♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CHAIR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OVER AN ONGOING ELECTION FIGHT WITH THE COUNTY RECORDER.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, NEW GUIDANCE FOR TREATING HIGH CHOLESTEROL AT A YOUNGER AGE.

>>> AND ARIZONA'S OFFICIAL STATE BALLADEER DOLAN ELLIS HAS A NEW BOOK OUT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN A LEGAL DISPUTE WITH JUST A WEEK BEFORE EARLY VOTING BEGINS FOR THE 2026 PRIMARY.

THE WAR OF WORDS IN AND OUT OF COURT IS BASED ON A DISAGREEMENT OVER WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY OVER ELECTION-RELATED FUNCTIONS AND I.T.

STAFFERS.

JOINING US NOW IS KATE BROPHY McGEE, THE CHAIR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE, THANK YOU.

TED: COUNTY JUDGE, IN THIS CASE, WE'LL GET TO MORE DETAILS OF THE CASE, BUT BASICALLY WANTS YOU AND THE RECORDER TO SETTLE THE ISSUE AS, QUOTE, PLEASE KEEP TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

ARE YOU TALKING?

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING RIGHT STRAIGHT ALONG.

THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS, WALK AWAY, THINK WE'RE THERE AND WE WIND UP NOT BEING THERE, AND JUST TO SET THE STAGE, THIS ALL STARTED WHEN STATE STATUTE CONTEMPLATES SEPARATE DUTIES.

SO THE RECORDER IS GOING TO REGISTER VOTERS AND VERIFY SIGNATURES AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO COUNT THE VOTES.

THOSE ISSUES ARE SEPARATED FOR A SPECIFIC REASON.

SO THERE IS AN AGREEMENT THAT THE RECORDER AND THE BOARD EXECUTE THAT SAYS WHO DOES WHAT?

BECAUSE THE RESPONSIBILITIES, JURISDICTIONS CHANGE AS YOU GO THROUGH ELECTION.

MR.

HEAP STARTED OUT BY CANCELING THAT AGREEMENT, BUT NOTHING CAME IN ITS PLACE.

ULTIMATELY, A YEAR AGO, APRIL, WE THOUGHT WE HAD AN AGREEMENT, AND IT TURNED OUT HE TOOK US TO COURT.

THAT'S WHERE WE STAND, AND WE WENT TO A JUDGE WITH THE IDEA THAT MAYBE HE COULD CLARIFY WHO DOES WHAT.

THE RULING WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE IT CREATED FAR MORE CONFUSION THAN IT DID CLARITY, SO NOW WE ARE APPEALING BOTH FOR A STAY, BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION, AND WE'RE ALSO APPEALING ON THE BASIS OF THE RULING POINTS.

TED: THE JUDGE RULED THAT THE BOARD WRONGLY STRIPPED THE RECORDER'S OFFICE, AND SOUNDS AS THOUGH HE SAID JUSTIN HEAP, THE RECORDER, SHOULD HAVE CONTROL OVER VOTER DATABASE.

IF THESE THINGS BY STATUTE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DIVIDED, WHERE IS THE JUDGE COMING FROM WITH THIS?

>> THERE IS CERTAIN TESTIMONY THAT WAS SUBMITTED.

WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THE BOARD, AND OUR ELECTIONS AND THE RECORDER HAVE IDENTICAL ACCESS TO THE DATABASE TO DO THEIR JOB FUNCTIONS.

I WILL ALSO TELL YOU, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, WE'VE CONDUCTED FIVE ELECTIONS SINCE WE ALL TOOK OFFICE, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT, AND THE RECORDER HAS BEEN ABLE TO USE THE FUNCTIONS THAT HE HAS NEEDED.

THE ISSUE IS THAT IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED SYSTEM, AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPLIT IT, YOU NEED A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE ON IT.

THE OTHER OPTION THE JUDGE GAVE US WAS TO FUND A BRAND-NEW SYSTEM.

TED: YEAH, AND JUSTIN HEAP WANTS MEDIATION.

I THINK THE COURT WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME KIND OF MEDIATION, BUT NOW WE HAVE HIS IDEA OF MEDIATION IS ELECTION DENIER BASED OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C., IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES, WE DECLINED.

WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS VICE CHAIR DEBBIE LESKO AND I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE RECORDER COUNTLESS TIMES IN PUBLIC SAYING WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU, WE WANT TO COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT.

WE HAVE ASKED THAT IT BE IN PUBLIC.

WE HAVE ASKED THAT IT BE RECORDED BECAUSE WE'VE COME TO PRIOR AGREEMENT, WE THOUGHT, IN PRIOR TIMES AND NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PRODUCING AN OUTCOME.

