>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, SECRETARY OF STATE, ADRIAN FONTES TALKS ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION IN ARIZONA AND INVESTMENT FIRMS BY LAND FOR WATER RIGHTS AND 20 YEARS SINCE LORI PIESTEWA DIED IN IRAQ AND HER SON BRANDON WITH JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT MEMORIES OF HIS MOM.

THAT'S NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT'S DEPLOYING 1500 TROOPS TO THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER IN ANTICIPATION OF A SURGE IN MIGRATION WHEN THE PANDEMIC BORDER TITLE 42 ENDS NEXT WEEK AND THEY WERE REQUESTED BY HOMELAND SECURITY.

THE TROOPS WILL WORK IN ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES AND NOT PERFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES OR INTERACT WITH MIGRANTS.

>> THESE 1500 MILITARY PERSONNEL SOURCED FROM THE ACTIVE DUTY COMPONENT WILL FILL CRITICAL CAPABILITY GAPS SUCH AS GROUND-BASED DETECTION AND MONITORING, DATA ENTRY AND WAREHOUSE SUPPORT UNTIL CPB CAN DO THIS THROUGH CONTRACTED SUPPORT.

>> Ted: THEY WILL JOIN 1500 MILITARY PERSONNEL WITH CUSTOMS AT THE BORDER.

>>> THE ANNUAL POINT IN TIME OF HOMELESS SHOWS AN INCREASE IN THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS YEAR-YEAR.

IT SHOWS 9600 UNHOUSED PEOPLE AND THAT'S AN INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

VOLUNTEERS DOWNED FEWER PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMES IN THE EAST AND WEST VALLEYS, BUT THE CITY OF PHOENIX SHOWED AN INCREASE.

>>> GOVERNOR HOBBS AND STATE LAWMAKERS ALLOWS ARIZONA'S MEDICAID PROGRAM TO SPEND $1.5 BILLION FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND IT COMES FROM THE 2020'S FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT AND IT NEEDS APPROVAL AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN TOMORROW.

>>> NO SUCH AGREEMENT ON CAPITOL WITH A LIFTING OF THE DEBT CEILING.

PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLED FOR A MEETING WITH KEY LAWMAKERS AFTER SECRETARY JANET YELLEN LEARNED THAT THE COUNTRY COULD RUN OUT OF MONEY BY THE END OF THE MONEY.

THEY WANT THIS TIED TO SPENDING CUTS AND DEMOCRATS SAY THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.

>> THE UNITED STATES' GOVERNMENT PAYS IT DEBTS, PERIOD.

THIS IS ABOUT DEBTS INCURRED AND WE CANNOT BE SEEN AROUND THE WORLD TO BE A GOVERNMENT THAT MAY BE WITH PAY OUR DEBTS AND MAYBE AGAIN, MAYBE WE WON'T.

NO.

PEOPLE COUNT ON THE UNITED STATES' WORD AS ITS BOND AND SO WE NEED THE REPUBLICANS TO JUST RAISE THE DEBT CEILING.

AND LOOK, IF THEY WANT TO NEGOTIATE OVERSPENDING, BRING IT ON.

LET'S NEGOTIATE OVERSPENDING IN A BUDGET WHICH IS ABOUT FUTURE SPENDING.

GLAD TO HAVE THOSE NEGOTIATEDS, BUT NOT OVER THE DEBT CEILING.

>> Ted: A "NEW YORK TIMES"'S TIME REPORT THERE'S A PROCEDURAL MOVE TO BYPASS LEADERSHIP TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING.

>>> FALLOUT OVER BASELESS CLAIMS OF FRAUD TO PREOCCUPY A SEGMENT OF ARIZONA'S REPUBLICAN PARTY INCLUDING SOME ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS.

HOW IS THIS IMPACTING PREPARATION FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION?

WE ASK SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: WHAT'S GOING ON AS FAR AS ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW?

HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THINGS?

ARE YOU READY FOR NEXT YEAR?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR ELECTIONS ARE AROUND THE CORNER.

