Five candidates are competing to become the supervisor for District 1 in Pima County after current supervisor Ann Day steps down later this year.

Pima County District 1 extends from areas north of the Rillito River, east of Interstate 10 to just east of Sabino Canyon Road and south of the Pima-Pinal county line and includes Oro Valley and Marana.

Republicans Mike Hellon, Stuart McDaniel, Ally Miller and State Rep. Vic Williams are each looking to win the Primary Election in August and the winner will face Democrat Nancy Young Wright in the General Election.

Day, who decided not to seek reelection, has held the position of Supervisor for almost 12 years.

Williams R-District-26 said Pima County needs jobs, well-planned and maintained roads and government that works.

Williams has lived in Pima County 10 years. He first became involved in the community through his work with the Marana Care Fair, the Northwest YMCA, and his local homeowner’s association. 

Williams has been involved in local politics since 2004 when he started volunteering for the Pima County Republican Party, serving as chairman of an effort to get out the vote in 2005. He was treasurer of the county GOP in 2006 and vice 

chairman of Legislative District 26 GOP. 

“I want to turn my focus to local issues,” Williams said.

Williams was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2008 and 2010 where he focused on balancing the state budget and passing state-developed illegal immigration legislation. 

Williams said after working on job creation at the State Legislature, he wants to continue at the local level. 

“I’ve been transparent, available and accessible as a Representative and I’ll continue to do so,” he said. “I believe that my positions are consistent with those in the community.” 

Hellon said that he has the experience to provide what the Board of Supervisors needs. Hellon graduated from Arizona State University in 1972 with a degree in business management and he has been the president of Hellon and Associates, Inc. since 1978. 

Hellon said his relevant background and experience is what sets him apart from the other three Republican candidates. 

“They’ve never done anything,” Hellon said.

If elected Hellon’s priorities will be to reprioritize the budget, reduce the debt and fix the roads.

The lifestyle is what Hellon likes best about Pima County. 

“This is a very good place to live and to raise a family and relax,” he said. “The current economy can’t keep the kids from college here. That’s another thing I’m going to work on.”

Hellon ran for the Arizona House of Representatives in Congressional District 8 in 2006 unsuccessfully.

Hellon is currently chairman of the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review and serves on the Arizona Judicial Council. He is also a faculty member for the Arizona Supreme Court New Judges Training Program.

See from from Hellon at http://explorernews.com/news/elections/article_23b345c8-c6cb-11e1-a7db-0019bb2963f4.html

Miller said her number one priority will be jobs, if she is elected. 

“I believe I stand a very strong chance of winning,” Miller said

Miller has received endorsements from State Sen. Al Melvin and Rep. Terri Proud. Miller is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree in finance and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Eller School of Management.

“I’ve had experience in large financial corporations,” Miller said

The other candidates talk about their small business experience, Miller said. “Pima County is not a small business.”

Miller has lived in Tucson almost 30 years. Even through Miller said she never intended to run for public office, she has been active in local politics for several years and she spoke out at city council and Rio Nuevo board meetings. 

“I’m running because I’m tired of property taxes going up and the lack of accountability for where tax dollars are going,” Miller said.  “I’m stepping up to try to do the right thing for our community.”

McDaniel called himself the conservative candidate in this race.

McDaniel moved to Tucson in the early 1990s to attend the University of Arizona and he’s lived here ever since. McDaniel is a licensed mortgage banker who works in real estate finance and runs a consulting business. 

“I’ve had enough and I think I can make a positive difference,” McDaniel said.

He worked for Mike Boyd’s successful 1996 campaign for the Board of Supervisors and more recently served as deputy campaign manager for Jesse Kelly who lost to Ron Barber in the CD8 special election. 

“I understand the needs of this community,” McDaniel said. “I’m a part of this community.”

McDaniel is a member of the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Small Business Association.

McDaniel said making Pima County more business friendly is critical in addition to regaining the trust of the public.

McDaniel has received endorsements from Congressman Trent Franks, Senator Steve Smith, Oro Valley Vice Mayor Lou Waters, the North Tucson Firefighters and the Old Pueblo Firefighters Association.

Democrat Nancy Young Wright served in the Arizona House of Representative for three terms. She also served on the board for Amphitheater Unified School District.

Young Wright chaired Oro Valley’s first parks and recreation advisory board and she was a member of the Pima County Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan steering committee. 

Young Wright’s priorities for Pima County include job creation and economic development, restoring roads and improving infrastructure, promoting strong, responsive law enforcement, promoting strong public schools and protecting Pima County’s water and natural resources.

See more from Nancy Young Wright at http://explorernews.com/news/elections/article_82ca7224-d4e6-11e1-9ab9-0019bb2963f4.html

 

 

Candidates for Pima County board of supervisors

District 1 - 

Mike Hellon, Republican

Stuart McDaniel, Republican

Ally Miller, Republican

Vic Williams, Republican

Nancy Young Wright, Democrat

District 2 - 

Ramon Valadez, Democrat

James Kelly, Republican

District 3 - 

Sharon Bronson, Democrat

Tanner Bell, Republican

District 4 - 

Ray Carroll, Republican

Sean Collins, Republican

District 5 -

Richard Elías, Democrat

Fernando Gonzales, Republican

 

 

Pima County races

Pima County Sheriff:

Clarence Dupnik, Democrat

Dave Croteau, Green

Terry Frederick, Republican

Vinson Holck, Republican

Chester Manning, Republican

Mark Napier, Republican

Pima County Attorney:

Barbara LaWall, Democrat

Claudia Elquist, Green

Pima County Assessor:

Bill Staples, Democrat

Pima County Recorder:

F. Ann Rodriguez, Democrat

Bill Beard, Republican

Pima County School Superintendent:

Linda Arzoumanian, Republican

Mace Bravin, Republican

Pima County Treasurer:

Elaine Richardson, Democrat

Beth Ford, Republican

 

Important dates

Primary Election:

May 29 - First day to request an early ballot, the last day is Aug. 17.

July 30 - Voter registration cut-off

Aug. 2 - Early voting begins

Aug. 28 - Primary Election Day

General Election:

Aug. 6 - First day to request an early ballot, the last day is Oct. 26.

Oct. 9 - Voter registration cut-off

Oct. 11 - Early voting begins

Nov. 6 - Primary Election Day