Conservative Leaders Take Oath: Miller as County Attorney, Teeple as Sheriff

In recent weeks, Pinal County welcomed two new conservative leaders to office, with Brad Miller sworn in as County Attorney on December 27th and Ross Teeple as Sheriff on December 18th. Miller brings extensive legal experience and Teeple a strong law enforcement background, with both sharing a commitment to traditional values and constitutional rights.

At his swearing-in ceremony, which drew a packed courtroom with attendees spilling into the hallway, Miller, a Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel with over fifteen years of legal experience in Arizona including service as a prosecutor at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, emphasized his unplanned path to public office. “I never wanted to be a politician. This wasn’t something that I aspired to. We saw something that needed to change and we got a group of people together with a similar vision and we were able to go in and affect change,” Miller stated.

Many of Miller’s supporters were at the ceremony. These included politicians such as Senator Wendy Rogers, Congressman Abe Hamadeh, members of law enforcement from throughout the county and many other constituents.

“Believe it or not, I was his intern when he was at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office,” Congressman Abe Hamadeh revealed to the surprised audience at Miller’s ceremony. The Congressman went on to praise Miller’s courage and integrity. “Truly, he is going to enforce the law, which has been corrupted at so many levels. We have to restore the rule of law and justice, which so many people have lost confidence in,” Hamadeh declared. He further commended Miller’s willingness to challenge the status quo, noting, “It takes a lot of courage to do what he did, to go and say something is wrong with our county. I’m not going to be fearful to take on the current power structure.”

During his campaign, Miller focused on several key issues facing Pinal County. His platform highlighted concerns about steadily rising crime rates, particularly the surge in drug-related offenses dominated by methamphetamine and fentanyl cases. Miller campaigned on protecting citizens’ constitutional right to bear arms, opposing what he termed “woke policies” in schools and government, and addressing what he described as lax border enforcement. He emphasized the need for enhanced police training and stronger prosecutorial strategies to combat what he reported as a significant spike in violent crime in recent years. Miller pledged to resist federal mandates that he said come attached to government grants, arguing these requirements undermine local control.

Sheriff Ross Teeple enters office after serving as a Lieutenant with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, where his duties included conducting polygraph exams and coordinating inmate extraditions. His 30-year career in public service began in the United States Navy, where he served as a Sonar Technician on a fast attack submarine during Desert Storm. In his sixteen years with the Sheriff’s Office, Teeple has held multiple positions including Patrol Deputy, Search and Rescue Deputy, Honor Guard member, Patrol Sergeant, Criminal Investigations Sergeant, Internal Affairs Supervisor, Human Resources Manager, and Lieutenant over Aviation and Search and Rescue. Prior to joining the Sheriff’s Office, he served twelve years with the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Teeple, who received the endorsement of outgoing Sheriff Mark Lamb, frames his approach through what he calls the values of “Faith, Family and Freedom.” His immediate priorities include securing pay raises for detention officers and civilian staff to improve retention, and reducing response times in rural areas through increased staffing. Teeple plans to expand “Run, Hide, Fight” active shooter training in schools and maintain the county’s strong stance against felony animal cruelty cases. He has also committed to continuing successful programs like the Sheriff’s Juvenile Redirection Program, which has helped approximately 150 juveniles since 2019.

Both officials ran on platforms emphasizing constitutional rights and law enforcement support. Their shared priorities include protecting individual rights, securing the border, and maintaining strong community relationships. As Pinal County’s newest leaders settle into their roles, their aligned conservative values and complementary responsibilities – Teeple in law enforcement and Miller in prosecution – suggest a unified approach to justice in the years ahead.