Guests - Michael Wiegand, Daniel Butierez, Betsy Smith, Steve Christy, Laurie Moore
Wildcats Gear Up for Final Four as Tucson Mobilizes for Recall, Election Integrity, and Sheriff Accountability
Kathleen Winn opens the show celebrating the Arizona Wildcats' advancement to the Final Four, noting the growing number of U of A flags around Tucson and the excitement building for Saturday's matchup against Michigan. She expresses pride in the team and Coach Tommy Lloyd, hoping they secure the national championship.
Michael Wiegand on LD18 Grassroots Event and Precinct Committeeman Recruitment
Michael Wiegand, precinct committeeman from LD18, announces an event this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. east of Costco on Grant and Wilmot, next to the former Carl's Jr. The gathering will feature Daniel Butierez collecting signatures for the Sheriff Nanos recall petition. Wiegand emphasizes the nonpartisan nature of the effort and invites the public to sign while shopping. "We're going to be having an event just to the east of the Costco on Grant and Wilmot... With all the national media attention on the Nanos and sheriff situation."
He highlights LD18's active role in Republican voter registration and candidate engagement, noting Doug Everett running for State Senate and Bob Dosey for the House in LD18. Wiegand encourages participation to strengthen local Republican efforts. "Doug Everett's running for State Senate in LD18 and Bob Dosey's running for the House."
Daniel Butierez on the Sheriff Nanos Recall Drive and CD7 Congressional Campaign
Daniel Butierez, Republican candidate for CD7 Congress, leads the grassroots recall effort against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. He reports strong momentum with Democrats, independents, and Republicans signing petitions at multiple locations. Butierez plans appearances at the Easter Egg Stravaganza in Marana, Whiskey Rose, and other sites this weekend. "I'm looking to hopefully get them all gathered up by April 18th... Daniel's coming on right after you this morning."
He stresses the recall transcends party lines, focusing on public safety and leadership failures. Butierez notes the bipartisan support, including Democrats visiting Republican headquarters to sign. "Democrats come to the Republican headquarters to sign the petitions, many of them... This is a community thing."
Betsy Smith on Sheriff Accountability and Grassroots Political Engagement
Betsy Smith addresses the ongoing issues with Sheriff Nanos, praising the Pima County Board of Supervisors' unanimous 5-0 vote to investigate his original application. She highlights the administrative investigation by Northstar Employment and Legal Solutions finding Nanos's actions inconsistent with policies and unreasonable. Smith notes the report details retaliation against subordinates, including Heather Lapin. "The sheriff's actions were found to be inconsistent with policies... He did things that were outside the bounds of reasonableness."
She underscores the pattern of behavior, including Nanos's failure to reach out to fellow sheriffs during the Nancy Guthrie case. Smith calls for Nanos to resign, citing the 241-0 no-confidence vote from deputies and the Arizona Sheriffs Association's distancing. "The rank and file... not one came to his rescue... The Arizona Sheriffs Association has distanced themselves."
Steve Christy on the Board of Supervisors' Investigation into Sheriff Nanos and Calls for Resignation
Supervisor Steve Christy discusses the Board's unanimous vote to investigate Nanos's original employment application, citing omissions and potential fraud. He praises Supervisor Matt Hines's leadership on the issue despite their usual disagreements. Christy emphasizes the need for accountability in the second-largest county in Arizona. "The pressure that he must be feeling... If he won't do it himself, find a way to remove Nanos from office together as a board."
Christy notes the national and international attention on Pima County, stressing the damage to the community's reputation. He calls for Nanos to resign to avoid further embarrassment. "Whatever actions he's taken... Now is the time to put all of that behind himself and save his department, save his deputies and save our community."
Laurie Moore on Recall Petition Progress and Community Involvement
Laurie Moore reports enthusiastic grassroots support for the Nanos recall, using her front porch as a hub and carrying clipboards everywhere. She secured sixty signatures in two hours at one event. Moore plans to approach churches, framing the recall as a community issue affecting all residents. "This is not a political thing—this is a community thing because the sheriff is sheriff for everybody."
She criticizes the "No Kings" rallies as astroturf funded by major donors and contrasts them with genuine local energy. Moore urges continued petitioning at the fair and sports gatherings. "I got six pages of signatures—sixty people in two hours... This guy's got to go."