Republican Tammy Ontiveros will flip the Coconino County District 3 Supervisor’s seat, with a 908-vote lead of 8,446 votes to 7,528 over Democratic incumbent Adam Hess as of press time.
Hess conceded the race in a Veterans Day speech at the Sedona Historical Museum on Nov. 11.
“I’m really hoping to throw my name in the hat to become the Junior ROTC instructor at Coconino High School,” Hess said. “So that’s my goal, that’s my dream.”
Hess added he was also contemplating coaching wrestling and returning to work for the federal government.
“My resume after a year of being a supervisor is a lot stronger,” Hess said. “So I’m looking to see what I could get into … I’ve seen a lot of good come out of the Junior ROTC program. And it’s not necessarily military. It’s just kids that really are looking for some guidance and looking for an alternate to the normal school.”
Hess succeeded Democrat Matt Ryan, who retired after 27 years on the board, including seven terms as chairman. Ryan won his last term for District 3 in 2020 against Byron Peterson by 9,188 votes to 7,352. Hess was selected from five candidates to fill the vacancy.
Ontiveros declined to comment until the vote is canvassed by the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.
Ontiveros will be the lone Republican on the board and the only change in board membership. Vice Chairmain Patrice Horstman defeated Larry Freeman Schug 9,488 to 4,378 in District 1; Jeronimo Vasquez ran unopposed in District 2 and received 7,970 votes; Chairwoman Judy Begay earned 8,656 votes to Walter Dempsey’s 6,123 in District 4; and District 5 incumbent Lenna Fowler was reelected unopposed with 9,203 votes.
Ontiveros outpaced Hess in campaign financing, raising a total of $68,020 and spending $61,600 as of Oct. 23, against Hess’s $2,176. She also spent $44,812 in the Republican primary against Sean Golliher, who spent $4,134. Ontiveros received 2,026 votes to Golliher’s 1,111 in the primary.
The only other contested county election was the race to replace outgoing Recorder Patty Hansen, who was first elected in 2012, which saw Democrat Aubrey Sonderegger defeat Republican Bob Thorpe by 38,887 votes to 26,176. A number of Democrats ran uncontested. Deputy Sheriff Bret Axlund was elected to succeed Jim Driscoll as county sheriff with 48,750 votes. County Attorney Ammon Barker, Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget and County Treasurer Sarah Benatar will all serve another four years.
Voters approved Proposition 482 by 46,071 votes to 17,134, raising the permanent base adjustment to increase Coconino County’s spending limit “by $61.1 million from $81 million to $142 million,” according to a county publicity pamphlet.
