🚨 Pima County Supervisor Denounces "Election Interference" by Sheriff
Heinz Calls for Sheriff's Resignation Over Suspension of Union Leader Ahead of Vote
Based on the 11/18/24 Buckmaster Show on KVOI-1030AM.
🙊 Notable quotes from the show
"That is a particularly foul version of election interference when you can for what appears to me to be completely bogus allegations, generate an internal affairs report, release that report...in an effort to smear your political rival during a time when people are casting early ballots." - Dr. Matt Heinz, on the Pima County Sheriff's suspension of a union leader
"He should resign. You should ask him if he's planning on it because he should." - Dr. Matt Heinz, calling for the Pima County Sheriff to resign
"Looking at how many people have become used to dropping off their ballots in those few days before the election or the day of, that would potentially eliminate the heck of a lot of people, you know, people may not vote at all. And we don't want that." - Dr. Matt Heinz, on setting a deadline for mail-in ballots
"It's a secret, Bill. I'm not sure we should tell you." - Gary Hirsch, Novix Consultants, joking about the "exit magic number"
"Unless you're a Raytheon or a university, there are other businesses that are doing exactly what you're doing. And when you go up for sale, you're competing against every one of those businesses." - Gary Hirsch, Novix Consultants, on the competitive landscape for business owners
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
The Pima County Sheriff suspended his opponent just before the election, trying to stop her from campaigning. The Sheriff said she did something wrong, but the news company said that's not true. The Pima County Supervisor said the Sheriff is acting like a bully and using his power to hurt people who disagree with him. The Supervisor is really angry about this and says the Sheriff should resign for trying to interfere with the election. It's important that everyone can vote freely, without the Sheriff or other officials trying to stop them. 🗳️
🗝️ Takeaways
🚨 Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos suspended his political opponent, Lt. Heather Lappin, just days before the election on dubious grounds
🤥 Nanos alleged Lappin "colluded with a journalist," but the news outlet denied these claims, calling them false
🗳️ Supervisor Dr. Matt Heinz condemned Nanos' actions as "election interference" that "goes to the absolute heart and core of" democratic principle
🚫 This is part of a troubling pattern of Nanos abusing his power to target opponents and critics, likened to the authoritarian tactics of former President Trump
💼 Heinz called for Nanos' resignation and said the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to refer him for potential criminal violations
🌍 These actions undermine the integrity of elections and the will of the people, which is unacceptable for progressive advocates of civil rights and social justice
⏬ Jump to the 🦉 Three Sonorans Commentary based on:
📻 What They Discussed
🎙️ The Buckmaster Show on 11/18/24
On this episode of the Buckmaster Show, host Bill Buckmaster welcomed two guests:
Chuck Sawyer and Gary Hirsch are from Novix Consultants, a firm that specializes in helping business owners prepare for and execute the sale of their companies.
Buckmaster also spoke with Pima County Supervisor Dr. Matt Heinz about various local issues.
🗳️ Addressing Local Political Issues with Dr. Matt Heinz
Pima County Supervisor Dr. Matt Heinz expressed strong concerns about several recent actions by local officials that he felt threatened the integrity of the electoral process.
Regarding the Pima County Sheriff's decision to suspend a sergeant who led a union just days before the election, Heinz condemned it as "a particularly foul version of election interference" that "goes to the absolute heart and core of this Republican and all of our founding principles." He said the Sheriff "should resign" for the "Trump-like" and "Putin-like" behavior, adding that the Board of Supervisors had unanimously voted to refer the Sheriff to the U.S. Attorney and state Attorney General for potential criminal violations.
Addressing the Pima County Recorder's decision to stop accepting online requests for early ballots in mid-October, Heinz said he wanted to hear more explanation to ensure a "transparent process" that the public can have "total 100% confidence in."
He acknowledged concerns from constituents and his own staff about the issue, stating: "Anytime you see that there's any kind of bottleneck or any kind of process that doesn't seem to be working as regards voting, which is one of the most important aspects of what county government does, we want this to be a transparent process and one that the people can have absolute total 100% confidence in."
While Heinz said he did not see a need for a criminal investigation into the Recorder's actions, which he believes are warranted for the Sheriff, he emphasized the importance of providing the public with clear answers. "I would very much like some answers. And I think the public really demands and deserves those," Heinz said.