WE'RE ONLINE MONTHS FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE ELECTION AND WE HAVE TO START WORKING NOW TO RECRUIT THE RIGHT FOLKS, TO TRAIN THEM WELL TO GET THEM CERTIFIED AND SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NEGOTIATING A BUDGET THAT IS ABOUT $4.2 MILLION, PLUS THREE MILLION DOLLARS OF HAVA MILLION SPENT AND APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

ONCE WE GET THAT IN BEHIND, WE'LL HELP THE COUNTIES PREP UP AND MOVE THINGS FORWARD TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL ELECTION.

>> Ted: YOUR BIGGEST NEEDS AND ASKS?

>> PEOPLE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAVE BEEN UNDERFUNDED, BASICALLY STARVED FOR A LOOK TIME GOING BACK SEVERAL SECRETARIES.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD WITH FOLKS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE TO BASICALLY BRING THE OFFICE BACK TO ZERO.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SECURED SYSTEMS AND ROBUST SYSTEMS TO DO THE JOBS WE WANT THEM TO DO AND WE DODGED A BULLET IN 2022 WITH THE THING WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LOSS IN ARIZONA.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH IS ELECTION DENIAL VITRIALISM?

>> THE BRENDON CENTER FOR JUSTICE PUT OUT A REPORT WITH ONE IN SIX ELECTION WORKERS IMPACTED BY THE DISINFORMATION, ALONG THE THREATS AND IT'S DOWN TO ONE IN THREE AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM NATIONALLY THAT HAS HIT CLOSE TO HOME IN ARIZONA.

WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT SECURITY AND DEALING WITH THESE THREATS AND INVESTIGATIONS IN SPACES WHERE IT NEVER EXISTED BEFORE.

SO THE BUDGET WE'RE ASKING FOR SPEAKS TO BETTER TRAINING AND BETTER EQUIPMENT AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO ENGLISH.

>> Ted: RECRUITMENT OR RETAINING OFFICIALS?

>> THEY'RE BOTH JUST THE SAME, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE AND THEY'VE SEEN IT AND DONE IT AND THOSE ARE THE FOLKS BRINGING THE NEW GENERATION INTO THE FOLD.

I LIKEN THIS TO AN iPHONE.

YOU CAN TALK TO SOMEONE ACROSS THE WORLD AND IT'S EASY, BUT ONCE YOU GET INTO THE CHEMISTRY AND THE PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING, IT'S COMPLICATED.

WE HAVE TO HAVE CAREER PROFESSIONALS TO GO IN AND, VOTE AND TRUST THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING IT.

>> Ted: A LOT OF WHAT THE BUDGETS, THE THINGS YOU WANT AS FAR AS THE BUDGET INCREASE, ADDITIONAL FUNDS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNOR'S IDEA FOR A BUDGET.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT PRIORITIES THAT ARE BASED ON WHAT THE STAFF TOLD US BEFORE THE DECEMBER 30th DEADLINE WE WERE GIVEN TO TURN IT IN.

WE UTILIZED THE STAFF TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

FOLKS WILL LOOK AT THINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE'RE ON THE GROUND WITH THE BEST TEAM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE HAS EVER SEEN.

MORE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE GROUND IN COUNTIES MAKING THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

THEY KNOW WHAT THE COUNTIES NEED AND WHAT THAT OFFICE NEEDS.

I TRUST THAT BUDGET.

>> Ted: SHE'S THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE AND IS THERE A DISCONNECT?

>> YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO DESCRIBE HER PRIORITIES.

MY PRIORITIES ARE BASED ON DATA AND THE FOLKS WHO DO THE JOB IN THAT OFFICE AND ON THE NEEDS OF ALL 15 COUNTIES LOOKING AT AND THE STUFF THEY HAVE TO HAVE.

FOR EXAMPLE, OUR VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM STATE-WIDE SUPPORTS DIRECTLY AND DAILY 13 OF OUR COUNTIES.

WE'VE GOT TO UPDATE AND UPGRADE THAT SYSTEM AND THE SECURITY THAT LOCKS DOWN THAT SYSTEM AND GET TEXTS TO HELP MOVE IT FORWARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT BECAUSE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF THE BASIC PIECE OF INFORMATION FOR THE SYSTEMS.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

WE NEED TO FUND THIS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND NOT JUST PUSH IT DOWN TO THE COUNTIES.

>> Ted: I MENTIONED ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND YOU MENTIONED SECURITY.

YOU ALSO WANT 24/7 SECURITY FOR YOURSELF.

