A larger-than-usual crowd gathered inside the Supervisors’ Auditorium in downtown Phoenix today, Wednesday, November 16th, to attend the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ Formal Meeting. It was the first formal meeting of the Board since midterm elections were held on Nov. 8th.
Board Chairman and Supervisor for District 3, Bill Gates, led the meeting through its regular Agenda of items scheduled for a vote by the Board—on matters ranging from planning and zoning requests to liquor license applications, procurement services, intergovernmental agreements, easement abandonments and library donations—before moving on to the Public Comment section of the meeting.
Members of the public who had signed up to speak prior to the start of today’s meeting were invited by Chairman Gates to come up to the podium to comment on any topic they wished for up to two minutes. Ordinarily, only a handful of participants—if any—take up the Chairman’s invitation to speak at a Board of Supervisors’ Formal Meeting. But because this was the first meeting following the closely-watched midterms, the list of scheduled speakers this morning was exceptionally long. By the end of the two-hour-long meeting, a total of 30 individuals came forward to address Board members with their concerns before Board members themselves shared their thoughts and the assembly was adjourned by Chairman Gates.
All but one of the comments were regarding the recent elections. The overwhelming majority of comments were critical, expressing disappointment and discouragement with what they saw, citing “problems” and irregularities witnessed on Election Day. Some of the speakers identified themselves as poll workers, poll watchers, poll officials or clerks. Others introduced themselves as candidates who were on the ballot. Some, such as Nancy Schriber, Chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party, expressed appreciation for the “integrity” and “transparency” of the Arizona elections process. Most of those present expressed their disapproval and frustration—one man even shouting from the podium at Board members. Some called on members to “repent” or face the Judgment of God. One gentleman by the name of Chris Hamlet who said he was on the ballot as a Mesa School Board candidate pointedly referred to the entire group of Supervisors as “the epitome of weak, corrupt men”.
Although at times he resorted to gently rebuking audience members for their “outbursts” and periodic applause, Chairman Gates thanked everyone at the conclusion of the meeting for their “civility” and participation, especially thanking veterans for their service as Veterans Day was observed a few days ago.
Earlier in the meeting, a video was shared honoring Army veteran and Director of Nursing at Maricopa County Correctional Health Services, Vincent Gales. Newly-re-elected Clerk of the Court Jeff Fine led the prayer of invocation and pledge of allegiance, after which Chairman Gates remarked, “That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard the Pledge of Allegiance said in this auditorium.”
The next Formal Meeting–the final one for 2022–of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will be on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 9:30 am in the Supervisors Auditorium, 205 W. Jefferson, Phoenix. It is open to the public.
Note regarding the video below:
The meeting begins at 4:15. The Public Comment section begins at 36:30 and runs until 1:51:00 when Chairman Gates transitions to the Current Events section, during which members of the Board each offer personal comments, observations and opinions until Gates adjourns the meeting at 2:05:23. (As you will see, even the Supervisors’ personal remarks at the end of the meeting are filled with passion and emotion.)