Coconino News

At the 2022 annual conference of the Arizona Association of Counties (AACo), Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar was elected to serve as President of the Board of Directors and will assume the role on January 1, 2023.

She is the youngest county representative to serve as Board President since AACo’s founding in 1967 and the first woman from Coconino County. As President of AACo’s Board of Directors, Treasurer Benatar will be the voice for all county elected officials from Arizona’s 15 counties. She is preparing for the next year of advocating for our counties, building new relationships, and the preparing for the possibility for change. 2023 could be an interesting year for our state legislature as it’s been 16 years since the State elected a Democratic Governor. We will have the most freshman legislators in several years, and both chambers will have Republican majorities under new leadership.  “AACo is a voice for all counties on key issues important to our communities, from tax policy to public safety and elections. It is essential that counties have a seat at the table during legislative discussions on important issues facing Arizona residents. Counties understand firsthand the daily challenges faced by Arizona residents, and I am honored to lead AACo as we work to improve our communities through legislation and partnerships that will put our communities first, Benatar commented. “I will also continue to be a voice for our county and Arizona at the National Association of Counties (NACo), voting for policies and resolutions that will support not only Coconino County but all of Arizona in the work we do.” Treasurer Benatar has served in several leadership roles and committees across the state and at the national level, serving as a voice for Coconino County and rural communities. Most recently she served on the NACo Health Policy Steering Committee, which has lead mental health advocacy efforts including the recent behavioral health advocacy letter to Congress that recommends amending or repealing the Medicaid Inmate and Institution for Mental Disease Exclusion Policies and providing funding to support and recruit local efforts in crisis response and behavioral health workforce.  “It's truly an honor to have the vote and confidence of my colleagues across the state in this role as President. AACo represents all 15 counties, as well as all county elected officials, including Assessors, County Attorneys, Clerks of Superior Court, Constables, Justices of the Peace, Recorders, School Superintendents, Sheriffs, Supervisors, and Treasurers. I look forward to working together to improve our communities and access to resources for all of Arizonashe added. Treasurer Benatar has served as Coconino County Treasurer since being appointed to fill the remainder of her predecessor’s term in 2014, then winning elections in 2016 and 2020. She is the youngest person to serve as a County Treasurer in Arizona’s history, and the fifth representative from Coconino County to serve as Board President joining familiar names as Robert Prochnow, Tio Tachias, John Verkamp, and Terry Hance.  Read her full bio at https://coconino.az.gov/740/Meet-the-Treasurer  The Arizona Association of Counties (AACo) is the only state organization that represents all county officials and the governments they serve in the State of Arizona. AACo advances issues with the state and federal government, improves the public understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.

Original source can be found here.