MOHAVE COUNTY – Split votes in selecting a new Chairman and canvasing the Nov. 3 general election results highlighted Monday’s Mohave County Board of Supervisors meeting in Kingman. It began with Dist. 2 Sup. Hildy Angius’ motion to appoint Dist. 5 Sup. Ron Gould as Chairman for the next year as the Board has generally rotated in new leadership annually.
The Board rejected the motion by a 3-2 vote, with Angius and Gould in the minority. Angius then expressed concerns when Dist. 1 Sup. Gary Watson subsequently nominated Dist. 3 Sup. Buster Johnson to serve as Chair and Gould as Vice-Chair.
Angius was worried that Johnson might not keep the Call to the Public provision for Board meetings and might stage meetings once, rather than twice each month. Deputy County attorney Ryan Esplin noted those decisions are made by the entire Board rather than its Chairman.
Angius also expressed concern that Johnson hasn’t attended meetings in person in months. Johnson said he would attend in person if appointed Chairman, and he was by unanimous vote.
The Board was deadlocked 2-2 on the vote canvas after Watson left the meeting in progress due to another commitment. Watson called back into the meeting by telephone to break the tie.
The Board voted to delay the canvas and instead conduct it during a special meeting scheduled next Monday. Angius and Gould were uncomfortable making the Mohave County result official when ballot counting continues in Maricopa County and legal challenges are pending across the country.
Angius said the county election results are not in question but that holding off on the canvas signals a stand of solidarity on the bigger picture and cloud hanging over the outcome of the Presidential contest. She made clear that the canvas delay does not in any way cast negative light on how county officials, departments and volunteers handled the election.
“Thank you for the great job that you did,” Angius told Elections Director Allen Tempert. “I think everybody agrees on that.”
Tempert conceded that were some glitches, but he expressed pride in the team effort that tabulated 105,000 ballots.
“The challenges have been just unbelievable. It’s been because of COVID and even more so than that, it’s been the false information that’s out there. Social media is the downfall of so many things.”
Tempert asserted that a system of checks and balances, and a mix of procedural safeguards preserve the integrity of the county election results. And he said five people were monitoring his efforts and that more observers than ever before were watching the ballot counting efforts.
Gould suggested observers should engage in the same training as election workers so they would be better informed and prepared for duty. Angius suggested more press releases and county use of social media might help counter election misinformation.
The Board did approve the canvas of local school district races and ballot questions, because they are not part of ongoing ballot tabulation or outcome challenge.
Dave Hawkins
