MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave County is losing significant human capital and tenured talent in a quick period of time. Luke Mournian formally tendered his resignation as Chief Financial Officer on Wednesday, January 21.
“As we have discussed, there are a number of personal reasons behind my decision,” Mournian said in his exit letter to County Manager Sam Elters. “Optimally, the effective end of my employment will be no later than April 30, but my desire is for the county to begin recruiting for my replacement immediately with the goal of an expedited transition. My intent is to support a smooth transition in any way possible.”
Mournian’s resignation comes the day after the Board of Supervisors approved a succession plan that will promote Deputy Elections Director Karina Sumner to Interim Director on March 1, three months before veteran Elections Director Allen Tempert retires on July 4, one month before the Aug. 4 primary election.
Sumner will be promoted to Director on July 5, and Elters said money is being budgeted to retain Tempert’s assistance, as needed, in conducting the primary and the November general election.
While Tempert’s exit comes on the eve of the 2026 election season, Mournian puts the county in his rearview mirror heading into annual development of the spending plan.
“Most of the work related to the county’s annual budget takes place prior to the budget workshop, which is scheduled for April 15,” Mournian’s resignation letter said. “It is not my intent to derail this critical process, and in the event a transition has not taken place by April 30, I am willing to extend my employment.”
Elters is in the same position after expressing desire to retire by Jan. 31. The board extended Elter’s potential employment to July during its Jan. 20 meeting. Elters had indicated many times he’d stay on board longer, if necessary.
The county hunt for a new chief administrator was set back when the board’s first choice, Brenton Davis declined the county employment offer first tendered Jan. 5. The board next selected David Strahl of Illinois as its second County Manager choice on Jan.13.
Strahl rejected the initial county offer and proposed a counteroffer. The Board on Jan. 20 directed staff to send Strahl another counteroffer.
Where the offer and counteroffer process stands with Strahl is not publicly known at press time.