WHY?

>> WE WANTED 24/.

WHEN WE HAD IS LIVE THREAT.

WE HAD AN APPROPRIATION TO TRANSFORM WHAT SECURITY I NEED, MY FAMILY NEEDS AND OTHER FOLKS IN THE OFFICE NEED AND THEY CAN DEPLOY THOSE SECURITY RESOURCES AS NECESSARY.

WE NEVER ASKED FOR 24/7 ALL OF THE TIME.

BUT WHAT WE DO WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THE JOB DONE.

WE CAN HAVE CONTINUATION IN GOVERNMENT AND STAY SAFE.

WE'RE ALSO ASKING, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH TJ SHOPE AND SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDING TO SECURE OUR FOLKS AT THAT FRONT COUNTER WINDOW TO OPEN BACK UP AGAIN SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AHEAD OF TIME TO WALK IN AND DO THEIR BUSINESS.

>> Ted: $250,000 FOR OFFICE SECURITY AND $500,000 FOR SECURITY YOURSELF.

THE REPORTS ARE THAT IS PART OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?

>> THAT'S AVAILABLE AT AZSOS.GOV AND PERSONNEL SECURITY ALSO DOES INCLUDE SECURITY FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WHEN NECESSARY AS DETERMINED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE ALSO TO WANT TO MAKE VERY, VERY CLEAR, THIS ISN'T JUST PERSONNEL SECURITY.

THIS IS IT SECURITY FOR OUR INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THAT FLOW.

WE HAVE FOREIGN ACTORS AND NON-FOREIGN ACTORS ATTACKING US EVERY DAY.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ARIZONA TERRORISM CENTER AND PARTNERS AT THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE TO SHORE THIS UP BEFORE 2024 FOR SOLID ELECTIONS.

>> Ted: THOSE ARE THE FOREIGN ACTORS AND THOSE THREATS ARE THERE TO VARYING DEGREES.

YOU DID WANT 24/7 FOR A INSPECTION THREATS AND WERE THEY WRONG.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAID NO, I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE DPS DOESN'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A DISCONNECT.

>> I THINK THERE WERE ASSUMPTIONS FOLKS SAID WE WANTED 24/7 ALL OF THE TIME.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

WE WANT THE AMOUNT OF SECURITY PROVIDED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

OCCASIONALLY, THEY'LL HAVE SOMEBODY WITH THEM, DURING PUBLIC EVENTS AND TIMES THERE ARE A THREAT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, AS WELL.

AT THE MOMENT IN TIME, WHEN THE LIVE THREAT WAS DETERMINED, BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO WORKS WITH THE ACT, WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT MOMENT FOR 24/7 WITHIN7,BUT NOT BEYOND THE THREAT.

>> Ted: JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HAS DEALT WITH SECURITY IN ONE WAY, SHAPE OR FORM AND A LOT BASED ON THE VITRIAL AND THE BASELESS CLAIM THERE WAS RIGGING AND YOU WERE INVOLVED AND EVERYONE AND THEIR BROTHER WAS INVOLVED.

IS THAT STARTING TO DIE DOWN?

>> I HOPE SO.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE YOU SEEING OUT THERE?

>> WHAT I'M SEEING IS PEOPLE, GENERALLY SPEAKING, ARE COMING AROUND.

THE NONSENSE THAT WAS FOISTED ON THE TO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RESULTED IN THE EXPULSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE NOTION FOLKS ARE TIRED OF THE LIES AND THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND THEY'RE WILLING TO EXPEL ONE OF THEIR OWN MEMBERS AND THE LEGISLATURE, THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OF REASON AND LOGIC AND THE IDEA THERE ARE FACTS OUT THERE IN THE WORLD THAT CAN BE VERIFIED.

SO HOPEFULLY, WE CAN HAVE THE GROWNUPS BACK IN THE ROOM ACROSS THE ROOM IN THE WORLD SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO LOSE ELECTION OFFICIALS IN OUR SMALLER COUNTIES WHERE EACH PERSON IS SO VALUABLE TO THE OPERATION OF THE ELECTIONS FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS IN THOSE COUNTIES.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE FOCUSING ON, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE FOLKS HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED IN OUR BUDGET ASK, WHICH, BY THE WAY, FOLKS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND LET THEM KNOW.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE NEEDS THE RESOURCES THAT IT HAS TO HAVE TO RUN THESE COMPETENT ELECTIONS.

