Recently, some misleading claims and articles about my background have been circulating online and around town.

I believe voters deserve facts, transparency, and respectful dialogue.

Public service careers that span decades often involve navigating difficult challenges and complex issues. I am proud of my 38-year career in state and federal public service and of the dedicated professionals I had the privilege of working alongside to improve public safety, child welfare, and government accountability. 

I welcome honest conversations about the issues affecting our community, and I remain focused on listening, transparency, and practical leadership for Bisbee’s future.
 

 
 
Arizona Child Welfare 
In 2013, I was serving as Director of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. During my tenure, my team implemented evidence-based programs, reduced recidivism, lowered the number of incarcerated youth, and reduced agency operating costs while maintaining critical rehabilitation and educational services.

While serving in that role, Governor Jan Brewer appointed me to lead a task force charged with identifying failures within Arizona’s child protective services system and implementing reforms to improve accountability and child safety.

Related Source: Arizona Daily Independent

Working alongside child welfare advocates, community leaders, frontline staff, and policymakers, we helped develop the framework for the Arizona Department of Child Safety so the protection of vulnerable children would receive focused leadership and dedicated resources.

Governor Brewer later appointed me Interim Director of the newly created agency.

During my time leading the agency, our team:

• implemented a professional call center that reduced hold times for those reporting child abuse and neglect from approximately 45 minutes to under one minute;

• addressed thousands of previously uninvestigated reports of abuse and neglect;

• hired additional child safety staff to reduce case backlogs;

• and increased transparency and accountability within the system.

 
Related Source:  Arizona Republic Editorial Board   
 
I served in this role until the next Governor took office, at which point new agency leadership was appointed. I was then selected to serve as Court Unit Executive and Chief Probation Officer for the U.S. District Court for Arizona, where I served successfully and effectively for the remaining seven years of my public service career.
 
Arizona Public Safety 
Prior to my service in child welfare, I served as Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections.
Part of my responsibilities included overseeing operational matters related to Arizona’s lawful execution protocol during a period when pharmaceutical manufacturers had stopped supplying departments of corrections nationwide.

Arizona, like many other states at the time, faced legal and logistical challenges related to obtaining these pharmaceuticals. Our team worked within the legal framework and procedures in place at the time while carrying out responsibilities assigned under Arizona law.

Subsequent court proceedings resulted in additional federal review and policy clarification regarding the procurement process. At all times, our team acted pursuant to the legal framework and guidance then in place.

Public service is not always easy, especially during times of crisis and reform, but I have always believed leadership means confronting difficult challenges directly and transparently.