The Navajo County Board of Supervisors appointed Representative David Marshall Sr as the next Navajo County Recorder during its meeting on April 14, following the resignation of Timothy Jordan effective April 15. Marshall resigned from his position in the Arizona House of Representatives on April 17 and withdrew his candidacy for the Arizona Corporation Commission to accept this appointment.
The appointment comes at a time when educational outcomes remain a concern in Navajo County. In recent academic years, students have faced challenges with standardized testing. For example, in the 2022-23 school year, 73.3% of students in grades three through eight did not pass the mathematics section of the AASA assessment according to data from the Arizona Department of Education. Similarly, 80% of high schoolers failed the mathematics section of that year’s ACT exam as reported by state education officials.
Board Chair Daryl Seymore said, “The Recorder’s Office requires precision, accountability, and public trust. We appreciate Representative Marshall’s eagerness to bring his hardworking approach and years of public service to this important role.”
Marshall expressed gratitude for his selection and emphasized his commitment to serving county residents. “I am deeply honored by the confidence the Board of Supervisors has placed in me,” said Marshall. “I am committed to carrying out the responsibilities of this office with integrity, transparency, and a steadfast dedication to the citizens of Navajo County. I look forward to working collaboratively with county leadership, staff, and the community to serve with excellence.”
Other educational statistics show that in grades three through eight during 2022-23, about 69% failed English assessments according to state data, while among high schoolers taking that year’s ACT English section, about 72% did not pass as noted by education officials. More recently for 2023-24 assessments in Navajo County schools, there was some improvement: approximately 21% passed high school math ACT exams according to official figures, while around 27.3% passed math sections on AASA tests for grades three through eight as reported by state authorities.
Marshall’s move creates a vacancy in Legislative District Seven at the State Legislature. The State Republican Party will submit three nominees for consideration; one will be selected by supervisors to fill out Marshall’s term. Seymore said supervisors aim “to ensure that constituents of District Seven continue to have strong and effective representation” once nominations are received.