WE'VE GOT A REASONABLE REQUEST THAT YOU CAN FIND AT AZSOS.GOV/BUDGETS.

THEY CAN GO LINE BY LINE AND WE NEED HELP CONVINCING FOLKS THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR ALL ARIZONANS.

>> Ted: I CAN'T ASK YOU FOR ANY FAVORS?

>> WE MAY HAVE FUN PROCLAMATION IN THE NEXT ONE.

>> Ted: A PHONCONCERN OVER ARIZONA LAND TARGETED BY INVESTMENT FIRMS LOOKING TO SECURE WATER RIGHTS.

>> WERE WELCOME SARAH PORTER AND YOU'RE OUR GO-TO PERSON.

>> Ted: I WANT IT BECAUSE IT HAS WATER I CAN SELL.

>> THE WATER RIGHT PART OF THE PURCHASE IS WHAT THE INVESTMENT FIRM HOPES TO REALLY MAKE MONEY FROM SOME TIME IN THE FIRST AND THESE INVESTMENT FIRMS WILL BUY A FARM AND LEASE THE LAND BACK TO THE FARMER SO THE LAND STAYS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND THE INVESTMENT FIRM THAN LOOKS FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER SOME OF THAT WATER, POSSIBLY ALL OF THAT WATER TO ANOTHER WATER USER.

>> IF THEY TRANSFER ALL OF THAT WATER, WHAT BECOMES OF THAT FARM?

>> AN ISSUE THAT IS ADDRESSED IN THE TRANSACTIONS.

WE SHOULD BE CLEAR THERE ARE LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE TYPES OF TRANSACTIONS.

AND SO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRANSFERRING SURFACE WATER, FIRST OF ALL, WATER FROM RIVERS AND STREAMS AND REALLY, THE INTEREST IS IN WATER ON THE MAIN STEM OF THE COLORADO RIVER, THE WESTERN BORDER OF ARIZONA BASKETBALL THERE'S THEBECAUSE THERE'S THE CAP, A PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE MOVING THE WATER TO POTENTIAL BUYERS AND CITIES AND YEAH, IF ALL OF THE WATER WERE TRANSFERRED OFF, THEN SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE TO PREVENT A BIG, YOU KNOW, DUST BOWL PROBLEM.

>> Ted: ONE OF THE COMPANIES SELLING WATER TO QUEEN CREEK FOR $27 MILLION WORTH AND THEY'RE SAYING THEIR GOAL IS TO ADVANCE WATER TRANSACTIONS THAT BENEFIT THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> IN THE MIND OF THAT PARTY TO THE TRANSACTION, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON?

THEY'VE TAKEN ON BOARD THE RISK OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND, THE RISK THAT THE WATER RIGHT WILL OR WILL NOT INCREASE.

THEY'VE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FARMER AND MOST TRANSACTIONS TO CONTINUE TO LEASE THE LAND UNTIL THERE'S A BUYER FOR THAT WATER.

WHAT THEY'RING TO IS SELLING THE WATER RIGHT TO QUEEN CREEK AND IT'S HELPING QUEEN CREEK WITH THE REALLY IMPORTANT LONG-TERM WATER PLANNING.

>> Ted: IS THAT IN THE COURTS RIGHT NOW?

>> THERE'S A CHALLENGE THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS?

>> Ted: HOW FAR CAN THE CHALLENGE GO?

THIS SOUNDS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AWHILE?

>> THE HEARINGS STARTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN AND I'M NOT SURE OF THE FIRST HEARING.

IT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING IN PHOENIX AND THERE WERE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ALONG THE MAIN STEM.

THE WET COMMUNITIES ALONG OUR WESTERN BORDER ARE AFRAID OF BUY AND TRY AND AFRAID OF WATER RIGHTS BOUGHT UP AND SENT TO PHOENIX TO TUCSON.

ALSO, AGRICULTURE, ESPECIALLY IN YUMA, MAY BE ABLE TO GET MORE EFFICIENT AND THERE'S A POINT -- SO IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE UP WATER WITH EFFICIENCIES, AND THERE'S A POINT AT WHAT THE AGRICULTURE ECONOMY WOULDN'T BE SUSTAINED IF TOO MUCH WATER WERE TAKEN OFF AND TOO MUCH LAND WENT OUT OF PRODUCTION.

