TUCSON, Ariz. — Both candidates have one thing in common they hope to both serve District Four, which represents the east side of Pima County.
Supervisor Steve Christy hopes to keep his seat and continue to be a voice for businesses, especially during the pandemic.
“I feel with the COVID crisis they have been unfairly singled out as, quote-unquote, the bad guys when they are not the bad guys. The county and the board's majority needs to acknowledge what they are going through what they are suffering from as a result of the proclamations [passed], and all of the insertions and requirements that the county has imposed upon these businesses,” explained Supervisor Christy.
On the other hand, Steve Diamond would like to see more regulations to protect the most vulnerable from contracting the virus.
“Part of my approach to that would be to say we need more authority, not just what governor do see grudgingly gave in the form of letting local governments make their own face-covering regulations. But more than that, let us make our own regulations for particular situations like the University of Arizona and the disadvantaged neighborhoods,” Diamond explained.
The candidates have differing views on law enforcement funds.
Supervisor Christy supports Operation Stone Garden funding. It's a program that allows deputies to work side by side with border patrol to curb border crimes.
“I’m going to insist again, as I have consistently from the beginning that the county accept all stone garden grants and other funds from any entity be at Federal, State, or otherwise, that is devoted to assisting our law enforcement community [and] our Sheriff in protecting the citizens of Pima County, particularly those along the border area to stop the human trafficking the gun trafficking the drug cartels and other nefarious illegal activities," explained Christy.
Diamond said that's the issue that sparked his interest to run for local office. He criticized the response from select supervisors at the time.
“[Select supervisors] spoke in such a way as to imply that those voices didn't deserve to be heard and that they were presenting a view that didn't deserve to be heard and I think that's just flat out wrong. I would listen to all my constituents, you know, even the ones who think that way but I wouldn't be governed by the ones who think that their voices are better than anyone else.”
Diamond said if elected one thing he would love to see the county do is invest in the futures of working families by investing in early childhood education.
“It will require funding, not only from the county but also from the, from the state from the federal government and from private sources, I think, but I have a plan that no one else is really talking about that will help the economy recover from this, and pandemic induced recession, and we'll help our community to thrive in the future. And it's very simple. It involves taking more of the money that the county is now spending outside the county and spending it inside the county," said Diamond.
Christy said if re-elected he will continue to push for more road repairs in district four.
“I'm proud to say that in my district we've completely repaired and excuse me rehabilitated some 70 miles of roads. Doesn't sound. You know, super phenomenal. In the amount of mileage, when you take it, relative to the miles that are out there but nonetheless, dealing with financial restraints and a lot of the tension between the supervisorial districts trying to vie for this money to repair our roads. I think we did it," said Christy.
