Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap seeks sanctions against Board of Supervisors in election dispute
PHOENIX — A legal battle over election authority in Maricopa County intensified as County Recorder Justin Heap has asked a judge to hold the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in civil contempt, alleging the board has failed to comply with a court order governing election responsibilities.
In a new court filing, Heap is asking the court to impose sanctions of $100,000 per day against the Republican-controlled board, arguing supervisors have not followed an April ruling that largely sided with the recorder in an ongoing dispute over election administration.
The conflict stems from a lawsuit Heap, a Republican, filed after taking office, challenging an agreement that transferred certain election-related responsibilities from the recorder's office to the Board of Supervisors.
In an April 16 ruling, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney found that the board acted unlawfully by taking control of personnel, systems, and equipment belonging to the recorder's office and refusing to return them. The judge also determined that the recorder has authority over early in-person voting. At the same time, the Board of Supervisors remains responsible for selecting Election Day voting locations, providing polling places, and hiring poll workers.
https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/maricopa-county-recorder-justin-heap-seeks-sanctions-against-board-of-supervisors-election-dispute/75-6f4e23cf-a946-49b6-9093-8c8738cec29c