Courtesy photo.
COCONINO COUNTY — Each year, the Board of Supervisors elects a Chair and Vice Chair. The Board unanimously agreed at the February 8 meeting to elect Supervisor Patrice Horstman, District 1, as Chair of the Board, and Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez, District 2, as Vice Chair.
Horstman joined the Board of Supervisors in January 2021, following her election in November 2020. A long-time resident of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona, Supervisor Horstman is a lawyer by trade, cofounding the law firm Hufford Horstman P.C., focusing on Indian law, education law, employment law, municipal law, non-profit law, and healthcare law. She has been active in numerous non-profit organizations, state and local boards and commissions, and community activities as a citizen of Flagstaff. She replaces Supervisor Matt Ryan, District 3, who served as Board Chair since January 2021.
Vasquez joined the Board of Supervisors in February 2021 following the resignation of former Supervisor Liz Archuleta, who resigned to serve in the Biden Administration. His background is in education, serving at Killip Elementary School for 14 years. He worked on special projects and before-and-after-school programming during his tenure, securing key STEM grants and afterschool funding. A longtime resident, he is a Coconino High School Panther and graduate of Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in Botany Studies and a Master of Social Cultural Anthropology. He is a father of four children and a grandfather of two.
He is preceded by Supervisor Lena Fowler, District 5, who has served as Vice Chair since March 2020, and was the first Native American woman to serve as Chair of the Board.
“I am grateful to serve with wonderful colleagues on the Board of Supervisors,” said Chair-Elect Horstman. “We are an outcome-oriented team that is focused on the needs of our residents across all areas of Coconino County. Supervisor Ryan did a great job as Board Chair with navigating the COVID Response and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. His leadership has been very much appreciated and valued. I also want to thank Supervisor Fowler for her extended service as Vice Chair, and both for their service during a challenging period. I look forward to building on the successes we achieved during their tenure.”
“Serving on the Board of Supervisors under the leadership of Chair Ryan and Vice Chair Fowler has truly been a success for our County,” noted Vice Chair-Elect Vasquez. “I learned from both of my colleagues, and I look forward to assuming a leadership role for the Board. I congratulate Chair-Elect Horstman on her election and look forward to assisting her in leading the Board. I also want to thank and recognize Supervisor Ryan and Supervisor Fowler for their leadership and service as Chair and Vice Chair.”
Chair-Elect Horstman and Vice Chair-Elect Vasquez will assume their new leadership roles during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, February 22. To view an agenda with a meeting link, please visit: https://www.coconino.az.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02222022-5583.
