Cochise County
Cochise County Supervisors Seize Election Oversight Following Recorder’s Exit

The resignation of Cochise County’s recently reelected recorder, David Stevens, has thrown the county’s election oversight into uncertainty. Stevens announced his departure just two months after winning the November election and a mere ten days post-swearing in for a new four-year term, offering no insight into his reasons.
The resignation places significant authority in the hands of the county’s board of supervisors, which is now tasked with appointing Stevens’ replacement for the next two years. The county recently experienced turmoil during the previous presidential election, marked by ballot preparation and counting mishaps. This shift to an all-Republican board, now led by returning supervisor Tom Crosby and two newly elected members, sets the stage for potential changes.
With the appointment of a new recorder, the supervisors will influence critical aspects of the 2026 election, including voter roll maintenance, drop box locations, and the processes for ballot counting and auditing. These issues have recently been hotly contested in the county.
In interviews just before his resignation, both new supervisors expressed the need for election system reforms. Frank Antenori emphasized the importance of restoring voter confidence, while also addressing previous voting glitches. Conversely, former chair of the Cochise County Democrats, Elisabeth Tyndall, voiced her concerns regarding the supervisors’ judgment in making this appointment.
Stevens had a controversial history, advocating for an expanded hand count of ballots during the 2022 midterm election, alongside fellow election skeptic Mark Finchem. This initiative culminated in an unsuccessful attempt to incorporate security measures for ballots, resulting in substantial waste of unusable paper.
The fallout from the midterm drama included a grand jury indictment of Crosby and former supervisor Peggy Judd on felony charges related to their election certification attempts. Judd’s career ended in a plea deal, while Crosby, who has pleaded not guilty, awaits trial proceedings. The chaos additionally prompted the resignation of the longtime elections director and widespread voter confidence issues.
As the county prepared for the election season, it became increasingly difficult to maintain a consistent leadership presence within the elections department. This instability led to three different directors overseeing operations, culminating with an interim leader from within county ranks handling the November election.
The election experience was marred by errors that resulted in a protracted counting process, despite the final tally being deemed accurate. Antenori is currently seeking quotes for new equipment, including a ballot tabulator, to ensure smoother operations in the future.
Both new supervisors showed continued interest in hand-counting ballots, viewing it as a necessary measure to enhance transparency. With Stevens’ resignation effective February 28, the board faces pressure to appoint someone with both electoral experience and a commitment to community engagement in the appointment process.
Tyndall stressed the need for an experienced successor, worried that the lack of qualified leadership would perpetuate previous election issues. Antenori remains optimistic that the existing staff will support the transition, highlighting the importance of a candidate who understands both the economic and campaign facets of the recorder’s role.