La Paz County Posts Updated 2026 Statements of Interest List

La Paz County’s Elections Department published an updated list — titled “2026 Candidates Statement of Interest Filed” — on March 4, 2026 showing individuals who have filed Statements of Interest for county and local offices. The document is a one-page PDF posted to the La Paz County Document Center; the extract available to this reporter did not include the names, offices or party designations listed on that PDF.

The county’s candidate form is headed “CANDIDATE STATEMENT OF INTEREST A.R.S. § 16-311; A.R.S. § 16-341” and reproduces the declaration language candidates must sign: “You are hereby notified that I, the undersigned, hereby declare my interest to run as a candidate for the office of _______________________________________________________________, District _______________________________________________, seeking the nomination of the _____________________________ Party, at the _________________________ election to be held on Tuesday, _________________________________________________.” The printed form fields shown on the county copy include “Printed Name,” “Street Address,” “Mailing Address,” “Email Address,” “Phone Number,” and a “Signature ____________________________________ Date _________________________” line.

The candidate form also carries a statutory warning about petition signatures: “By submitting this document, I understand that any nomination petition signatures collected before the date of this Statement of Interest are invalid and may be subject to challenge pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-351.” The Elections Department’s public notice reiterates the statutory citations on the form and sets the administrative context for filings.

La Paz County’s Elections Department explicitly cautions potential candidates that it will not provide legal counsel. “The Elections Department does not and cannot give legal advice or legal guidance for your campaign. Forms are subject to change without notice. Candidates are responsible for submitting and timely filing the correct forms for county offices.” The Elections Office is located at 1108 S. Joshua Avenue, Parker, AZ 85344; phone (928) 669-6149.

Tax and county financial notices running concurrently provide additional calendar and fiscal context for residents and prospective officeholders. The Treasurer’s office posted: “Notice is hereby given that the 2025 Assessment and Tax Roll of La Paz County is now in the treasurer’s possession for collection of the taxes levied.” Under that notice, one-half of 2025 taxes were due October 1, 2025 and became delinquent November 3, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.; the remaining one-half is due on or after March 1, 2026 and will become delinquent May 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Interest is set at sixteen percent (16%) per year simple, prorated monthly from delinquency, and the minimum acceptable payment is $10 or 10% of the tax due. Payments may be mailed or delivered to Leah Castro, La Paz County Treasurer, 1112 Joshua Avenue, Suite 203, Parker, Arizona 85344. The Treasurer’s notice emphasizes payment options: “\\WE DO ACCEPT DEBIT/CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS IN OUR OFFICE!\\” and adds “A convenience fee will be charged: $4.00 if using VISA debit and 2.55% for credit cards.” Treasurer Leah Castro was elected in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024.

For readers tracking county finances, excerpts from the La Paz County audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024 show cash and cash equivalents listed as “26,461,383 $ 3,797,801 $ 30,259,184 $” and a June 30, 2024 net position line of “556,276 $ 270,924 $ 2,583,040 $ 4,607,589 $ 8,017,829 $.” The Statement of Revenues, Expenses, and Changes in Fund Net Position excerpts include “Operating income (loss) 203,053 (117,067) 847,209 2,001,374 2,934,569” and an “Increase (decrease) in net position 203,031 (116,576) 590,209 1,227,485 1,904,149.” These figures are excerpted rows from the county’s Enterprise Funds schedule and the full audited statements and notes contain additional detail.

The packet of materials reviewed for this article also includes guidance from Los Angeles County about Form 700 — “A Statement of Economic Interest (FORM 700) is a state form on which state and local government officials publicly disclose their personal assets and income that may be materially affected by their official acts” — but that guidance applies to California. La Paz County candidates should rely on Arizona statutes cited on the county form (A.R.S. § 16-311; § 16-341; § 16-351) and the Elections Department for filing requirements.

To inspect the names and offices listed on the March 4, 2026 update, obtain the one-page “2026 Candidates Statement of Interest Filed” PDF from the La Paz County Document Center or contact the Elections Department at 1108 S. Joshua Avenue, Parker, AZ 85344, (928) 669-6149.