Cavanaugh Ignites Fresh Election Uncertainty Right on Time

Hours before primary polls open, Pinal County Supervisor Kevin Cavanaugh has sparked controversy by casting doubts on the election process. During a town hall at Copper Sky Multigenerational Center on June 29, 2024, Cavanaugh raised concerns over the storage and security of ballot tabulating machines.

In an email to InMaricopa, Cavanaugh highlighted potential issues with a tabulating machine stored outside public view since the presidential preference election in March. He emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “By taking reasonable steps now, we can preclude rumors of election problems with regard to the spare tabulator later and help citizens to have more confidence in Pinal County Elections.”

To support his claim, Cavanaugh attached audio recordings of phone calls with election operators. He requested that all spare tabulators be moved to areas monitored by cameras for public visibility. Minutes later, Deputy Director of Elections Matthew Roberts confirmed the tabulator’s relocation to a viewable area in the new Pinal County Elections building.

This marks the fourth time this year Cavanaugh has made headlines regarding election integrity. In April, he called for the removal of Pinal County Recorder Dana Lewis over allegedly defamatory information and potential bias.

County Attorney Kent Volkmer dismissed Cavanaugh’s previous claims, stating there was “no substantiated concern” and that the allegations were proven incorrect.

Meanwhile, Cavanaugh’s campaign is also under fire from his primary opponent, Ross Teeple. In an interview with the SB Insider, Teeple accused Cavanaugh of using false claims to undermine opponents. Teeple cited a pamphlet distributed to constituents last week, alleging unsubstantiated accusations by Cavanaugh.

“Cavanaugh does have a history of using last-minute smear mailers in previous campaigns,” Teeple said. He recalled a past incident where Cavanaugh falsely accused an opponent of child molestation during a Justice of the Peace race. Teeple also questioned Cavanaugh’s military service and noted his refusal to undergo a background check while working for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

As the primary approaches, tensions between the candidates continue to escalate, with both focusing on accusations rather than policy discussions.