What they do: The Pima County sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in the county. The sheriff’s department runs the jail, investigates crimes, and patrols large rural areas.
Who can vote: All voters in Pima County can vote in the sheriff’s race.
This year’s race: Sheriff Chris Nanos has a Democratic challenger, Sandy Rosenthal, in the primary election. On the Republican side, Terry Frederick, Bill Phillips, and Heather Lappin are competing in the primary.
Read about the June 17 Pima County Sheriff candidate forum
Watch the June 17 Pima County Attorney and Sheriff candidate forum
Chris Nanos (Democrat): Incumbent. Campaign website. Nanos was appointed Sheriff in 2015, to finish out the term of then-Sheriff Clarence Dupnik. He lost the 2016 election, but was successful in his 2020 run. He’s currently under investigation by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for his handling of a sexual assault allegation levied by a deputy against her sergeant.
Sandy Rosenthal (Democrat) Campaign website. Rosenthal spent 36 years working for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, retiring in 2014. During his employment, he held multiple positions, including commander of special operations and commander of crimes against family and property. He also developed the regional SWAT team, regional paramedic team and two county ordinances
Heather Lappin (Republican): Campaign website. A 19-year veteran of the department, Lappin currently serves as a commander at the Pima County jail. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and just completed her master’s degree in organizational leadership at Northern Arizona University.
Terry A. Frederick (Republican): Campaign website. Frederick is a retired Pima County deputy who ran for Pima County Sheriff in 2012. He’s spent 35 years working in the legal field and left the department to open his own private investigation agency.
William P. Phillips (Republican): Campaign website. Phillips retired from the department in 2022, after 31 years of service. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal science and is a Marine Corps veteran. While working for the department, Phillips helped developed the active shooter training that’s used in schools across the country.
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