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Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 04, 2022 9:00 AM BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Maricopa County, Arizona (and the Boards of Directors of the Flood Control District, Library District, Stadium District, Improvement Districts and/or Board of Deposit) "The mission of Maricopa County is to provide regional leadership and fiscally responsible, necessary public services to its residents so they can enjoy living in healthy and safe communities” Board Members Bill Gates, Chairman, District 3 Clint Hickman, Vice Chairman, District 4 Jack Sellers, District 1 Thomas Galvin, District 2 Steve Gallardo, District 5 County Manager Joy Rich Clerk of the Board Juanita Garza Meeting Location Sullivan Conference Room/Auditorium 301 W Jefferson, 10th Floor/205 W. Jefferson Phoenix, AZ 85003 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The Board of Supervisors of Maricopa County, Phoenix, Arizona, convened in Special Session at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in the Sullivan Conference Room/Supervisors’ Auditorium, 301 W Jefferson, 10th Floor/ 205 W. Jefferson Phoenix, AZ 85003, with the following members present: Bill Gates, Chairman, District 3; Clint Hickman, Vice Chairman, District 4; Jack Sellers, Supervisor, District 1; Thomas Galvin, Supervisor, District 2; Steve Gallardo, Supervisor, District 5. Also present: Juanita Garza, Clerk; Kelly Gardiner, Minutes Coordinator; Joy Rich, County Manager, Andrea Cummings, Legal Counsel (remote). 1. EXECUTIVE SESSION Vote to convene in Executive Session to consider the items on the Executive Agenda dated Wednesday, May 04, 2022, for Board of Supervisors and relevant Special Districts pursuant to the statutory authority listed for each item. Motion to approve by Supervisor Clint Hickman, seconded by Supervisor Jack Sellers Ayes: Bill Gates, Clint Hickman, Jack Sellers, Thomas Galvin Absent: Steve Gallardo ~ Supervisor Gallardo entered the meeting after Executive Session ~ After discussion in Executive Session, the Board reconvened in Open Session. OPEN SESSION RECONVENED The Chairman reconvened the Board in the Board of Supervisors’ Auditorium. OPEN SESSION 2. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RE: ELECTIONS AND ATTORNEY GENERAL BRNOVICH CORRESPONDENCE Take action as directed in the May 4, 2022, Executive Session regarding Elections and Attorney General Brnovich Correspondence. (C-19-22-134-X-00) Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 04, 2022 Page 2 of 3 Motion to approve the letter, responding to the April 6, 2022, correspondence from Attorney General Mark Brnovich by Supervisor Clint Hickman, seconded by Supervisor Jack Sellers After the motion was made, Chairman Gates asked for comments from his colleagues. Stephen Richer, County Recorder, thanked the Board for their partnership in correcting the record about the persistent lie that Maricopa County inaccurately administered the 2020 election. He stated the 2020 election was not stolen and that the top legal officer of Arizona, Attorney General Mark Brnovich, has cast doubt on the process. Mr. Richer said it was disappointing that the Board is having to correct the record yet again. Mr. Richer quoted Attorney General Brnovich when he stated in November 2020 that the 2020 election was won fair and square; then politics changed his position. Chairman Gates thanked Mr. Richer for the teamwork and all the hard work that has gone into the upcoming 2022 elections and agreed it was sad the Board is having to respond to the allegations. Supervisor Sellers noted that Chairman Gates was the third Chairman who has had to deal with this at the expense of their own priorities during their chairmanship. He said he is hopeful the response given today will bring an end to the 2020 election and allow the County to move forward with the 2022 elections. Supervisor Galvin stated it was an honor to sign this letter to the Attorney General and to serve on this Board. He said the allegations undermine the election process and our democracy. He said it is unfortunate we have a rogue Attorney General that has taken this issue to another political level. He said the Elections Department has done a great job. The Attorney General initiated a criminal investigation into the 2020 Election and found nothing. Supervisor Galvin invited everyone to read this letter in response to the Attorney General’s allegations and learn the facts. Supervisor Gallardo said he appreciated the letter to the Attorney General. He said he worked in the Elections Department for 14 years and said the people working there work with integrity. Some of these people continue to serve in the department. He said the Elections Department is there to ensure everyones fundamental right to vote is secure. The elections team works tirelessly and does not care about political views. They care about safe, secure, and accurate elections. Supervisor Gallardo stated the Attorney General’s actions are politically motivated. Supervisor Hickman thanked the Chairmen who have come before. He said there has been a lot of time and money spent on this big lie. He vowed to be open minded, but this has been an afront to this Board, and the cost has been huge. He said the 2020 Election has been scrutinized for almost two years and has been so disruptive, the Chairmen each year have not been able to meet their goals. Chairman Gates thanked everyone and noted this letter is not a knee-jerk response to the Attorney General. He said there has been an enormous amount of thought and discussion put into this response. He encouraged everyone to read this letter. He said it was offensive for Attorney General Brnovich to say that the Board, the Elections Department, and the Recorder have been uncooperative. He stated the Attorney General knows better than to tell the lies as he has done. Chairman Gates said Mr. Brnovich would not campaign on the backs of the good employees of the Maricopa County Election Department. Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 04, 2022 Page 3 of 3 Ayes: Bill Gates, Clint Hickman, Jack Sellers, Thomas Galvin, Steve Gallardo Following the vote, members of the local press came forward to ask questions and get comments from the Board and Recorder Richer. A press conference followed the meeting and the Board and Recorder Richer answered questions from the press regarding the April 6, 2022, letter from Attorney General Brnovich and their May 4, 2022, response to the specific allegations with the intention of correcting the record one more time. MEETING ADJOURNED There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. ___________________________ Bill Gates, Chairman of the Board ATTEST: ____________________________ Juanita Garza, Clerk of the Board