Category: Uncategorized

Heather Lappin, Candidate for Pima County Sheriff
John Backer, Candidate for Pima County Board of Supervisors
And, a presentation on Ranked Choice Voting!

Friday, March 15, 9AM (8:30 coffee)
Ocotillo/Mesquite rooms, Kino Conference Center

An exciting, rare opportunity to hear firsthand national and state news from our legislators – US Congressman Juan Ciscomani, AZ Congressional District 6, and District 19 State Representative Gail Griffin!  LIMITED SEATING!

Congressman Juan Ciscomani represents Arizona’s 6th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives and is running for reelection.Juan and his family immigrated to the United States when he was a young boy. They established roots in Tucson, Arizona, where his father worked as a bus driver to give his children a shot at the American Dream. Growing up in a working-class family taught Juan the value of hard work and the importance of a can-do attitude.  Juan attended public schools in Tucson, Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. He worked his way through school with maintenance and service jobs until becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. After college, Juan worked for the University of Arizona and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce before joining Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s administration as Senior Advisor and Vice-Chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission Juan focused on the issues of international trade and diplomacy, border security, and economic development. In 2022, Juan was elected to represent Arizona’s new 6th congressional district, becoming the first naturalized American citizen from Mexico elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona history. Juan often shares a conversation with his dad where his dad asked him:

“Where else could we have our story? We come to the US, learn English, immerse in the culture, become US citizens, I drive a bus most of my life, and now my son is a United States Congressman. Where else in the world? Nowhere else, that’s the American Dream.” 
 Juan is determined to fight to keep that dream alive for others.  Juan resides in Tucson with his wife, Laura, and their 6 kids — Zoe, Juan David, Kenny, Lily, Lucas, and Gloria.  State Representative Gail Griffin represents Legislative District 19 in the Arizona House of Representatives. District 19 includes portions of 5 counties: Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, and Santa Cruz.Gail Griffin is currently serving as a member of the House of Representatives and serves as the Chairman of the Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee, and the Vice Chairman of the Rules Committee. She is also a member of the Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Governor’s Water Council.She serves as Co-Chairman on the Ad Hoc Study Committees on Water Security, and Air Quality and Energy. She has also served on the Water Banking Authority, the Water Protection Fund, and many other committees of interest.Gail Griffin served in the Arizona State Senate and has been involved in issues at the local, state, and federal level for many years. She believes in a smaller, smarter government, less taxes, personal responsibility, protection of property rights, and in the free enterprise system. Representative Griffin will continue to fight to get education dollars into the classroom for students and teachers, for Veteran’s issues, for transparency in government, and will continue to challenge federal overreach, and support States Rights and our Constitution.Gail has received many awards for her service which includes “Senator of the Year” from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), “Legislator of the Year” from Arizona Rural Health Association and from the Arizona Mining Association.Gail holds memberships in many state and local organizations.She is a Real Estate Broker at Sierra Vista Realty and lives in Cochise County. 

Friday, February 16, 9AM (8:30 coffee)
Ocotillo/Mesquite rooms, Kino Conference Center

“Three Women in Politics!” – Learn about the latest from the Town of Sahuarita (Vulcan, Trader Joes?), the Arizona Corporation Commission, and all about elections (2020 election experience) at our February Meeting with:
 

l to r:  Diana Priolo, Lea Marquez Peterson, Kathy Bernier
Guest Speakers:

Diane Priolo, Town of Sahuarita Town Council Member  
Lea Marquez Peterson, Arizona Corporation Commissioner
Kathy Bernier, Wisconsin State Director of Keep Our Republic

Diane Priolo, Town of Sahuarita Town Council Member,  is seeking re-election to a four-year term.  Diane will be able to address questions concerning issues such as the Vulcan Asphalt Plant, the lights at Old Nogales Road and Quail Creek Boulevard and other inquiries such as will there be a Trader Joe’s in the area, Total Wine?

Diane was born in Brooklyn, New York and is the proud mother of accomplished twin daughters who are veterans of the Global War on Terror and reserve officers in the US Air Force.

Diane retired as a clinical social worker with legal and medical/surgical/burn experience including expert witness testimony in all forms of child abuse.  Her background includes being elected as a Precinct Committeeman and a GOP State Representative. 

She is currently serving a two-year term on the Sahuarita Town Council.

Lea Marquez Peterson is seeking re-election to the Arizona Corporation Commission.  She was appointed in May 2019 and elected statewide during the 2020 election cycle. She is the first Latina to serve in a statewide role in Arizona. She has spent her time on the Commission holding utilities accountable to Arizonans and fighting for affordable, reliable energy.
 