>> Ted: IS THERE A MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW AND IS THOUGHT THAT WATER RIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE TRANSFERABLE?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S A THOUGHT THAT PEOPLE ARE -- NOT THAT THOUGHT FLAT OUT.

BUT THERE ARE GUARDRAILS IN THESE KINDS OF TRANSACTIONS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT, ARE THE GUARDRAILS ENOUGH?

SO FOR THIS PARTICULAR TRANSACTION TO HAPPEN, THE FINAL SIGN-OFF WAS WITH THE WIRE OF BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND THE FINAL DECISION IS WITH THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR, BUT BEFORE THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION EVEN MADE A RECOMMENDATION, THEY WANTED TO HEAR FROM OUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.

THAT'S WHY THERE WERE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE GUARDRAILS.

AND THIS IS AN UNUSUAL TRANSACTION BECAUSE IT WAS A PRIVATE WATER RIGHT THAT WAS BASICALLY OWNED, THE CONTRACT FOR THAT WATER WAS OWNED BY THE LANDOWNER.

IN MOST INSTANCES ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER WHERE WE HAVE FARMING REGIONS, THE WATER RIGHT IS ACTUALLY HELD BY AN IRRIGATION DISTRICT.

>> Ted: INTERESTING.

>> THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER GUARDRAIL AND THE WARD, WHICH IS AN ELECTED BOARD BY THE LANDOWNERS THAT BENEFIT THE IRRIGATION, THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER.

>> Ted: ANOTHER WAY LOOK AT THIS IS, THESE WATER SPECULATION COMPANIES ARE TAKING ON BOARD QUITE A BIT OF RISK, AND THEY ARE HOPING THAT ALL OF THOSE GUARDRAILS, THAT THEY'LL GET THROUGH ALL OF THE GUARDRAILS AND DO A TRANSFER.

IN THE MEANTIME, THERE'S A BENEFIT TO THE LANDOWNER.

THE LANDOWNER WHO SELLS THE LAND IS PAID AND SO THAT LANDOWNER RECEIVES THE BENEFIT.

I THINK ANOTHER POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF THIS IS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN OUR HOT OR TRIER FUTURE,DRIERFUTURE, HOW THEY CAN HELP AGRICULTURE INVEST IN ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER WATER EFFICIENCY SO THAT SOME OF THAT WATER COULD BE CONSERVED AND USED BY URBAN -- MUNICIPAL USERS.

THAT'S ONE POSSIBLE OPTION FOR THE FUTURE.

WHILE I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THIS KIND OF LAND SPECULATION DEAL, THEY ARE A VEHICLE OR INSTRUMENT FOR THE TYPE OF TRANSACTION THAT I JUST DESCRIBED.

SO IT IS KIND OF A WAY OF SEEING TO THE FUTURE WHERE TOWNS LIKE QUEEN CREEK AND BUCKEYE LOOKING FOR WAYS OF ACQUIRING LONG-TERM WATER SUPPLIES TO DO THIS WITH THE MAIN STEM.

>> Ted: THIS IS A BUSINESS TRANSACTION, BUT IT GETS PEOPLE'S RADAR UP, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.

>> ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITIES AND NOT OF THE FARMERS THEMSELVES, BUT THE COMMUNITIES THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY LOOK TO SOME OF THAT AGRICULTURAL WATER THEIR GROWTH SUPPLY AND HELP TO GROW, TOO, AS SO MANY CITIES AND DON'T WANT THE WATER THEY HAVE TO BE THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL OF THE THE WATER THEY'LL EVER HAVE.

>> Ted: SARAH PORTER AT THE MORRISON INSTITUTE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Ted: LORI PIESTEWA WAS THE FIRST FIVE WOMAN TO DIE IN COMBAT KILLED IN THE IRAQ WAR.

BRANDON WORKS IN MILITARY SERVICE AND JOINS US NOW ANDWORK AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

SUCH A SMALL CHILD WHEN YOUR MOM DIED AND YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO LIVE WITH US OVER THE YEARS AND HAS IT HELPED TO PUT HER LEGACY INTO PERSPECTIVE?

