Hello Neighbors, As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of how fortunate we are to live in a such a safe and thriving community. We own a special debt of gratitude to our veterans, sheriff’s deputies, and all our first responders who bravely serve and protect us. May this season bring peace, joy, and renewed appreciation for all we’ve accomplished together. Judge Rules in Favor of Board of Supervisors in Elections Lawsuit! A Maricopa County Superior Court judge recently rejected Recorder Justin Heap’s request to halt the Board of Supervisors audit of the county’s voter registration system and election technology. Election integrity is important to me. As Chairman, I promised in January that we would undertake a thorough, comprehensive review of our elections procedures, processes, and IT systems. I’m committed to transparency and am glad, but not surprised, we won this frivolous filing in the courts. You can click the picture below to read the full story from AZCentral. Read more from 12News, KJZZ, Phoenix New Times, and VoteBeat. D2 Highlights My Joint Statement with Vice Chair Brophy McGee on Melendres Filing Since joining the Board of Supervisors, I have remained committed to protecting Maricopa County taxpayers. I have repeatedly raised concerns about the lengthy and costly federal oversight of the Sheriff’s office. In a court filing on Friday, November 22, we outlined how the County’s budgeting policies are not subject to federal jurisdiction. Instead, our budgeting policies are accountable to YOU, the County taxpayers. Read the Full Statement Thanking Our Emergency Management Heroes! When I think of what I am grateful for this year, I find myself especially thankful for the great men and women of our Maricopa County Emergency Management Department. This team has gone above and beyond during the significant storms our region faced this fall. Please click the picture below to enjoy a video highlighting the work of this exceptional team! Honoring Our Veterans I was honored to present our two highly decorated speakers for this year’s Maricopa County Veteran’s Day Ceremony. Detective Robert Lopez had a distinguished military service career before joining the Tempe Police Department. Lt. Ryan Neville called the military a family business before joining the Sheriff’s Office. I thank both these gentlemen, and all our veterans, for their selfless and courageous service. Commemorating the New Southeast Juvenile Building Grand Opening It was an honor to celebrate the opening of the much-improved Maricopa County Southeast Juvenile Justice Facility. The renovation and enhancements of the more than 235,000 square foot facility came in $600,000 under budget! Congratulations to Presiding Judge Pamela Gates and Juvenile Presiding Judge Lori Bustamante. The Board of Supervisors is proud to approve the funding for this worthy project! Speaking at the Arizona Chamber Board Meeting This month, I spoke at the Arizona Chamber of Commerce’s Board Meeting. I was proud to let these local leaders know that Maricopa County is being run like the efficient and successful business it is! Arcadia Osborn Neighborhood Association Fall Festival It was wonderful meeting so many of you at the Arcadia Osborn Neighborhood Association Fall Festival! The event was full of great food, fun activities, and valuable resources for our community to explore. D2 is Open for Business! This month, Michele from our District 2 office attended the grand opening of Creative Hands Cuisine in Fountain Hills! Santa has come to town in Scottsdale! This month, Taylor from our District 2 office joined a recent Scottsdale Chamber event where Santa himself cut the ribbon on the start of his season as the official “Scottsdale Santa.” Congratulations to Mesa’s T.C. Eggington’s Brunchery for celebrating 40 years in business! Michele and Taylor from our office attended the celebration! In the News November Pup-date with Paw-litics! Meet Butterfly! This energetic pup was my latest co-host on Paw-litics, my ongoing video series designed to keep you up to date with what’s going on at the County, while showing off one of the adoptable dogs in our County shelters. Click the picture below to watch the latest video! My First Time on the Upfront Planning Podcast! It was great to join the Upfront Planning Podcast to discuss business development, affordable housing, and so much more. Thank you to host, Jessica Sarkissian for having me! ¡Gracias por invitarme, Univision! Thank you for having me, Univision! I had a wonderful time joining host, Heidi Renpenning, for Al Punto to discuss the latest news at Maricopa County. Things to do in District 2! “Lights of Love” Returns to the East Valley! If you’re looking for some holiday cheer this Christmas Season, Sunshine Acres in Mesa is hosting a drive-thru Christmas Lights display. This free, festive lights display is fun for the whole family! Nonprofit Spotlight United Food Bank For more than 40 years, United Food Bank has been a beacon of hope for those experiencing hunger in Arizona. United Food Bank covers a service area of nearly 20,000 square miles, including some of the most remote parts of our state. This Mesa-based food bank is a lifeline for those working to make ends meet and keep their families fed. United Food Bank What to Chew in District 2 Local Favorite: Greek Café Mix Cafe Mix is a family-friendly, locally owned Greek restaurant in Apache Junction. Check out a varies of favorites including gyros, salads, kabobs, baba ghanoush, and spanakopita. Enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere and fun twists on classic flavors at this AJ favorite! Greek Café Mix What to Chew in District 2 Form District 2 is on a mission to spotlight the district’s tastiest food. Whether you’re a new restaurant, a food truck, or a local staple that’s been around forever, please fill out the below form so we can follow up with you about potentially showcasing your story in our newsletter.