On the topic of the Pima County public library system, Heinz expressed support for the community's response to the initial proposal to potentially consolidate or close library branches, including the main library. He said a more thorough public evaluation of the library system's needs going forward will provide reassurance that the right decisions are being made to preserve and maintain the community's resources.
Heinz also shared his personal views on voting and electoral processes more broadly. He stated that he believes voter registration requirements are historically rooted in preventing certain populations from voting and that he supports more open access, noting that "there are actually about a dozen states that don't have voter registration at all." Regarding setting deadlines for when mail-in ballots must be received, Heinz acknowledged the need to balance accessibility with reasonable limits, saying "I really want people to vote" but also recognizing that "there does have to be some reasonable limits."
Overall, Heinz's comments underscored his commitment to ensuring fair, transparent electoral processes in Pima County, even when it means challenging the actions of fellow elected officials. His robust defense of voting rights and insistence on public accountability highlighted his progressive approach to local governance.
🤝 Exiting a Business Successfully
Sawyer and Hirsch discussed the challenges business owners, particularly baby boomers, face when selling their companies. They emphasized the importance of advance planning and highlighted common pitfalls like owners overvaluing their businesses or failing to implement the necessary systems.
The experts advised listeners to start the exit planning process 2-3 years in advance and consider factors like transferable value, customer concentration, and scalable systems.
Sawyer explained, "If you can decide your when, and the when, what we talk about that is it isn't a range. It isn't, I'm going to retire in 10 to 15 years or two to three years or whatnot. It's an age, a specific point."
Hirsch added that owners need to "take seriously what Chuck is describing as transferable value" in order to position their businesses to compete against others on the market.
🔢 The "Exit Magic Number"
Hirsch explained the concept of the "exit magic number"—the sale price needed for a business owner to become financially independent. He stressed the importance of calculating this upfront to ensure the sale aligns with the owner's retirement needs.
"It's a secret, Bill. I'm not sure we should tell you," Hirsch joked, before explaining that the "exit magic number" is the difference between the owner's projected retirement budget and the income their current assets can provide on an ongoing basis.
🗺️ Navigating the Competitive Landscape
Sawyer and Hirsch discussed the competitive landscape, noting the large number of baby boomer-owned businesses hitting the market.
They encouraged listeners to proactively address issues like management succession, financial records, and partner alignment to make their companies appealing to buyers.
Hirsch warned, "Unless you're a Raytheon or a university, other businesses are doing exactly what you're doing. And when you go up for sale, you're competing against every one of those businesses."
🦉 Three Sonorans Commentary
🚨 Pima County Officials Attempt to Undermine Democracy, But Community Fights Back
In the latest episode of the Buckmaster Show, Pima County Supervisor Dr. Matt Heinz sounded the alarm on a series of troubling actions by local officials that threatened the integrity of the democratic process in Southern Arizona.
As a progressive champion for civil rights and social justice, Heinz did not mince words in condemning the behavior of the Pima County Sheriff and Recorder.
🚨 Pima County Officials Engage in "Election Interference," Says Supervisor Heinz
In the wake of the Pima County Sheriff's controversial decision to suspend his political opponent just days before the election, Supervisor Dr. Matt Heinz did not mince words in condemning the sheriff's actions.
According to reports, Sheriff Chris Nanos placed Republican Lt. Heather Lappin, who supervises the jail's intake process, on administrative leave. Nanos alleged that Lappin had "colluded with a journalist to facilitate payment to an inmate in exchange for a news story." However, the news outlet in question, Arizona Luminaria, firmly denied these claims, stating that they "do not and would never pay for sources, interviews or information."
Supervisor Heinz decried Nanos' move as a "particularly foul version of election interference."
He stated, "That is a particularly foul version of election interference when you can, for what appears to me to be completely bogus allegations, generate an internal affairs report, release that report...in an effort to smear your political rival during a time when people are casting early ballots."
Heinz did not mince words, calling for the sheriff's resignation and saying the Board of Supervisors had unanimously voted to refer Nanos to the U.S. Attorney and state Attorney General for potential criminal violations.
This is not the first time Nanos has been accused of abusing his power to target his political opponents and critics. Columnist Tim Steller recounts a similar incident in 2016, when Nanos suspended a sergeant who had filed to run against him, citing county rules that have since been changed.