As the only Commissioner based outside of Maricopa County, Lea has worked diligently for the entire State to provide financial relief for customers and to ensure energy reliability. Her outreach to stakeholders across the state has been invaluable to ensuring that the voices of ratepayers are heard, and Arizona’s utilities are affordable, reliable and safe.
 
In addition, her decades of small business experience and service as the President of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber, one of the largest Chambers in the state, has been helpful in streamlining the business incorporation process and prioritizing the economic recovery of the state. 

Lea served as the Chairwoman of the Commission from 2020 to 2022 and is running to retain her seat to serve families in every County and to ensure Arizona families economic prosperity. Since her appointment, she has led initiatives to rebate $40 million dollars to customers of APS and TEP during the pandemic, and hosted meetings of the Commission to discuss the California rolling blackouts and its impact on Arizona’s energy and utility prices.  
 
Lea resides in Tucson with her husband and two children. Learn more about Lea and support her re-election campaign at www.VoteforLea.com. 

Kathy Bernier will be talking about her experience as a past election official and legislator in the 2020 election, investigations and some things that were asked of her.
 
She is a lifelong resident of Chippewa County Wisconsin.  The mother of 3 and grandmother of 6, she considers them her most valuable accomplishment.
 
Kathy is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.  She ran for County Clerk as a Republican in November of 1998 and took office in January 1999.  Among other accomplishments, she spent 12 years administering elections.  She ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2010, then Senate in 2018 where she served for four years.  For all of the 12 years in office, she chaired the Elections Committees.
 
Kathy retired from the legislature in January 2023 and was offered a position for a non-profit called Keep Our Republic in April, 2023.  She is the Wisconsin State Director.  Her mission is to educate the public on election administration in conjunction with county and municipal clerks.  Her moto is, “Do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do.”
 

REPUBLICAN CLUB NOVEMBER MEETING Friday, November 17, 9 AM (8:30 Coffee) Ocotillo/Mesquite Rooms, Kino Conference Center Guest Speakers Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels   “The Truth About What’s Going on at the Border”  In November 2012 and again in 2016, Mark J. Dannels was elected by the good citizens of Cochise County to serve as their 26th Cochise County Sheriff since 1881. “I continue to be Humbled, Honored and Dedicated to my oath of office for this incredible opportunity to serve you all with my personal commitment to sustain your Quality of Life as you would expect and your Freedoms and Liberties as scribed in the United States and Arizona Constitutions”.  And Rachel Walden, Candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission  Rachel is a Precinct Committeeman and State Committeeman in LD10. She is a member of the Governing Board for Mesa Public Schools, the largest district in the state. She has prioritized academic achievement, parental rights, fiscal responsibility, and transparency.

SEPTEMBER MEETING
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
9AM (8:30 COFFEE)
GUEST SPEAKER
TYLER BOWYER

September 15th Meeting – We welcome Tyler Bowyer, Chief Operating Officer of Turning Point Action, an organization founded in 2019 by Charlie Kirk. Turning Point Action has become a force for the conservative movement hosting rallies across the country on behalf of true pro-America candidates. In addition to his responsibilities at Turning Point, Tyler is also our Arizona Republican Party elected National Committeeman to the Republican National Committee (RNC).
 

“Arizona Corporation Commission”
With guest speakers: Arizona Corporation Commissioners
Nick Myers and Kevin Thompson

The Arizona Corporation Commission’s mission is to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable utility services; have railroad and pipeline systems that are operated and maintained in a safe manner; grow Arizona’s economy as we help local entrepreneurs achieve their dream of starting a business; modernize an efficient, effective, and responsive government agency; and protect Arizona citizens by enforcing an ethical securities marketplace.

Please note that the Town of Sahuarita and Union Pacific Railroad have a hearing  scheduled with the ACC to get final approval on the changes to the Union Pacific’s traffic light proposal at the entrance to Quail Creek on August 7. This is based on the town and UPRR having executed the Construction and Maintenance Agreement.  The agreement allows UPRR to begin the design of their improvements and start ordering materials/equipment.  It’s thought to be a formality but an opportunity to make them aware of the importance of the improvement and see if there is anything they can do to push UPRR to move as quickly as possible.  The estimate for completion is eight months.

NICK MYERS

Nick spent almost 20 years in the software engineering industry. He then branched out into small business where he and his family started and sold several businesses. Nick’s involvement with the commission started when he had a major dispute with a utility. This led to Nick being a community advocate in a multi-year process that was very successful. Following that, he became a Policy Advisor for Commissioner Justin Olson until being elected as a Commissioner himself. Nick ran a campaign on wanting to bring back regulatory stability, keeping rates low, and keeping our utilities resilient and reliable.

