written by Brandon W.
A blue tsunami swept across the country in the 2026 midterms. In Arizona, we’re calling it the blue haboob to match the power of our intense desert storms that come with the rain.
Red seats turned blue have opened doors for Democratic elected officials to appoint values-aligned leaders to the not-so-well-known or sought-after board and commission seats at the state, county, and city levels.
For leaders who don’t want to run for office, applying to a board or commission and being appointed by a values-aligned leader is another pathway of public service.
Whether it’s holding people in positions of power accountable or influencing policy, members of boards and commissions can change Arizonans’ lives for the better.
We created this “guide” to help you see yourself on this pathway to serving your community.
Navigating the Guide
The Arizona Board & Commissions Guide is for educational purposes and provides definitions, functions, and forms of boards & commissions in the state. While examples of vacancies may be shown, this is not an exhaustive list of available open seats, and using this resource or submitting an application does not guarantee an appointment.
Boards & Commissions at a Glance
A Board or Commission is an independent body composed of members appointed by public officials. The legal entity that appoints members varies, and usually is the Governor at the state level, the Board of Supervisors at the county level, and the Mayor/City Councilor at the city level.
There are typically two types of boards and commissions:
Regulatory
Oversees the licensing, handles complaints, and enforces disciplinary actions of individuals or industries that fall within the jurisdiction of the board’s authority.
Example: A patient may file a complaint against a physician, who would then have that complaint be reviewed, investigated, and acted upon by the Arizona Medical Board.
Advisory
Develops policy, makes recommendations to public officials on how to address specific issues:
Example: The Civil Rights Advisory Board investigates and holds hearings on infringements of Arizona civil rights laws and then advises the civil rights division of the Attorney General’s Office.
Most boards & commissions will have their own landing page or website that displays background information, meeting frequency, a collective list of current & past board members and any vacancies, and contact information for each of its members. Each board or commission specializes in a particular area and is made up of several members. Each member of the board may be a subject-matter expert, a community member, or a representative of another governing body.
Example: The Emergency Medical Services Council has 7 seats, comprising 4 representatives who are subject-matter experts, such as the Ambulance Service Corporation Rep, and 3 public members.
Lastly, choosing to apply for a board or commission is an amazing pathway to public service and should be celebrated! It’s okay to feel excited, nervous, curious, or anything else, because you’re offering up your expertise to make a difference in your community. Please remember that lived experience is crucial to bring into these spaces, because understanding what those most impacted individuals are facing can lead to implementing solutions with those individuals in mind.
State Level
Governor’s Office of Board & Commissions
This office is the State of Arizona’s legal entity that houses all state-level boards & commissions, and is responsible for processing applications, providing updated information on each board, and awareness on vacancies. New state boards and commissions are created by statute (passed by the state legislature and signed into law) or by an executive order issued by the current Governor of Arizona.
Attention: Requirements, meeting frequency, and additional information vary per board. Some boards may require confirmation of a separate legal entity. For example, seats that require confirmation by the Senate are marked, “Appointment to Board requires confirmation by the Arizona State Senate.” Please be sure to review each board’s information on the vacancies list & each board site of your interest.
Number of Board & Commissions: 220
Website Update Frequency: Quarterly
Vacancies Location: Vacancies List (as of October 2026)
Application Window: Rolling Basis
Application Location: Submit an Application
Office Contact: Email: bc@az.gov | Phone: (602)-542-2449 | Website: bc.azgovernor.gov
Additional Information: Gov Office FAQ
How to Submit an Application
Visit the Board and Commissions Application, which is located at the bottom of the main website.
This page provides an overview of the application, the full list of boards and commissions, FAQs, Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, Arizona Cybersecurity Team, and a link back to the main website. Select Open Form.
The form asks for a series of questions split up by Contact Information, Personal Information, Social Media, Professional Experience/Education, Board/Commission Interest, Background Information & Requirements. Please pay close attention to required information, and reference the board or commission websites of your interest while completing the form. Press Submit once you have completed the application.
Congratulations, you have just applied for a seat on the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions! 🎉
County Level
Maricopa County Department of Boards & Commissions
This department provides an overview and houses an alphabetical list of all boards & commissions in Maricopa County. Each board site includes its mission, meeting frequency, current members & vacancies, member qualifications, duties & powers, formation authority, and contact information. Some members are appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
Alternative entities may manage their own boards.