Steller also notes an incident where Nanos was accused of physically assaulting a sergeant, though the county administration ultimately sided with the sheriff. The columnist argues that these actions reflect Nanos' authoritarian tendencies, likening them to the abuses of power promised by former President Trump.
As a progressive advocate for civil rights and social justice, Supervisor Heinz made it clear that he will not tolerate such blatant attempts to undermine the democratic process. "You cannot do that. That goes to the absolute heart and core of this Republican and all of our founding principles," he stated.
Pima County residents deserve elected officials who respect the rule of law and the integrity of elections, not those who use the power of their office to crush dissent and suppress the will of the people. Nanos' actions are an affront to the values of a free and fair society, and he must be held accountable for this egregious abuse of authority.
🤔 Troubling Questions about Early Voting
Heinz also expressed concerns about the Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cazares-Kelly's decision to stop accepting online requests for early ballots in mid-October, just weeks before the election. While he stopped short of alleging malicious intent, the supervisor wanted answers to ensure a "transparent process" that the public could have "total 100% confidence in."
Interestingly, the same Republicans who have historically opposed early voting are now the ones targeting the first indigenous female Pima County Recorder. This raises questions about their true motivations - are they genuinely concerned about the integrity of the process, or is this another cynical attempt to disenfranchise rural and underserved communities?
Heinz acknowledged the need for reasonable limits on the voting process, but made it clear that accessibility must be the top priority. "I really want people to vote," he stated, warning that overly restrictive deadlines could "eliminate the heck of a lot of people" and discourage participation.
🏛️ Protecting the Public Library System
Thankfully, not all the news was bad.
Heinz expressed support for the community's passionate defense of the Pima County public library system, which had faced the threat of consolidation or closure. The supervisor celebrated the thorough public evaluation underway to ensure the libraries' long-term sustainability.
Libraries have a dedicated tax fund, meaning there is no financial justification for shutting down branches. However, the Main Library downtown may need to relocate due to issues with the city-owned building. Heinz emphasized that the county is committed to preserving this vital community resource.
🌍 A Progressive Vision for Pima County
Throughout the interview, Heinz demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the principles of democracy, civil rights, and social justice. He condemned the Sheriff's "Trump-like" and "Putin-like" behavior in the strongest possible terms, and vowed to hold all public officials accountable for actions that undermine the will of the people.
At the same time, Heinz displayed a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in administering elections and managing public services. He recognized the need for reasonable limits, while insisting that accessibility and transparency must be the top priorities.
This balanced, progressive approach is exactly what Pima County needs as it navigates the challenges of the 21st century. With leaders like Heinz at the helm, the community can be assured that their voices will be heard and their rights will be protected, no matter how powerful the forces of oppression may be.
👯 People Mentioned
Bill Buckmaster - Host of the Buckmaster Show
Chuck Sawyer - Representative from Novix Consultants
Quote: "If you can decide your when and the when, what we talk about that is it isn't a range. It isn't, I'm going to retire in 10 to 15 years or two to three years or whatnot. It's an age, a specific point."
Gary Hirsch - Representative from Novix Consultants
Quote: "It's a secret, Bill. I'm not sure we should tell you." (regarding the "exit magic number")
Quote: "Unless you're a Raytheon or a university, there are other businesses that are doing exactly what you're doing. And when you go up for sale, you're competing against every one of those businesses."
Dr. Matt Heinz - Pima County Supervisor, District 2
Quote: "That is a particularly foul version of election interference when you can, for what appears to me to be completely bogus allegations, generate an internal affairs report, release that report...in an effort to smear your political rival during a time when people are casting early ballots."
Quote: "He should resign. You should ask him if he's planning on it because he should." (referring to the Pima County Sheriff)
Quote: "Looking at how many people have become used to dropping off their ballots in those few days before the election or the day of, that would potentially eliminate the heck of a lot of people, you know, people may not vote at all. And we don't want that."
Jan Lesher - Pima County Administrator
Chuck Huckleberry - Former Pima County Administrator
Gabriella Cázares-Kelly - Pima County Recorder
Chris Nanos - Pima County Sheriff
Heather Lappin - Republican challenger to Sheriff Chris Nanos