1. What inspired you to run for the Board of Supervisors?

After 20 years of public service to this county, I felt the need for a change but also wanted to continue serving my community. This is home, and I liken it to a tree. We need to preserve our roots for the tree to grow strong and flourish. My great-grandfather served for over 20 years with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office and, after retiring, spent a term on the board. I have looked at my roots and want to help this county continue to grow in a healthy way. This county has a lot of history, which should be preserved for future generations. Look no further than our tourism, which relies heavily on sharing our history with many visitors. Preservation of our heritage is significant for me.

2. Why are you running as an Independent?

I am running as an Independent candidate for this position. We need to push partisan politics aside for a better future for our county. I believe fiscal responsibility and governance transparency will build trust with those who elect us to represent them. We need a strong voice to carry our collective message to the state and federal government. Water is an important issue that will continue to affect many of those in our district, but control needs to stay at the local level as much as possible. We need to focus on the future of the county without forgetting the past, acknowledging what has made this county what it is today, and remembering the reason why those of us who have stayed here for generations and those who have moved here, what brought us to Cochise County and what has made us stay.

3. What will be your first priority to address when elected?

We will look at the budget, prepare everything for the upcoming year, and possibly look for a new county manager. However, my first priority will be to look at updating the County Comprehensive Plan, which has the county broken down into areas with a general plan for dealing with transportation, preservation, and growth.  This plan has not been updated since 2015 and is scheduled to be addressed next year. We also need to update the County Strategic Plan, which expires this year. This plan identifies funding and resource priorities for the next four years. I learned long ago that Prior and Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. We need to have plans to address the issues that our county is currently facing, along with foreseeable issues that we can get ahead of. We also need to address and update the transportation plan for the county, which is also almost a decade old.

4. What role does the Board of Supervisors serve in the election process?

The Board of Supervisors (BOS) has specific election-related responsibilities, including determining the polling places for Election Day, emergency early voting locations, and certifying the official election results for the county. Importantly, the BOS also sets the budget for the County Recorder and County Elections Departments.

5. With the current County Manager running for office and the possibility of needing to hire for that position if he wins the election, what key characteristic would you look for in a County Manager?

An honest, hardworking, outgoing individual who has management experience. I would like to see a “homegrown” candidate who understands the county and its issues and has the ability and expertise to manage a large organization. The perfect candidate would include an extensive knowledge of the county’s geography and the issues unique to each geographic area. Being a manager of multiple departments, finding a candidate with extensive knowledge in all areas could be challenging. However, the ideal candidate would be hungry for knowledge and want to learn at least a little about each department. As the designated lobbyist for the county, the ideal candidate would be able to convey the county’s plan not only to our employees but also to convey that plan and its implementation to other government entities.