PHOENIX — “It's a hugely important race," is how Arizona political analyst Chuck Coughlin describes the race for Maricopa County Recorder in November.
Tuesday night, GOP incumbent Stephen Richer lost his primary to Arizona Republican Legislator Justin Heap. On the Democratic side, veteran and political newcomer Tim Stringham ran in his primary unopposed.
The recorder position has historically not garnered national attention from both sides of the aisle. However, in the last four years, the position has been under the microscope amid allegations that the 2020 election was stolen, a claim touted by former President Donald Trump.
“It's a conspiratorial rumor hatched within the confines of the internet, which gives it legs and shows how much disinformation there is out there," Coughlin said.
12News reached out to both Heap and Stringham to learn why they want to hold the elected office. Heap did not respond to our request to speak with him. Stringham did and said he is running a campaign to restore transparency in the office and prioritize everyone's right to vote.
“You can vote how you want to vote. We're here to protect your right to vote," Stringham told 12News.
With election security at the forefront of the conversation with the position, Heap has stopped short of claiming any previous election in Arizona was stolen.
“As a civil liberties attorney, I don’t make statements that I can’t prove, but what I can say is two things: that there were inconsistencies and illegalities that went on. I do not believe that laws were followed," Heap said at a recorder debate earlier this year.
Stringham believes the recorder positions should not be a partisan one, and says he wants to engage in a dialogue with prospective voters who say election conspiracy theories are true.
“I think we need to have an open dialog about how we reach the conclusions that we're reaching. If you think elections, you know, are just rigged, it's going to be a long conversation," Stringham said.
Coughlin agrees and tells 12News that the best person for the job is someone who can bridge the divide and assure voters in Maricopa County that their vote will be counted and collected accurately.
“It's a can we do better? Can we make it more transparent? Yeah, I'd like to work with you. I'd like to put you on my election watch board, and so you too can learn about what's going on," Coughlin said of what can be done.
“What's important here is that we make sure we have a system where you believe you can win, not that guarantees you a win, but gives you the hope that in two years, you can convince some new minds and vote a different way," Stringham said.
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