PHOENIX — A candidate vying to be in charge of how the county processes and stores millions of records — property deeds, maps and voter registration files — has a history of not being able to keep track of his own records.
Justin Heap is running in the Republican Primary race for Maricopa County Recorder against incumbent Stephen Richer and challenger Don Hiatt.
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Heap has a history of mishaps involving documents and records.
- Campaign finance documents show he submitted four of nine campaign finance reports late, including one 43 days late.
- In April the Secretary of State’s Office submitted a referral to the Attorney General alleging there was “reasonable cause” to believe Heap violated campaign finance laws for other donations not listed in 2023 totaling $2,500.
- When Heap was pulled over for a traffic violation in April of this year, public records show he was cited for having “no current vehicle registration.”
- Another traffic violation in 2017 showed Heap had no valid driver’s license.
Last year, 12News reported on records showing Heap, as a state legislator, told a lobbyist he would prioritize visits based on who donated to his campaign.
Heap then told 12News he scheduled the meeting with the lobbyist anyways, suggesting it wasn’t about donations. However, the lobbyist and Heap’s own emails contradicted Heap’s statement.
“He has ethical problems, as well as organizational, management,” said longtime east-Valley Republican activist Tyler Montague who is supporting the incumbent Richer. Montague says he believes a candidate’s ability to keep his personal records in order reflects a larger issue. “If you’re running to say you’re going to be more competent as recorder than the current recorder, but you can’t file your own paperwork? That’s a problem.”
Heap did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Richer has taken to social media to attack Heap’s record.
The stakes in the race are high. The Recorder also oversees voter registration, mail-in ballots, and other aspects of elections.
Protests and false conspiracies dogged the past two election cycles locally and nationally, leading to death threats against election workers.
Richer, who came into office after the 2020 election, has staunchly defended his office’s handling of the 2022 election.
“We have never lost a court case. If you have a problem with how we administer the election, then sue,” Richer said during a debate last week. “But we have won every court case because we follow the law.”
Challenger Don Hiatt, an IT professional, is running on the false claim the last two elections were stolen.
“I’m the data guy, okay? I’m the person who knows what’s going on behind the scenes,” Hiatt said.
Heap does not use the word “stolen,” but does not accept the results.
“As a civil liberties attorney I don’t make statements that I can’t prove,” he said. “We need to have honest and direct people who are going to fix it.”
A national democracy watchdog - States United Democracy Center – is also watching the race closely.
Researcher Kelly Rader says if a candidate does not acknowledge outcome of past elections, they represent a threat to free and fair elections in the future.
“Justin Heap is a great example of why it’s important to keep tabs of how the election denial movement has evolved. It started at the top but now the movement has made its way to the smallest levels of government,” Rader said.
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