Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap issued his final “warning shot” to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (MBOS or BOS) in what has become one of Arizona election administration’s most consequential power struggles. Heap’s Chief of Staff, Sam Stone, told the Arizona Globe that the prior Shared Services Agreements (SSAs) “were all negotiated to end up somewhat outside of statute.” Stone announced that “Recorder Heap is happy to discuss specific details of his proposal with the Board, but if they choose not to accept a statutory division of duties, it’s likely that a court will need to clarify the statutory boundaries for both parties.”

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, Heap submitted his final Shared Services Agreement (SSA) proposal to the MBOS, accusing them of obstruction, deception, and reckless governance that threaten to derail the 2025 Special Elections and 2026 midterm election cycle in Maricopa County, the largest of Arizona’s counties.

Heap drafted his final proposal in collaboration with counsel from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, including former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould. The document aims to restore the Recorder’s constitutional and statutory duties while ensuring proper funding for those obligations.

In an official letter to The Burgess Law Group, which represents the Board, Justice Gould stated, “I spent a significant amount of time cleaning up some unnecessary language in the draft dated April 24, 2025.” He continued, “The primary focus of the changes is to return the parties to their statutorily imposed duties. Hopefully, this will reduce friction between the parties and avoid confusion over their responsibilities.”

Heap made a statement referencing the letter: “This is the most secure and lawful manner of administering the shared election duties required under current Arizona law. It restores the Recorder’s statutory authority, budget, and staff — and returns us to the law.”

The conflict between the Recorder and the BOS  dates back to late 2024, when then-Recorder Stephen Richer and a lame-duck Board of Supervisors quietly signed a new SSA just weeks before leaving office. The agreement, which took effect on December 10, 2024, stripped Heap’s incoming administration of critical election functions and slashed his budget.

Heap didn’t mince words. “Less than 90 days before I took office, the Board and Stephen Richer collusively signed a sham SSA that was designed to do only one thing: keep me from fixing Maricopa County’s elections.” It was a highly irregular move intended to strip Heap of the authority required to manage elections.

Upon assuming office, Heap immediately revoked the “absurd” SSA and began renegotiating, offering “numerous reasonable attempts” to work with the Board.

“Through formal letters, emails, phone calls, and direct meeting requests, I’ve done everything I can to resolve this,” Heap stated. “But the Board, led by Chairman Thomas Galvin, has made no meaningful effort to negotiate in good faith.”

Heap alleges that not only has the Board refused to cooperate, but it has also actively sought to mislead the public. “They’ve gaslit the public with a propaganda campaign of mis- and disinformation,” he said. “They’ve even gone so far as to limit my ability to participate in public proceedings and have outright banned public comment.”

“This final proposal returns both parties to their rightful roles under Arizona law,” Heap said. “It’s not just a fix — it’s a return to the rule of law.”

Heap warned that the absence of a legal SSA seriously risks the upcoming elections. “Arizona’s most populous county currently has no SSA in place — jeopardizing election readiness and security,” he said. “We are staring down the possibility of a repeat of the chaos that has defined Maricopa elections in recent years.”

“Ensuring that voters can have confidence in the process and outcome of our elections is the civil rights issue of our time,” Heap emphasized. “I was elected with a clear mandate. Voters are tired of our elections being the laughingstock of the nation, and they want them fixed immediately.”

Heap signaled that he would not tolerate further delays. “If the Board continues to play childish games with the security and integrity of our elections, I will exercise every available remedy under the law to prevent them from further eroding public trust.”

Despite anticipating continued resistance and media attacks, Heap pledged to stay focused on the mission voters elected him to carry out.

“No matter how many lies the Board may choose to spread about me and my office, I will stay focused on delivering more secure, more honest, and more transparent elections,” Heap added.

The Board of Supervisors has not yet publicly responded to the proposal or Heap’s accusations.

Merissa Hamilton with EZAZ said on X, “Heap’s SSA has a strong focus on statutory integrity — returning the responsibilities the BOS took in the 2024 absurd SSA led by now Chairman Thomas Galvin.” Hamilton then detailed why this proposed SSA would “restore election integrity.” You can read her explanation here.