Left to right: Heather Lappin, candidate for Pima County Sheriff; Town of Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy; Gail Griffin, Arizona State Representative; Juan Ciscomani, U.S. Congressman District 6; Arizona State Representative Lupe Diaz; Arizona State Senator David Gowan; John Backer, candidate for Pima County Board of Supervisors; Diane Priolo, Town of Sahuarita Town Council; and Lucas Ciscomani, son of Congressman Ciscomani (front)
Pat Colburn
More than 100 attendees enjoyed a dinner of pulled pork and all the sides in the Madera clubhouse Crystal Ballroom on Friday evening, June 21. The beer was provided by the QC Republican Club. Music was performed by Tom Smith and included a singalong to Lee Greenwood’s famous song “God Bless the USA.”
Several candidates attended who are vying for state, county, and local offices and displayed signs, handed out campaign material, and circulated among the attendees. We paid tribute to Lee Cornelison, a longtime leader of the club and an important Republican in the community. We also recognized Norma Cornelison, Lee’s wife of 55 years.
Candidates included all our District 19 Legislators, Senator David Gowan, and Representatives Lupe Diaz and Gail Griffin. Pima County candidates included Board of Supervisors candidates John Backer and Beatrice Cory Stephens, Pima County Sheriff candidate Heather Lappin, Pima County Treasurer candidate Chris Ackerley, and Town of Sahuarita Town Council candidate Diane Priolo. Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy also attended.
Everyone was surprised and thrilled to greet U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani and three of his children, Zoe, Kenny, and Lucas, and his campaign manager Juan O’Leary. We had been told not to expect him due to travel plans. The Congressman stressed the importance of voting and supporting all Republican candidates.
On June 28 the club welcomed three candidates to the monthly meeting: Kathleen Winn, candidate for U.S. Congress; Beatrice Cory Stephens, candidate for Pima County Board of Supervisors; and Bill Phillips, candidate for Pima County Sheriff. Sheriff Mark Lamb, candidate for U.S. Senate, was unable to make the meeting. His eldest son Cade Lamb spoke for him. Cade is an Arizona native and an Army veteran who served for five years in the 82nd Airborne. He is a business owner, a semi-professional marksman and gun enthusiast, and a contractor for the Lamb for Senate Campaign.
Kathleen Winn is a former local television reporter in Tucson and has spent 27 years in real estate, finance, and banking. She is the executive director of Project 25 whose mission is to “end sexual exploitation by 2025.” She was also State Director for the Arizona Attorney General’s office as the Community Outreach and Education Director where she focused on veterans’ issues and helped establish veterans’ courts statewide.
Beatrice Cory Stephens is a grassroots advocate and native Arizonan. She is a small business owner and has over 25 years management experience. She is a precinct captain in LD-19, SGT at Arms for the Pima GOP, and founding member of Saving Our Kids.
Bill Phillips, a Marine Corps veteran, had a 31-year career in the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and retired as a Lieutenant on June 30, 2022. He is coming out of retirement because he’s concerned about the decline of law enforcement in the county and country.
You should have received the ballots for the Arizona Primary election on July 30. The deadline to mail back ballots is July 23, and the last day to vote early in person is July 26. This year there will be a Voting Center in the Madera clubhouse on July 30 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There will be no July meeting of the QC Republican Club. Instead, please look for opportunities to support the local precinct with “Get Out the Vote” volunteer opportunities.
The Aug. 16 meeting will feature guest speaker Tom Horn, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction.