Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos will face GOP challenger Heather Lappin in an online debate Tuesday.
The one-hour Clean Elections forum, which will start at 6 p.m. on the Clean Elections YouTube channel, will be moderated by Tucson Sentinel reporter Jim Nintzel.
Nanos was appointed to the job in 2015 after the retirement of Clarence Dupnik, who had held the job since 1980. Dupnik urged the Pima County Board of Supervisors to name Nanos as his successor and has endorsed his protege again this year.
Nanos lost the office in the 2016 election to Republican Mark Napier but won it back in a 2020 rematch.
In this year’s July 30 Democratic primary, Nanos won 57 percent of the vote against challenger Sandy Rosenthal, who retired from the Sheriff’s Department in 2015 after a 36-year career.
Nanos has been endorsed by three labor groups, Pima County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, the Sheriff’s Labor Association of Pima County and the Pima County Sheriff Commanders Association, as well as the Stonewall Democrats and NOW.
Nanos, who began his career with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in 1984 as a jail guard and rose the rank of chief deputy, said he wanted a second term to provide stability in the office and “get things back on an even keel, and I think we’re headed that way.”
Lappin, who has worked in a variety of jobs and districts in her nearly 20 years at the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, has a different take on the department.
She said that Nanos has created a culture of favoritism that “is so toxic to everyone’s health. So I couldn’t stand by and watch it happen.”
She said that too many deputies are retiring or taking jobs with other jurisdictions.
“I have watched our amazing employees leave in droves to Marana or Oro Valley or DPS,” said Lappin, a first-time candidate who made her political debut by winning a three-way Republican primary on July 30 with 40 percent of the vote, setting up the showdown with Nanos in the Nov. 5 election.
She has been endorsed by ex-sheriff Napier as well as labor groups such as Pima County Deputies Association, the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs and Tucson Police Protective League.
A busy week of debates
The week after Labor Day brings multiple debates and forums.
Tuesday, Sept. 3: Three Democrats – Joshua Polacheck, Jonathon Hill and Ylenia Aguilar – will face the three Republicans – Lea Marquez Peterson, Rachel Walden and Rene Lopez – running for three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission, which is in the midst of determining what kind of subsidies are appropriate for clean energy. Sponsored by Clean Elections and the Arizona Media Association. 6 p.m. on select TV and radio outlets and online.
Wednesday, Sept. 4: Legislative District 18 House incumbents Reps. Nancy Gutierrez and Chris Mathis, both Democrats, are facing Republican Leonard “Len” Rosenblum in this Democratic-leaning district that includes the Tucson metro area. Sponsored by Clean Elections. 6 p.m. via the Clean Elections YouTube channel.
Thursday, Sept 5: Legislative District 23 incumbent Sen. Brian Fernandez faces Republican challenger Michelle Altherr for the Senate seat and the Democratic slate of incumbent Rep. Mariana Sandoval and Matias Rosales face incumbent Republican Rep. Michele Peña for two House seats in this Southwestern Arizona district. All candidates except for Peña have agreed to participate. Sponsored by Clean Elections. 6 p.m. via the Clean Elections YouTube channel.
Tuesday, Sept. 17: District 2 Supervisor Matt Heinz, a Democrat seeking a second term, is scheduled to face Republican John Backer in this Democratic-leaning district that includes Tucson’s downtown and South Side and stretches to the Sahuarita area. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters. 5:30 p.m. Eckstrom-Columbus Library, 4350 E. 22nd St.
Thursday, Sept 19: Candidates for House and Senate seats in Legislative District 17, which includes precincts in the Saddlebrooke, Marana, Oro Valley, eastside Tucson and Vail will meet for a forum. Republican Vince Leach, fresh from dispatching incumbent Sen. Justine Wadsack in the GOP primary, is facing Democrat John McLean in the race for an open Senate seat, while in the House race, incumbent Republicans Reps. Cory McGarr and Rachel Jones are facing Democrat Kevin Volk. So far, only the Democratic candidates have agreed to appear. Democrats are hoping for upset victories in this heavily Republican district. Sponsored by Clean Elections. 6 p.m. via the Clean Elections YouTube channel.
Saturday, Sept. 28: Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat seeking her second full term, is scheduled to meet her independent challenger, Tucson Unified School Board member Val Romero. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson. Quincie-Douglas Library, 1585 E. 36th St.
Monday, Oct. 7: U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani and his Democratic challenger, former state lawmaker Kirsten Engel, are scheduled to meet for a one-hour debate on Oct. 7. This is a rematch of the 2022 race for the CD2 seat, when Engel lost by fewer than 2 percentage points in this GOP-leaning district. The Clean Elections/Arizona Media Association forum will be aired on select televised and radio stations and streamed live on various news websites, including TucsonSentinel.com.
Monday, Oct. 7: Last day to register to vote for general election
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego, who are facing each other in one of the most-watched Senate races in the nation, are scheduled to meet in a televised debate. The matchup, hosted by the Arizona Clean Elections Commission and the Arizona Media Association, is set for 6 p.m. and will air on select TV and radio stations as well as online news platforms, including TucsonSentinel.com.
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Pima County mails early ballots to voters
Friday, Oct. 25: Deadline to request an early ballot from the Pima County Recorder’s Office
Tuesday, Nov. 5: Election Day