Example: Arizona State University manages the ASU Athletic Facilities District.
Number of Board & Commissions: 28
Website Update Frequency: Rolling basis, up to each board that exists
Vacancies Location: Listed in each Board Website
Application Window: Rolling Basis
Application Location: Submit an Application
Office Contact: Email: clerkboard@maricopa.gov | Phone: (602)-506-3766 | Website
Additional Information
Since appointments are made on a rolling basis, applications will be kept on file, and applicants may be contacted and asked to serve in the future.
How to Submit an Application
Visit the Application for Service Form Center.
Fill out the Applicant information section, which asks for general contact information like name, phone, and address, with optional fields for occupational information. Press continue.
Use the Boards/Commissions of Interest section to select ANY Board/Commissions that you are interested in serving on. Multiple selections are allowed. The bottom two questions ask about any areas of specialty you may have, and why you believe your service would benefit where you’re looking to serve.
The Resume and Signature section is the last portion of the application and asks you to submit your resume and sign that the information recorded is correct. Press submit.
Congratulations, you’ve just applied for service to the Maricopa County Boards and Commissions! 🎉
City Level
City of Phoenix - Mayor & City Council
The Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and city departments get input from boards and commissions on many issues impacting the city. All are encouraged to apply, and some boards and commissions may require residency within the City of Phoenix. Appointments are made on a rolling basis.
Number of Board & Commissions: 67 | View Complete List
Website Update Frequency: Rolling basis, up to each board that exists
Vacancies Location: Listed on each Board Website
Application Window: Rolling Basis
Application Location: Submit an Application
Office Contact: Email: Phone: 602) 262-7111 | Website
Additional Information
Since appointments are made on a rolling basis, applications will be kept on file, and applicants may be contacted and asked to serve in the future.
How to Submit an Application
On the Boards and Commissions page, review the How to apply section, & open up the A to Z list of boards and commissions and their descriptions. Please reference the boards and commissions of your interest as you proceed.
To submit an application, you must register and complete a profile, which asks for contact information and work experience.
In the Boards Profile section, please complete all required information, including indicating the boards and commissions of your interest. Press Submit once completed.
Congratulations, you have just applied for service with the City of Phoenix! 🎉
FAQ
Why join a board or commission?
Joining a board or commission can be a great way to have an impact on your community! Regardless of the seat, appointment to a board or commission provides community members with insight and hands-on experience into what it means to have governing power. Additionally, this can be someone’s next phase of leadership, without having to run for a political office.
Consider the following when determining which boards to apply for:
Review the complete list of available boards & commissions at the city, county, and state levels
Identify & note any boards & commissions of your interest. Spend some time researching each board, their individual requirements (if applicable), meeting frequency, current members, and vacancies.
Think about what issues you’re most passionate about, and connect those issues to any available seats that you’ve identified. While they don’t need to perfectly align, it's helpful to start thinking about how you could address those issues from the perspective of a relevant board member.
Apply to all seats of interest. Most boards & commissions process applications on a rolling basis, which means you may be contacted sooner or later for an appointment, depending on the vacancies available.
Search for available vacancies even in boards & commissions that you might not think you qualify for. Many seats stay vacant because there aren’t enough people applying to them, and boards are consistently looking for members to fill their boards, and even ask for community representation.
Are there any specific requirements, professional degrees, or experience needed to join?
Be at least 18 years of age & a resident of the State of Arizona
A passionate community member wanting to make a difference in their neighborhood
Eagerness to learn the governance process within the city, county, or state
Interest in stepping into a different phase of leadership
No professional degree is required
There may be additional requirements or experience according to what that specific seat is asking for. For example, the State Board of Education has a seat held for “University President” & “Public Member”, which have different requirements respectively. Please read through each website for each board & commission of your interest for more specific information.
How often are applications processed?
For most boards & commissions across the state and at every level, applications are processed on a rolling basis. Expressing interest in multiple boards places candidates into an applicant pool. This means that as vacancies continue to become available, applicants are contacted about appointments.
What resources are available through Instituto Power for talent support?
Resume & Cover Letter Workshops
1:1 Direct Support
Please contact us at politicial@institutopower.io for any other questions!
The information gathered for this guide was made possible by speaking to the members of the Governor’s Office of Boards & Commissions, the Maricopa County Department of Boards & Commissions, and the City of Phoenix Boards & Commissions.
