Courtesy photo.
COCONINO COUNTY — At their regular meeting on Tuesday June 4, 2024, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board) elected District 4 Supervisor Judy Begay to serve as Chair and District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman to serve as Vice-Chair through the end of 2024.
This will be each Supervisor’s first time serving in each of these leadership positions. Chair Begay has served as Vice-Chair since August 2023, Vice-Chair Horstman previously served as Chair from February 2022 until August 2023.
Chair Begay was first elected to the Board in 2020, after serving over 14 years as a public-school Board Member in Tuba City, as well as several other non-profit organizations. She also has experience in management and supervision of health programs, school administration, facilities management, roads and infrastructure, and public housing.
“I first want to thank the Board. My father said to me, ‘never forget your culture or where you come from.’ At a young age I got up every morning to take care of the sheep, cattle, horses, and goats, and brought in water for my family. It was hard work, but it had to be done. That kind of early discipline prepared me to excel in higher education. This made me a well-rounded person and someone who is able to take on this leadership responsibility. Growing up on the Navajo Nation I never thought I would be in this position, serving on this Board,” said Begay. “I love public service, which is what serving on the Coconino County Board of Supervisors is all about. Again, I want to thank my colleagues for their faith in me to take on this leadership responsibility.”
Vice-Chair Horstman was also elected to the Board in 2020 after many years as an attorney in Flagstaff, co-founding the law practice of Hufford, Horstman, Mongini, Parnell, and Tucker P.C. She has also been active in numerous non-profit organizations, state and local boards and commissions, and community activities including serving as president of both the Coconino County Bar Association and Northern Arizona Women’s Lawyer Association.
Outgoing Chairman Jeronimo Vasquez, Supervisor for District 2, praised and congratulated both of his colleagues as he ceremoniously passed the gavel.
“I look forward to Chair Begay’s leadership of this Board,” said Vasquez. “I appreciate all of the support I received from my colleagues and County staff during my time as Chair, and I am happy to continue representing District 2 on this Board.”
“I want to acknowledge the great work Supervisor Vasquez has done for the County as Chair of the Board, guiding us through the most recent annual budget process as well as the leadership transition in the County Manager’s Office,” added Vice-Chair Horstman. “I also want to say that I appreciate the care and concern he has shown the staff and our fellow Board members while leading us through some very challenging times.”
The Board of Supervisors will next meet on Tuesday, June 11 in Executive Session at 3 p.m. with the Regular Meeting beginning at 6 p.m. Agendas and links to stream the meetings live can be found on the County’s website: https://www.coconino.az.gov/1589/BOS-Video-Stream