By Phil Riske
Managing Editor, Rose Law Group Reporter
Rios is a household name in Arizona politics, especially in eastern and central Pinal County. The former Arizona Senate president and current chairman of the soon-to-become five-member Pinal County Board of Supervisors, Rios will be the only Democrat board member, with the defeat this month of Supervisor David Snider.
Rose Law Group Reporter had a few questions this weekend for the reelected Rios.
As a Democrat, how did you win reelection in a county that defeated your Democratic colleague David Snider and is trending Republican?
First, let me say that I had publicly stated approximately 12 years ago that within the next decade, Pinal County would be completely Republican. My colleagues told me they hoped I was wrong. I wish I had been wrong too.
Having said that, I have represented these same communities for approximately 30 years, both at the legislative and county levels. Many of these folks, especially the elderly, know me and the Rios name very well. I have always been very strong on constituent issue resolution.
As hard as some Republicans Party Officials have tried to tarnish the Rios name, I believe it still remains positively solid in central and eastern Pinal County.
What will be the effect of having a five-member board, instead of three?
Having worked in the Arizona State Senate with 30 Republican and Democratic senators for 24 years and the Arizona House with 60 members for four years, I don’t find a five-member board overwhelming. I realize that the new makeup of the board will be four Republicans and me as the single Democrat.
The majority of my years in the Legislature I served in the minority party and was still effective. I have no problem reaching across the aisle and approaching issues on a bipartisan basis, which I have done often. If we look at most issues confronting our county (roads, dust control, public safety, growth, health care, etc.), they are neither R or D issues; they apply to all the residents of the county.
Will you seek the chair of the board?
Will I seek the chair? I can count — 4 to 1. However, if they wish for me to serve as chair until one them feels they are experienced and comfortable enough to chair, I would certainly consider it. Not convinced Tea Party Republicans would allow them to be objective enough to consider this option.
Have you received a response from the state regarding your complaints about the heel-dragging on the Red Rock rail project?
No official response from State on Union Pacific Classification Yard.
Besides that project, what are your chief priorities for the coming term?
Issues that we as a county need to address this term range from EPA dust control; revisiting development fees; road maintenance advisory committee; employee pay raise; employee PDQ’s; economic development (on-going concern), including Resolution Copper, Phoenix Mart; major amendments to County Comprehensive Plan and more.
What’s your assessment of how the Legislature has performed since you left, both in policy and in its politics?
The Legislature has certainly become more conservative and partisan since I left four years ago. Many programs and funding we had put in place over the past 20 years, such as full-day kindergarten, funds for community colleges and universities, kids health care, daycare subsidies, adequate K-12 funding, resources for organ transplants, Science Foundation, etc. have disappeared.
These were programs passed on a bipartisan basis. Immigration vitriol did not help the image or our economic situation in Arizona. They sold our state Capitol and other state buildings. Given the recent change in the legislative make-up, maybe we will now stop our march back to the 1950s.
