Maricopa County Supervisor Mark Stewart is facing uncomfortable questions after posting on X that “we attended” the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office “They Served Well” memorial last Friday, even though two county officials who were actually at the ceremony say he never showed. Stewart’s staff did attend, and his post featured photos and the printed program, which made his own absence hard to miss. The discrepancy is now fueling fresh doubts about the supervisor’s transparency as the board works through already contentious county business.
As reported by Phoenix New Times, Stewart wrote, “This morning we attended the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office ‘They Served Well’ Memorial,” but the outlet reports that two county government sources who were in attendance told the reporter Stewart himself was not there. According to that reporting, Supervisor Thomas Galvin was the only board member photographed at the memorial, while Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee sent in a video message. Phoenix New Times also noted it contacted Stewart’s office with questions and received no response.
What the ceremony honored
The memorial event honors sheriff’s personnel lost in the line of duty. This year, Detention Lt. Rory Milligan was memorialized. According to Maricopa County, Milligan’s death has been recognized as a line-of-duty death, and the county lists the sheriff’s headquarters at 550 West Jackson Street in downtown Phoenix. The sheriff’s office includes the “They Served Well” memorial on its events calendar each May.
Who actually attended
Only one county supervisor, Thomas Galvin, appears in public photos and social media posts from the ceremony. Thomas Galvin shared images of deputies speaking, mounted units and the printed program. Members of Stewart’s office were on hand at the event, but public images and posts do not show Stewart himself. That visual gap is what made Stewart’s “we attended” post jump out to people who were there and to reporters looking at the coverage.
Why it matters for the board
Stewart, elected in 2024 after running on skepticism about election security, has at times broken with the board’s GOP majority on election and legal matters. Phoenix New Times reported that he voted against asking a judge for a stay after the board lost a recent court battle and that he has retained private legal counsel instead of relying on the board’s attorney. Paired with an overstated social post about a solemn memorial, those moves are likely to sharpen scrutiny of Stewart from both colleagues and constituents.
In local government, even a small misstep can become a running test of how an official handles accountability. Board members and voters often watch these moments closely, and this episode is likely to come up at future meetings and public forums. The public record and Stewart’s future appearances will show whether he chooses to address the discrepancy head-on or let it hang in the background.
