Mike Jette, challenger in the Democratic Primary for Pima County Attorney
Alphie Smith
Mike Jette is running for Pima County Attorney in the Democratic Primary. He spoke before the Democratic Club of Quail Creek (DCQC) at their monthly program on May 18 in the Kino Center.
Jette is challenging Laura Conover, the current Pima County Attorney. Both will be on the ballot in the Democratic Party Primary of Arizona, which will be held on July 30. The winner will then be on the ballot in the state’s general election on Nov. 5. Laura Conover was invited to attend and speak but had another commitment.
Jette is a pro-choice Democrat and a prosecutor with 16 years of experience at the county, state, and federal levels. He served 10 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Arizona. Jette knows the criminal justice system.
He cites the fentanyl epidemic as the crisis to deal with first. He wants to hold violent and repeat offenders accountable for the acts they commit. He would increase the number of prosecutors in Pima County to do this. He believes in diversion programs to help those who commit nonviolent crimes due to drug addiction.
Jette has done international work in Pakistan and the Philippines to help set up the rule of law. Jette also served seven years as president of Tucson Clean and Beautiful, a nonprofit organization, showing his connection to the community. He recognizes that “environmental issues are intertwined with social issues.”
The DCQC June monthly program will be held in the Kino Center on Saturday, June 15, with speakers from the ACLU. Also speaking will be Quail Creek resident Kim Lisk who is running for Sahuarita Town Council.