May 15, 2025: Let’s Play Hot Potato
On May 15, 2025, MCBOS Procurement Department reassigned my PRR my original request (PRR 2025-719) to Information Governance Department as PRR 2025-1123. This department then reassigned PRR 2025-1123 to the Elections Department as PRR 2025-139. The Elections Department then transferred PRR 2025-139 to the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office as PRR 2025-64.
I tried to resolve my concerns with email and phone conversations from representatives in each of these departments. Unfortunately, no additional records were provided beyond what was delivered shortly after the initial records request of April 2025.
On June 11, 2025, the Elections Department stated it had no responsive records. On June 27, 2025, the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office closed its request by stating records had been released and asserting no statutory obligation to respond. No single department was responsible for my PRR. Instead, each department determined if there was anything they could do to respond to my PRR, which resulted in no action from three of the assigned departments.
Neil Thibodaux reached out to me in November of 2025 for the purpose of gaining additional insights into the resolution that I had authored in 2024 and was resubmitting for 2026 approval. Neil had retired from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and was familiar with their Corrective Action Program, which was required by 10 CFR 50, Appendix B, Criterion XVI, Corrective Actions. He could see how a CAP program could improve County performance. From that point forward, we have been collaborating to bring attention to Maricopa County performance gaps that could be resolved through CAP.
Maricopa County was unable to provide the following records, which I had requested:
- Amendments, addenda, renewals, exhibits, or revisions for 2018–2024
- Post-election contract administration records
- MVD election-related contracts
- USPS-related agreements
- Temporary staffing contracts for signature verification
I eventually sought judicial relief. On December 1, 2025, I filed special complaint CV2025 – 063720, which was processed by the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County. This complaint was submitted pursuant to A.R.S. § 39-121 et seq. Five defendants were named in this complaint, which included the following:
- Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (MCBOS)
- MCBOS Procurement Department
- MCBOS Information Governance Department
- MCBOS Elections Department
- Maricopa County Recorder’s Office (MCRO)
The defendants were named in accordance with the agencies the County determined needed to address my PRR. My PRR was routed to all of these agencies and they were unable to resolve my request for additional records or provide a complete explanation of the documents provided.
I referenced applicable Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.), which stated the records Arizona counties were required to preserve for public inspection in my plaintiff’s brief. Five defendants (government entities or agencies) were named, which reflected the multiple handoffs of my PRR. No one government entity took responsibility for resolving my concern.
In January 2026, the Executive Guidance Committee for the Maricopa County Republican Committee re-approved the same resolution that had been submitted in December 2024, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Contracts Must Be Open and as Transparent, Subject to Public Oversight, Audits, and Corrective Action Plans,
The judge ruled in favor of Maricopa County, the defendant. He ruled that the County had delivered all the relevant records based on affidavits and testimony provided by the Maricopa County Staff. The issue of whether other documents and records should have been available and provided in accordance with Arizona statutes was not addressed in the ruling.
[include the discussion with Jen, direction to file a complaint, frustration finding the complaint, Jen sent a link to file a complaint, research of complaints, end with why we selected James Taylor as the ideal representative to hear our proposal]
Timeline
- Preface — Author's introduction
- 2020: The Event — The November 2020 general election anomalies
- 2001: The Journey Begins — Starting to ask questions about lessons learned
- November 2024: Midterm Election — The Katie Hobbs situation
- December 2024: Gaining Support — Resolution submission
- April 15, 2025: Public Records Request — Public Records Request process
- May 15, 2025: Let’s Play Hot Potato — Public Records Request runaround
- August 3, 2026: Submitted Complaint — Formal complaint submission
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