he served as the pima county, arizona election director from 1976 to 1980 before becoming arizona's first state elections officer. when secretary of state rose mofford assumed the post of governor in 1988, jim shumway became arizona's secretary of state. he sought but failed in his bid to maintain this position in 1990, but went on to become maricopa county's election director and served expertly in that capacity until his retirement in 1994. he died on may 11, 2003, aged 63.