PHOENIX (Jan. 5, 2026) – Marking a significant milestone, Kate Brophy McGee became the first woman to lead the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in nearly 25 years. Elected unanimously by her peers, Brophy McGee outlined ambitious plans for the county, focusing on eviction prevention, mental health services, election integrity, and sustainable development.
“Your county government is already doing a lot of things right: keeping the property tax rate low; following constitutionally mandated spending limits; and making long-term investments that improve government service and promote community well-being,” said Brophy McGee. She represents supervisorial district 3, covering much of Phoenix and its northern suburbs, including Anthem, Cave Creek, Carefree, New River, and Desert Hills. She pledged to maintain fiscal responsibility while meeting service demands.
In the year ahead, Brophy McGee intends to prioritize issues affecting residents’ quality of life, emphasizing housing security and community safety.
Evictions
In 2025, Maricopa County Justice Courts handled over 80,000 eviction cases, continuing a trend above this figure for three consecutive years. Under Brophy McGee’s direction, the county will introduce new measures to help families remain in their homes. This includes a collaborative pilot program with the City of Phoenix aimed at developing effective, sustainable interventions. “Together, we’re going to build a model that works,” she asserted.
Public Safety and Mental Health
Public safety takes up nearly half of Maricopa County’s annual budget. Brophy McGee is committed to collaborating with Presiding Judge Pam Gates to tackle delays in admitting seriously mentally ill individuals into treatment. “By working together, we can strengthen this process and better ensure timely access to care for people during their time of greatest need,” she stated.
The chair also intends to focus on law enforcement funding and aims to resolve the federal oversight of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office through the court system.
Infrastructure
Rapid regional growth was identified as a major concern in a recent survey of Maricopa County residents. Brophy McGee emphasized the county’s role in ensuring sufficient water, road, and drainage infrastructure for new developments. She highlighted a streamlined permitting process and a modernized zoning ordinance as foundational steps for future work.
“We’re going to put in place Infrastructure Readiness Assessments so we can get early visibility into unincorporated county areas where capacity is lagging, and we will make this information easier for the public to access with a Development Pipeline Dashboard,” Brophy McGee explained. “This dashboard will provide a real-time view of development activity and associated infrastructure so we all know what’s happening in our neighborhoods.”
Elections
Maricopa County will conduct four elections in 2026, including the midterms in August and November. This year, the County will also publish the findings of an independent election process review. “Where auditors have identified ways we can be better, we’ll move swiftly to make those changes,” Brophy McGee remarked. She also called on the County Recorder to address why more voters had their signatures rejected in the November 2025 election, emphasizing the need for eligible voters to be able to participate in future elections.
A Momentous Time
Despite stating her intent to focus on the “boring business of good government,” Brophy McGee’s appointment is notable. She is the first female chair since Jan Brewer in 2001, who attended the Passing of the Gavel ceremony alongside other notable Arizona female leaders.
“When we follow the example of these trailblazing leaders—when we do the hard thing, when we refuse to give into political pressure—we are doing what the founders intended and what American democracy demands,” Brophy McGee said.
For more details on Chair Brophy McGee’s objectives, visit the District 3 website at Maricopa.gov/District3.
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