Arizona County Elections Director Resigns, Citing Political Interference

An Arizona county elections director has made a bold move by resigning from her position, citing politicization of elections and a toxic work environment. Geraldine Roll, who took charge of overseeing the recount process after the 2022 midterm election, expressed her dissatisfaction with County Manager Leo Lew and the lack of support she received.

In a scathing email sent on Tuesday, Roll announced her resignation, stating that she had lost respect for her superiors and could no longer work for someone who did not support her. She criticized the toxic work environment fostered by the county manager and the Board of Supervisors, emphasizing that the Elections Department should not be politicized.

Roll accused the county manager and the Board of Supervisors of prioritizing “irrational, extremist political party views and rhetoric” over impartiality and dedicated work. She questioned how clean elections could be delivered when politics seemed to take precedence over the administration of elections.

Throughout her career, Roll claimed she had never faced such ridicule, disrespect, intimidation, and attacks on her reputation and ethics as she had in recent months. Her resignation comes at a time of ongoing scrutiny and partisan tension surrounding election administration in various counties across Arizona.

County Manager Responds

Roll’s resignation has sparked a response from County Manager Leo Lew. While he thanked Roll for her service during challenging times and acknowledged the improvements she identified and began to implement in the Elections Department, he disagreed with her assessment. Lew recognized her as an impactful public servant and wished her the best in her future endeavors.

Roll, who had been with Pinal County since 2013 and previously served as a deputy county attorney, had not yet overseen any elections in her role as the elections director. During her tenure as a deputy county attorney, she provided legal counsel and guidance to various departments within the county.

Elections Scrutiny

Roll took over as Pinal County’s elections director, replacing Virginia Ross, who was transferred to another role. The resignation adds to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding election administration in Arizona.