Nick, his wife and three children live in Pinal County. Nick appreciates the faith the residents of Arizona have placed in him in electing the first ever Commissioner from Pinal County, and looks forward to serving all Arizonans.

KEVIN THOMPSON

Kevin Thompson has over 25 years of utility and regulatory experience, including serving as a twice-elected Councilman for the City of Mesa. Kevin is a combat veteran of the United States Air Force, serving in Operation Desert Storm. He is a small business owner that focuses on helping clients grow and expand their businesses and bring economic development to Arizona. Kevin was a cofounder of the Mesa Veterans Resource Center, an East Valley resource for veterans that includes help with employment access, resume building, VA healthcare and benefits training, and mental health counseling. Kevin was the Manager, New Business Development for Southwest Gas for over 12 years, responsible for all new business engineering including the sale, design, and installation of billions of dollars of natural gas pipelines for residential, multi-family, retail, and commercial development.

Kevin and his wife, Donna, have been married for over 33 years and have two children.

CHRIS DESIMONE


  “The Arizona Republican Party:
Where We are At and Where We Need to Go”

Chris DeSimone is the radio host and co-founder of Wake Up, Tucson.  Wake Up, Tucson started on April 1st, 2009.  Chris started it with his good friend Joe Higgins with Golden Mike Award Winner Ed Alexander taking over the producer’s role.  The show has built a growing, loyal following that not only supports the show, but its valuable sponsors.

The show has been a stalwart supporter of the small business owner and the average taxpayer.  Wake Up, Tucson has earned the reputation for being fearless when questioning decisions by local leaders and the ability to expose backroom deals and crony relationships that are harmful to the region.  We like to say that it’s the show that “8 out of 10 elected officials don’t want you to listen to”.

Juan Ciscomani

Congressman Juan Ciscomani represents Arizona’s 6th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Juan and his family immigrated to the United States when he was a young boy. They established roots in Tucson, Arizona, where his father worked as a bus driver to give his children a shot at the American Dream. Growing up in a working-class family taught Juan the value of hard work and the importance of a can-do attitude. 

Juan attended public schools in Tucson, Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. He worked his way through school with maintenance and service jobs until becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. After college, Juan worked for the University of Arizona and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce before joining Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s administration as Senior Advisor and Vice-Chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. Juan focused on the issues of international trade and diplomacy, border security, and economic development.

In November 2022, Juan was elected to represent Arizona’s new 6th congressional district, becoming the first naturalized American citizen from Mexico elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona history. Juan currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and Veterans Affairs Committee. 

Juan resides in Tucson with his wife, Laura, and their 6 kids — Zoe, Juan David, Kenny, Lily, Lucas, and Gloria.

Juan Ciscomani

In 2022, Juan was elected to represent Arizona’s new 6th congressional district, becoming the first naturalized American citizen from Mexico elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona history. Notably, he was selected to serve on the Appropriations Committee as a junior Congressman and he delivered the Republican Address to the Nation in Spanish.  Don’t miss this opportunity to meet Juan!

Guest Speaker (GUARANTEED!)
ART DEL CUETO
 

Art Del Cueto has been with Border Patrol since 2003. His first duty station was Casa Grande, Arizona, where he helped in the effort to establish a new substation at Three Points, Arizona. Throughout most of his career, Art patrolled on the Tohono O’odham reservation, assisting in numerous drug and smuggling cases. As a representative of the bargaining unit members, Art has responded to over 90% of all significant incidents within the Tucson Sector including shootings, accidents, and agent assaults. As an Agent who is fluent in Spanish, he routinely leads the questioning of apprehended subjects.

Art has served as the Vice President for the National Border Patrol Council. He also currently serves as President of Local 2544 in the Tucson, Arizona sector.

Prior to working for the United States Border Patrol, Art worked for a maximum security state prison in Tucson. Art is originally from Mexico, deriving his U.S. citizenship through his father, but grew up in Douglas, Arizona. Art has lived the majority of his life in Arizona.

Art is the national spokesperson for the National Border Patrol Council. Art has had the ability to express the many concerns of the agents he represents as well as the issues with Border Security. Art has appeared on most major news shows on Fox News, CNN, Al Jazeera and HBO VICE. Art has also been on countless radio shows. In addition, Art is the host of his own show, The Green Line broadcast on KNST Tucson and available through IHeartRadio.