Incumbent Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos handily won the Democratic primary yesterday.
His challenger, Sandy Rosenthal, who focused his campaign on Nanos’ handling of the jail and his ability to hire and maintain sheriff’s department staff, failed to convince enough voters to send him to the general election in November.
With 90% of the votes counted as of Thursday afternoon, Nanos had won 61% of votes cast by Democrats and independents in this race.
Nanos is a 40-year veteran of the sheriff’s department.
“It’s just another step in the direction we want to go,” Nanos told Arizona Luminaria after the race was called.
“I’m grateful and appreciative of the support we got from the voters,” Nanos said. “It’s humbling and an honor to have the chance to make decisions about the safety of your community.”
On the Republican side, Heather Lappin won among a crowded field of candidates looking to challenge Nanos. As of Thursday afternoon, Lappin had won about 45% of the votes and Bill Phillips was close behind with 40%.
On Wednesday morning, before the race was called, Lappin told Arizona Luminaria, “With the results looking positive for us, we are shifting our focus towards November. There is so much work to do and a very small amount of time to do it in.”
Lappin works as a corrections lieutenant in the Pima County jail and Phillips is a former deputy. The other Republican candidate is Terry Frederick, also a former deputy.
Lappin has been part of the sheriff’s department for 19 years. She previously worked as a training section commander, overseeing various programs for personnel, according to her campaign website. She’s also worked as a district commander and in internal affairs.
Nanos touted his experience over the Republican candidates. He also told Arizona Luminaria that “community policing matters,” and that is the message he plans to take to the general election in November.
Conover wins second term as Pima County attorney
Incumbent Pima County Attorney Laura Conover won her primary after a fierce campaign against challenger Mike Jette.
With 90% of the votes counted as of Thursday afternoon, Conover had won about 67% of the votes.
She was first elected in 2019 and took office in 2020. Jette is a veteran federal prosecutor and focused his campaign on cases Conover did not prosecute.
“We stayed on the high road every single day, and the high road took us home,” Conover said at an election watch party Tuesday night.
Without a Republican running for county attorney, Conover will take office in January.
Conover echoed Nanos’ approach to community safety, saying she wanted to focus on criminal justice reforms by working with the sheriff’s department and Tucson police.
“Four years ago voters gave us a clear mandate to usher in reforms,” Conover told Arizona Luminaria, adding that the county is seeing the public safety results.
Conover said she hopes to spend the next several months listening and meeting with the public and other officials.
“I have always met with anyone who asks,” Conover said.
She said she hopes to build on the progress they’ve made, but both Nanos and Conover were clear that there is more to be done.
“We have a long way to go,” Conover said.
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