times pushed for the county to hand count ballots.
He is also known for peppering election officials with questions at county meetings. Earlier this month, he voted with the rest of the Board of Supervisors to certify primary results but said he did so "under duress" and believed the results were "incorrect" — an allegation that drew ire from Supervisor Mike Goodman and other county officials.
Cavanaugh has little chance of winning as write-in candidate — odds that he acknowledged to The Arizona Republic when he announced he would challenge Lewis for the seat. But he and Lewis have a frosty relationship, and he said he couldn't allow the seat to go unquestioned.
Voters to choose a new sheriff
Two candidates — Republican Ross Teeple and Democrat Patrick Melvin — will face off for control of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.
Both have long histories in law enforcement. 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.
Melvin most recently worked as a deputy chief at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. He also has served as police chief for the city of Maricopa and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. He served in the U.S. Army.
Teeple has committed to protecting citizens' "inalienable rights" if elected to office. He has presented himself to voters as a law-and-order officer who would focus on arresting criminals to keep communities safe.
Melvin said he's focused on taking "politics and partisanship" out of the office and following the letter of the law. He has criticized current Sheriff Mark Lamb's involvement in the national "constitutional sheriff" movement, which asserts that local sheriffs have authority to refuse to enforce laws they deem unconstitutional.
Both candidates say staffing is an issue for the Sheriff's Office as the county continues to grow . They would seek additional resources from the Pinal County Board of Supervisors to keep up with population increases.
Whoever wins will replace Lamb, a Republican who was running for U.S. Senate but lost his primary to former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake.
This story will be updated as election results are reported.
Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at . Follow her on X: . Follow her on Instagram or Threads: . , Republic Recount .
Helen Rummel covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at . Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: .
