🚨 Progressive Latino Blogger for Lappin: "Why I'm Crossing Party Lines for Sheriff and Voting Republican"

🏆 Lappin's Qualifications: Education Matters 🚫 Nanos' Track Record: A History of Controversy 🤝 Bipartisan Support: Democrats Joining the Fight

Oct 22, 2024

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
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🗽 Imagine if the principal at your school could tell teachers they're not allowed to come to work just because they're running against them in an election! That's what's happening at the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Nanos told his opponent Heather Lappin she can't come to work, and she's not even allowed to explain why. Even people from Sheriff Nanos' own political team are saying this isn't fair, and they're joining the other side to support Lappin instead. 👮‍♀️ It's like when you choose the fairest person to be team captain at recess, not just someone from your usual friend group! 🤝

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🗝️ Takeaways

📋 Nanos placed his election opponent on leave 3 weeks before election day
🤐 Imposed "gag order" preventing her from defending herself
🎓 Lappin: highly educated, experienced; Nanos: only high school diploma
👥 Democratic leaders Cunningham and Heinz endorsing Republican Lappin
🏛️ FBI investigating Nanos' department for various issues
😠 Known for angry outbursts at public meetings
🚔 Six corrections officers died under his leadership in eight months

🌵 Why This Progressive Latino is Voting Republican for Sheriff (Again)

¡Familia! Your favorite progressive blogger here with another Tucson Tales Tuesday. Today we need to talk about something serious - why I, a die-hard progressive who campaigned for Bernie and voted for Nader, am supporting Republican Heather Lappin for Pima County Sheriff.

I know what you're thinking - "¿Qué? A Republican sheriff in Arizona?" Trust me, I get it. The wounds from Arpaio's reign of terror are still fresh. But here's the thing - in Pima County, it's the Democratic incumbent Chris Nanos who's acting like an autocrat.

Let's look at Nanos' latest move: He just put his election opponent, Lt. Heather Lappin, on administrative leave three weeks before the election. Why? For allegedly helping a journalist interview inmates - something that's perfectly normal and legal. He even imposed a "gag order" to prevent her from defending herself. As Supervisor Matt Heinz put it, this is "Putin-type stuff."

This isn't Nanos' first rodeo with corruption allegations. Back in 2016, his chief deputy was indicted on federal charges for misusing RICO funds. That's when I first crossed party lines to vote for Republican Mark Napier, who served honorably until Nanos somehow clawed his way back in 2020.

Unlike Nanos, who only has a high school diploma and is known for his public temper tantrums at Board of Supervisors meetings, Lappin is highly educated with a master’s degree and experienced. She's spent years as a youth sports volunteer and truly understands our community. Even Democratic leaders like Councilmember Paul Cunningham and Supervisor Matt Heinz are endorsing her.

And let's talk about the jail situation - six corrections officers have died in just eight months under Nanos' watch. When the Board of Supervisors asked him to explain his handling of a sexual assault case involving deputies, he refused to show up, claiming it would "politicize" the issue. ¡Qué vergüenza!

I've seen enough. Just like in 2016 and 2020, I'm voting Republican for sheriff - not because of party, but because character matters. Heather Lappin has shown she has the temperament, education, and commitment to community that we desperately need. Nanos, with his retaliatory tactics and FBI investigations, needs to go.

Remember familia, sometimes being progressive means choosing good governance over party labels. ¡Hasta la próxima!