Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen's Suspension Appeal Scheduled For Wednesday

Published: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 - 3:43pm
Updated: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 - 12:31pm
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Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Paul Petersen in 2019.

The Maricopa County assessor wants his four-month suspension to end early, and Wednesday is Paul Petersen’s chance to convince the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors that he did not neglect his job to tend his adoption business that authorities have called illegal.

Initial results of an ongoing outside probe said Petersen did what’s legally required of a county assessor. But the report also said the Board of Supervisors could still find that Petersen shirked his job.

The Board’s decision to suspend Petersen without pay wasn’t actually about neglect of duty, says Kory Langhofer, Petersen’s attorney.

“The real reason they’re trying to throw him out of office is because he’s been accused of a crime,” Langhofer said.

Petersen is allowed up to four hours to make his appeal to the board.

Langhofer said Petersen is willing to sue the board to go back to work as County Assessor. Langhofer also said Petersen would resign the office in exchange for nine months of pay and benefits.

John Doran, attorney for the board, released a written statement.

“I don’t believe it’s appropriate or professional to share settlement discussions,” the statement says. “However, I can confirm that the County has not made any offer to pay Mr. Petersen any portion of his salary.”

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