Accomplishments Message

Protecting the public safety of this community continues to be my top priority. I have always pledged to stand firm and hold criminals accountable for their conduct.

Serving victims of crime, preventing crime, and administering an efficient, cost-effective office have also been a primary focus in the years that I have served as the County Attorney.

I am proud of the fact that my office continues to be one of the most outstanding prosecutor’s offices in the nation.

The Pima County Attorney’s Office continues to maintain the lowest plea bargaining rate, and the highest trial rate of any prosecutor’s office in Arizona. Since I first took office in 1996, my office has carefully targeted the most violent, dangerous and repetitive criminals by offering them no plea bargains and taking them to trial.

Under my leadership and direction, the percent of trials of violent and dangerous offenders has increased from 24% to 70%. This means these offenders can be sentenced to the longest prison sentences possible. Our conviction rate remains one of the best in Arizona at 90.8%. As your County Attorney, I pledge to continue the policies that bring dangerous, violent and career criminals to trial and hold them fully accountable.

I am deeply committed to serving and helping the thousands and thousands of people in our community who are victimized each year. The County Attorney’s Victim Witness Program is recognized and acclaimed as one of the best and most unique programs in the nation and around the world by providing year-round 24/7 crisis response in addition to court advocacy, notification, victim compensation and assistance.

I am proud to have expanded this program to serve Marana and Oro Valley and the other communities in Northwest Pima County, and have plans to expand the Victim Witness Program to serve Sahuarita, Green Valley and Ajo in my next term.

I have a proven track record of developing and implementing creative, bold and innovative prevention programs designed to fight and prevent crime, benefit victims, save you money as a taxpayer and enhance the quality of life for all people in Pima County.

Under my leadership and guidance, I have created numerous crime prevention programs to prevent youth violence, reduce delinquency and enhance the quality of life in our community. My record of accomplishment in this area has been recognized locally as well as on the state and national level.    

 I also have demonstrated and proven an unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility in governance with a solid track record of accomplishment in administration and management. I am proud that year after year, without exception, I have administered and managed the operations of the largest law firm in Southern Arizona, with a budget exceeding $30 million dollars and more than 400 staff, and, unlike many other County Departments, have always operated within budget every year. Despite significantly reduced and declining federal, state and local resources, I run an effective, cost-efficient and fiscally sound department that has never exceeded its authorized budget.