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Supervisor Fulton Brock won't seek re-election by Michelle Ye Hee Lee - Jan. 31, 2012 06:15 PM The Republic | azcentral.com Long-time Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock on Tuesday announced he will not seek re-election in 2012, amid a sex-abuse scandal that has shaken his family for more than a year. Brock said in an interview he decided it was time to "shift gears" and focus on spending more time with his children. Brock's ex-wife and middle daughter are charged with sexually abusing the same minor boy. Brock filed for divorce after authorities arrested his then-wife on child-abuse charges in October 2010. "I've had a lot of family challenges. They certainly have been significant," Brock said. "I want to be able to spend as much time as I can getting my children back on track. They're my first priority." Since news of the scandal broke, it had been unclear whether Brock would pursue a re-election campaign. Brock had bowed out of the bid for county Board of Supervisors chairman last year and again this January, saying he needed to focus on his family and was not ready for the demands of a chairmanship. He had said publicly he was raising money for his 2012 campaign, and then filed for re-election in November. As of Tuesday, the deadline to file campaign-finance reports, he had not filed one for a 2012 re-election campaign. Brock said since Thanksgiving, he began seriously talking with his family about running again for political office. Brock has served on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors since 1996. His ex-wife, Susan, is serving a 13-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexually molesting a teen, starting when the boy was 14 years old. About two months after Susan was arrested, Brock's 22-year-old daughter, Rachel, was accused of molesting that same boy. Brock's daughter pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 10 years' probation with one year of deferred jail time. Brock has not commented publicly on his family's matters. On Tuesday, he said: "With respect to my specific challenges from my ex-wife, my children, I'm not prepared to comment on. I feel my children are reasonably well. Hopefully, as I continue to give them assistance and guidance, that they can get their lives back on track in losing their mother and everything." Brock has two other daughters, a 24-year-old who is married and lives out of state, and a 17-year-old who is a senior in high school. Brock said he wants to help see his daughter off to college. The East Valley Republican will serve out the rest of his fourth term as Maricopa County supervisor. The new Board of Supervisors takes oath January 2013. All five supervisors are up for re-election this year. Brock said he has no plans to run for another political office and plans to continue working as an investment adviser until he decides what to do after his current term ends. "I'll see at the end of the year what direction makes most sence," Brock said. As of Tuesday afternoon, the only candidate for Brock's District 1 supervisorial seat was Denny Barney, a Gilbert Republican and private investor. Barney has raised at least $131,657 so far, according to his first campaign-finance report filed last week. Barney has served on the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission, and is on the board of directors for several community organizations, including the East Valley Partnership and Mesa United Way. Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, elected to the Board of Supervisors one term prior to Brock, said Tuesday that her colleague's decision was not entirely unexpected given the challenges in his personal life. "I've been here ever since he's gotten elected. I always think he was very conscientious to his constituents. But sometimes when personal things happen, it just gets to be overwhelming," Wilcox said. "I just stand by him and wish him the best of luck and hope that he moves on ... and will find some calmness." "This is the right decision for him and his family. I wish him all the best," Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek said.
Maricopa County Supervisor Brock won't seek reelection Fulton Brock represents District 1 on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 3:57 pm Associated Press PHOENIX -- Longtime Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock says he won't seek re-election in November. Brock announced Tuesday that he needs to spend more time with his children "as we put our lives back together." A sex scandal has rocked the Brock family since last year. Brock's wife, Susan, is serving a 13-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexually molesting a teen starting when the boy was 14. Brock's 22-year-old daughter, Rachel, pleaded guilty to abusing the same teen boy. She was sentenced to 10 years' probation with one year of deferred jail time. Brock is vice chairman of the county Board of Supervisors and has served on the board since 1996. He oversees a district that includes Chandler, Tempe, Queen Creek, Sun Lakes and parts of Phoenix, Gilbert and Mesa. |