Stringham and Heap Vye for Maricopa County Recorder Spot

The Maricopa County Recorder race may be the most crucial local race on the ballot this year. Between overseeing voter registration, early voting, and election integrity, the Recorder ensures public trust in the election process. This week, an alarming error involving nearly 100,000 voter records in Maricopa County further underscores the importance of having competent leadership in this position.

In the most recent Arizona Public Opinion Pulse (AZPOP) poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights (NPI), the Maricopa County recorder race appears to be razer close. The poll, conducted between August 12-16, 2024, surveyed 1,003 registered voters in Arizona, including 595 from Maricopa County. The data shows that Democrat Tim Stringham led Republican Justin Heap by just four percentage points, with Stringham at 38% and Heap at 34%. The poll claims Independent voters are breaking for Stringham, 35% for the Democrat compared to 20% for Heap. The margin of error for Maricopa County voters is ± 4.02%, and this poll is from a month ago, so voters may have shifted their positions.

Voters will not have the opportunity to see Justin Heap and Tim Stringham face off in a debate ahead of the Maricopa County Recorder election. When asked by The Arizona Globe about Heap’s decision to skip the debates, Stringham responded that Heap “must be confident that voters can get the information they need from other sources.”

Heap did, however, participate in a primary debate alongside fellow Republican candidates Don Hiatt and incumbent Stephen Richer, which Clean Elections hosted. During the primary debate, Heap focused on issues like election integrity and reform, which continue to define his campaign according to his website.

Voters can also get a glimpse of Heap’s policies by watching an interview that AZPBS conducted during the primary. Heap also gave a speech at a Turning Point Action event that can be viewed here.

Heap declined to participate in this interview, so the responses included will reflect only those from the Democrat.

Stringham confirmed to The Globe that he was once a McCain Republican before shifting to the Democratic Party. “I am not overly partisan,” he explained, adding that he believes most people share a similar mindset. While acknowledging that Arizona is “still a Republican state,” Stringham was candid about his decision to stay in the race. He revealed that if incumbent Stephen Richer had won the Republican primary, he would have stepped aside. Stringham stressed the importance of honesty when seeking donations, stating that because Justin Heap won the primary, he “knows he will win.”

When asked about the Republican desire to switch to same-day voting, eliminate voting centers, and discontinue the use of machines, Stringham emphasized the importance of addressing the practical implications. “It’s crucial to communicate the reality of the situation,” he said. Stringham pointed out that while these changes may sound appealing to some Republicans, the key question is who will bear the financial burden. “If the legislature enacts these changes—shifting to same-day, precinct voting and eliminating mail-in voting—who is going to pay for it?” Stringham asked.

Stringham discussed Richer’s habit of being vocal on social media. He said, “Richer was often defensive when addressing criticisms on social media.” In contrast, Stringham emphasized the importance of clear, open communication and transparency in office. He believes that listening to voter concerns and directly addressing those issues is key to maintaining trust. While Stringham acknowledges that “Richer cared deeply about the role.”

Stringham said the deciding factor in the election will likely come down to trust. “The voters of Maricopa County are going to elect someone they can trust to lead an important office in a responsible manner, not someone with a partisan or radical agenda,” he said. His message to voters is clear: this race is about electing an honest and responsible leader who can handle the complexities of the county’s elections without politicizing the role.

Stringham believes his unique qualifications come from his military background, having served nearly 15 years as an officer in both the United States Army and Navy. “I’ve led soldiers and sailors on four continents, including developing human rights programs abroad,” he said, underscoring his experience in managing large teams. This leadership experience, he argues, is crucial for overseeing the County Recorder’s Office, which has over 100 full-time employees and thousands of temporary workers. Stringham said, “voters will favor a candidate who can handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the office with experience and professionalism, rather than someone who is focused on pushing a partisan agenda.”

Stringham also recognizes the importance of winning over independent voters, “a key demographic in this election.” His message to them is that government institutions, especially elections, should serve all citizens, not just a particular political party or point of view. “As a member of the Armed Forces, I have spent 15 years serving in a truly non-partisan manner and leading diverse teams towards common goals,” he said. For Stringham, “the Recorder’s Office is about executing governance efficiently, transparently, and responsibly, rather than making policy or shaping state law.”

If elected, Stringham has two main priorities for reform. First, he wants to tackle deed fraud, a growing issue in Maricopa County. “Deed fraud may only affect a small handful of people county-wide, but I’ve met Arizonans who have had their homes sold out from under them,” he explained. While the Recorder’s Office has already taken steps like launching a Title Alert notification system, Stringham believes more can be done to prevent white-collar crime without slowing down legitimate business transactions. His second priority is to continue maintaining and improving the county’s voter rolls, ensuring elections are efficient, accessible, and secure. “A lot of that work isn’t about broad policy proposals, but rather the day-to-day tasks of workflow management, hiring decisions, and budget allocation,” he noted.

Justin Heap outlines six key priorities on his campaign website: restoring voter confidence, following the law, respecting voters, ending conflicts of interest, cleaning up voter rolls, and delivering faster election results.

If Mr. Heap would like to share further insights into these priorities or discuss his vision for the role, we would welcome the opportunity to sit down with him for an interview before the election.

Tim Stringham’s PBS interview can be found here.

The Clean Elections debate with Stringham can be found here.