>> IT DEFINITELY HAS AND OVER THE YEARS, IT'S BEEN A STEPPING STONE EACH TIME.

AND EACH YEAR PRESENTED DIFFICULT MEANING AND IT ALSO HAD HELPED ME GROW AND LIVE LIFE IN THE WAY NOT NORMAL KIDS WOULD MY AGE.

I HAD STRUCTURES AND OVERCOME WAYS.

>> Ted: HAVING SUCH A HIGH PROFILE MOM MUST HAVE BEEN ROUGH FOR YOU AT TIMES.

>> IT WAS ROUGH FOR ME AT TIMES AND, BASICALLY, I FELT -- MY GRANDMOTHER SAID I ALWAYS HAD EYES ON ME AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO, EVERYONE WOULD FIND.

>> Ted: I BET.

WAS THERE A SPARK WHERE IT TURNED ALL AROUND FOR YOU OR WAS A GRADUAL PROCESS IN.

>> IT WAS A GRADUAL PROCESS.

THERE WAS A TIME GROWING UP WHEN I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO OTHER STUDENTS MY AGE.

THAT'S WHAT I DO NOW, ASIDE FROM WORKING IN THE VETERAN'S CENTER.

I SPEAK TO OTHER KIDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TELL THEM ABOUT THE WORD "FREEDOM" AND THAT HELPS OTHER TO UNDERSTAND THAT, TOO.

>> Ted: DO YOU REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT YOUR MOM?

>> VERY SLIGHTLY, YEAH.

AND I'VE TALKED TO, ACTUALLY, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AND THEY'VE TOLD ME THAT, BEING THAT YOUNG, YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THE GREAT TIMES OR THE BAD TIMES.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ONE OF THOSE MEMORIES THAT I HAVE BOTH GOOD AND BAD.

>> Ted: AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE EYES ON YOU AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN TELL YOU STORIES AND GRANDMOTHER CAN TELL YOU STORIES IN.

>> SO MANY STORIES.

WHAT'S PERFECT, WE HAVE A MEMORIAL ON THE 23rd OF MARCH AND HER COMRADES TELL ME, LIKE, THE LAST PART OF HER LIFE, BASICALLY, AND WHAT SHE WAS AS A SOLDIER AND BASICALLY, GOING TO BASIC TRAINING AND I ENJOY THAT.

>> Ted: YOUR MOM, HOW IS SHE REMEMBERED AND HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY REMEMBER HER?

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>> THE COMMUNITY REMEMBERS HER, BASICALLY WHAT THEY DO, THEY JUST HONOR HER BY REMEMBERING HER NAME AND BY DOING THAT, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS AND DIFFERENT MEMORIALS IN HONOR OF HER.

THERE'S A HOPI POST NAMED AFTER HER ON THE RESERVATION AND GO TO DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS IN HONOR OF HER.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS SOUNDS LIKE IT IMPACTS THE COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE WORKING AT NAU.

I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE A POWER LIFTER, HUH?

>> YES, I AM.

>> Ted: ALL OF THIS, DO YOU FEEL YOUR MOM'S INFLUENCE?

AGAIN, LOSING HER AT FOUR IS TOUGH, BUT YOU'VE BEEN AROUND HER YOUR WHOLE LIFE BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING YOU HEARD AND PEOPLE SAY ABOUT HER.

IS THAT INFLUENCE STILL THERE?

>> DEFINITELY STILL THERE AND ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE WHERE I WORK AT NOW, MY GOAL AND PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO GET BACK AND WORKING HERE IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHER VETERANS AND SPOUSES, TOO, AS WELL.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THE STEPPING STONES TO HELP ME ACHIEVE MY GOAL TO BE AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST.

>> Ted: GOOD FOR YOU.

30 SECONDS LEFT HERE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR MOM?

>> SO, BASICALLY, WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS THAT SHE WAS NOT ONLY JUST A SOLDIER BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SEE HER AS.

SHE AS A MOTHER AND A DAUGHTER AND A SISTER AND SO I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT, TOO, AS WELL.

HER PURPOSE WAS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND IN PEACE.

>> Ted: GREAT JOB.

BRANDON, LORI PIESTEWA'S SON.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.