Outgoing Maricopa County Treasurer Royce Flora was sworn into office in January 2017. The Republican lost his reelection bid in the 2020 primary. /Facebook Photo/Maricopa County.
By Jen Fifield | Arizona Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK
Outgoing Maricopa County Treasurer Royce Flora resigned early Wednesday, citing a “toxic environment” in county government.
Flora, who has been treasurer since 2016, said in his resignation letter that his last day is Thursday.
Flora was set to leave office in mid-January, but said that he was unable to complete his term in part because “the political environment at the county has become so toxic I have no desire to endure further abuse.”
State Rep. John Allen defeated Flora in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election in November.
While new county terms typically begin Jan. 1, Allen said Thursday that the county attorney has advised him that under state law he cannot take office as treasurer until his legislative term expires Jan. 11, and so Flora’s term would not end until then.
