Pima County Sheriff debate: In testy exchanges, Chris Nanos and Heather Lappin challenge on experience

After coasting to a win in the Democratic primary, incumbent Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos faces a challenge for the general election with Republican Heather Lappin, a corrections lieutenant in the Pima County jail.

The candidates participated in a debate Tuesday night hosted by Arizona Clean Elections and livestreamed here.

The jail, which has been plagued in recent years with a high number of deaths, crumbling infrastructure and other complaints, has been one of the consistent points of contention in the race so far. Other issues include staffing numbers and how the sheriff’s department engages issues on the border and immigration.

Nanos, a Democrat, was first appointed to the office in 2015 and served for a year. He lost the election in 2016 and then won in 2020.

Lappin has been with 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.

Watch the debate below:

What’s at stake

In recent years, the Pima County jail, with an average daily population of about 1,800 people, has faced a spike in deaths , as well as increased criticism and scrutiny about inhumane conditions and medical care in the jail. The deaths hit a per capita rate far higher than the national average in 2022, and suddenly dropped off in September 2023, which is the last time someone is reported to have died in custody.

Other challenges for the sheriff’s department include frustrations from jail workers about understaffing, an ongoing opioid epidemic, a high rate of traffic fatalities and people dying while crossing the border .

In December of 2022, Nanos asked the Pima County Board of Supervisors for a raise for sheriff department staff, as well as to fund the construction of a new jail . He cited the jail’s current state of disrepair and the design model that makes it harder for staff to oversee people detained in the jail. The supervisors gave his staff a raise and commissioned a nearly year-long study about the necessity and feasibility of building a new jail. Ultimately, county officials declined to fund a new jail, but also commissioned another study , which is expected to make a new recommendation by this August prior to the general election.

In January, the Pima County Deputy’s Organization, which represents about half of the department’s deputies, approved a nearly unanimous vote of no confidence in Nanos .

“The vote was called after years of frustration at the lack of competent leadership and mismanagement from Sheriff Nanos and his senior command,” a statement attached to the post reads.

The deputies’ labor organization has since endorsed Republican candidate Heather Lappin. Nanos is endorsed by Pima County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, which is the sheriff department’s largest labor organization as it represents not only deputies but correctional officers and civilian staff.

What does the sheriff do?

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is charged with responding to emergencies and reported crimes, running and maintaining the jail and, according to the department’s website, working “relentlessly toward making our community safe for the people of Pima County.”

The department does all that work from as far east as Vail to Ajo, more than 150 miles away — a coverage area larger than the entire state of New Jersey. The county also includes about 130 miles along the U.S.-México border, more than any other county in Arizona.

The Pima County Sheriff is responsible for a budget of more $170 million and a workforce of about 1,500 people.

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