Ellison makes history as first Independent Sheriff in Arizona

By Jon Johnson

CLIFTON – Greenlee Attorney’s Office Chief Investigator Eric Ellison will have a different title come January as there’s a new sheriff in town.

As of Tuesday night, Ellison had received 1,319 votes compared to Republican candidate Dale Sloan at 943 and Democratic candidate Daniel Medina (D) at 774. With about 274 outstanding votes yet to count, it is mathematically impossible for the outcome to change.

“I just want to thank God, my family, friends, and everybody in Greenlee County for their
support,” Ellison told the Gila Herald. “I am very excited to make positive changes in our county. To protect and serve has always been and will always be near and dear to my heart. As you have honored me with your trust I will honor you as I serve this community.”

Ellison was born in Globe and spent his formative years in Willcox before heading to Safford for his teens. He graduated a Bulldog in 1994 and worked as an automotive tech at Walmart while attending Eastern Arizona College.

He began his career in law enforcement at the Arizona Department of Corrections State Prison in Globe, where he became the youngest work crew officer supervising inmates working at Roosevelt Lake.

Ellison spent about five years at DOC and spent time on its version of a S.W.A.T. Team learning riot control. After rising to the title of Assistant Commander of the T.S.U. Team at the DOC, Ellison left to join the Arizona Highway Patrol of the Department of Public Safety in Globe.

He began working in law enforcement in Greenlee County in 2006 when he was stationed there for DPS. He worked as a trooper until 2017 when he was recruited by then-newly elected Sheriff Tim Sumner and became Greenlee County Chief Deputy.

Greenlee County is unique for having the most Independent candidates. Greenlee County has more elected Independent candidates than the rest of Arizona’s counties combined.

Those registering as Independent voters throughout the state have increased to the second-largest voting demographic, just after Republican.

Other contested Greenlee Races

Incumbent David Gomez (D) leads Nicole Horn (I) by just 17 votes, 484 to 467, respectively. The race is too close to call due to the remaining outstanding votes yet to be counted.

William Wearne (I) leads with 510 votes and appears to have won the seat. J.R. Murdock Jr. (I) sits in second place with 424 and Kara Wagley (R) in third with 359. While it is perhaps not mathematically impossible for the standings to change it is extremely improbable.

Erin Miller (R) has won the seat with 1,853 votes to 1,101 for Sarah Stacey-Camacho (D) as of Election night.