TED: THE RECORDER'S ATTORNEY SAYS THE ONLY REASON YOU WANT IT PUBLIC IS TO GRANDSTAND?

>> THE RECORDER'S ATTORNEY SAYS A LOT OF THINGS.

HE FILES A VERY HEATED MOTION.

HE RECENTLY WROTE US A LETTER SAYING HE WOULD PUT OUR COUNTY ELECTIONS, EMPLOYEES, THEY WOULD BE IN CRIMINAL CONTEMPT IF THEY APPROACHED A DROP BOX.

HE ALLEGES A LOT OF THINGS.

MOST OF THEM ARE NOT TRUE.

TED: INDEED, HE WARNED FIRST OF ALL APPROVING LOCATIONS OF THE DROP BOXES WITHOUT THE RECORDER'S AUTHORIZATION WAS A CRIME, AND ANYONE WHO WOULD HANDLE THOSE DROP BOXES, I.E., ELECTION WORKERS, THEY COULD BE ARRESTED.

THAT'S SERIOUS TALK THERE.

>> HE THREATENED OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN ANY CASE.

IT'S NOT BEEN TAKEN UP, BUT HE ALSO WANTED US TO BE CHARGED WITH CONTEMPT IN THAT REGARD.

TED: YES.

PRIOR TO ALL OF THIS, WHAT'S BASED ON THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT, THE DROP BOXES IS THE RECORDER SAYS HE DESIGNATES AND ESTABLISHES WHERE THOSE BOXES GO.

YOU SAY NO.

>> LET ME EXPLAIN, IF I GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WHERE ONE SIDE DOES THIS, THE OTHER SIDES DO THAT, AND WE TRADE JURISDICTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES DEPENDING WHERE WE ARE IN THE VOTING PROCESS.

THE VERY LAST VOTE TAKEN ON ANY ELECTION IS THE BOARD WILL CANVASS OR APPROVE OR CERTIFY THE ELECTION.

SO WE DO HAVE A ROLE.

THE BOARD ALSO HAS A ROLE IN EXECUTING CONTRACTS WITH THESE SITES WHERE EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY VOTING IS GOING TO TAKE US.

WE'VE ASKED FOR A ROLE, WE EXPECT A ROLE, THAT IS PART OF OUR DUTY AS MANAGING ELECTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT'S SO DIFFICULT.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE AUTHORIZATION, WHO IS IN CHARGE, IS DIFFICULT.

THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM LAYS.

>> THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE RECORDER'S OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY ROCKY, BUT OUR ELECTION STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE RECORDER STAFF.

WE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED BOTH LOCATIONS IN A SERIES OF E-MAILS BETWEEN OUR ELECTIONS OFFICIALS AND THE RECORDER'S OFFICIALS, BUT THEN ALL THE AGREEMENTS CLAIMED ARE NOW CANCELED, ACCORDING THE RECORDER'S ATTORNEY.

TED: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS IDEA, THIS REPORT THAT A STAFFER, A RECORDER STAFFER REMOVED A SCANNER AND BALLOTS FROM AN ELECTION OFFICE.

HAD THEM FOR 50 MINUTES, AN HOUR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RETURNED THEM TO THE OFFICE.

THE SCANNER HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS COMPROMISED.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE VIDEOS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

IT DEMONSTRATES A TERRIBLE LACK OF JUDGMENT AND UNDERSTANDING, AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THE SCANNER BECAUSE WE SOUGHT LEGAL COUNSEL AND ELECTIONS COUNSEL, CAN WE STILL USE THIS MACHINE, NOW THAT IT'S BEEN BROUGHT BACK?

AND WE WERE TOLD IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM CAN YOU USE IT.

IT'S CORRUPT.

WE HAD TO GO OUT AND BUY A NEW SCANNER.

THE RECORDER AND HIS ATTORNEY HAVE MADE SOME PRETTY FANTASTIC ALLEGATIONS AROUND THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, BUT REGARDLESS, THEY COULD HAVE JUST ASKED, AND THE BALLOTS OR BALLOT ENVELOPES THAT WERE REMOVED.

THAT INDIVIDUAL, THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, HAD NO BUSINESS IN THE LOCKED CAGE.

TED: BEFORE WE GO, LAST QUESTION HERE.

THE COURT HAS RULED ON HIS SIDE HERE REGARDING THIS AUTHORIZATION.

FOR THE MOST PART, HE WANTS TO SEE MEDIATION, BUT ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING A WEEK BEFORE EARLY BALLOTS GET SENT OUT.

WE GOT A PRIMARY ELECTION.

WHAT DO YOU TELL VOTERS WHO SAY WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> I KNOW YOU AS A VOTER ARE VERY BUSY IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIVE US AND DON'T REALLY WANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF THIS, YOU SIMPLY WANT TO BE SURE THAT YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED.

WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD.

OUR ELECTIONS STAFF, AND THE RECORDER STAFF, TO CONDUCT AN ELECTION WHERE EVERY VOTER CAN BE HEARD, AND THEIR VOTE COUNTED.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND FOCUS ON THAT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO AGREE TO MEET WITH THE RECORDER AND TRY AND HAMMER THESE THINGS OUT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR FOCUS IS A GREAT ELECTION.

I BELIEVE THAT MR.

HEAP WANTS A GREAT ELECTION AS WELL.

TED: KATE BROPHY McGEE, AGAIN, CHAIR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

.

TED: NEW GUIDANCE BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY SUGGESTS THE TREATMENT OF CHOLESTEROL SHOULD START AT A YOUNGER AGE WITH THOSE IN THEIR 30s ADVISED TO BEGIN MONITORING CHOLESTEROL LEVELS.

WE WELCOME DR.

SAMAN MANZOURI, A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, OPTUM ARIZONA.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THIS IS GUIDANCE FOR CHOLESTEROL FOR FOLKS IN THEIR 30s, HUH?

>> EVEN PATIENTS IN THEIR 20s.

TED: THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY ELEVATED CHOLESTEROL AT THOSE LEVELS OR FAMILY HISTORY, WHERE DO WE GO WITH THIS?

>> BOTH.

THERE'S THREE MAIN THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN WE WANT TO EVALUATE FOR CHOLESTEROL.

ONE IS A FAMILY HISTORY OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL, STROKE, HEART ATTACK.

ANOTHER IS IF YOU PERSONALLY HAVE A GENETIC ABNORMALITY THAT CAN CAUSE HIGH CHOLESTEROL CALLED FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA AND IF YOU HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL WHEN WE CHECK THE LAB WORK WHEN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHOLESTEROL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BAD CHOLESTEROL KNOWN AS LDL.

TED: YEAH.

WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL?

>> CHOLESTEROL IS A TYPE OF FAT THAT CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE BLOODSTREAM.

THE BAD CHOLESTEROL SPECIFICALLY THE LDL CAN DEPOSIT IN THE ARTERIES, IT CAN CAUSE HEART DISEASE, LIVER DISEASE, CAN DEPOSIT IN YOUR BRAIN OR THE VESSELS IN YOUR LEGS CAUSING SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

TED: THE LDL LEAVES PLAQUE IN THERE AND MUCKS THINGS UP?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

TED: FOR SOMEONE IN THEIR 30s, WHAT'S CONSIDERED SUSPECT LDL?

WHEN DO YOU HAVE TO START WATCHING THIS?

>> IF YOUR LDL ON THE LIPID PANEL IS OVER 160.

TED: WHOA.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING WE LOOK INTO POSSIBLY MEDICATION, BUT THERE'S MORE THAN ONE THING CAN YOU DO TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IF YOU ARE YOUNGER AND HAVE A 10-YEAR RISK OR 30-YEAR RISK IF YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN THAT.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE THAT OUT?

>> THERE ARE RISK CALCULATORS.

THE OLDER RISK CALCULATOR WAS A POOLED COHORT EQUATION THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY GIVING YOU YOUR TEN-YEAR RISK FOR SOMETHING WE CALL ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE THAT COMES FROM HIGH CHOLESTEROL.

IT IS PROMINENT WHEN HAVE YOU HIGH CHOLESTEROL.

TED: OKAY.

NOW WHAT DO YOU DO?

IS THIS WHERE STATINS COME IN?

IS MEDICATION THE WAY TO GO WITH THIS?

>> POSSIBLY.

ONE OF THE MANY THINGS WE CAN DO TO TARGET LOWERING THAT LDL IS MEDICATION, BUT I WOULD SAY THE PRINCIPLE OF LOWERING CHOLESTEROL IS LIVING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.

SO THAT DOES INCLUDE EXERCISE, HAVING A BETTER DIET, AND THEN, IF NECESSARY, A MEDICATION.

TED: OKAY, EXERCISING AND HAVING A BETTER DIET.

SAME ADVICE FOR SOMEONE IN THEIR 30s AS FOR SOMEONE IN THEIR 60S AND 70s OR DOES IT CHANGE OVER TIME?

>> YEAH, FROM A LIFESTYLE STANDPOINT, THE DIET AND THE EXERCISE UNCHANGED BASED ON AGE.

IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DIET, IF YOU HAVE A DIET HIGH IN SATURATED FATS, AND PROCESSED FOODS, HIGHER IN SALT, HIGHER IN SUGAR, THAT CAN RAISE CHOLESTEROL LEVELS.

TED: YEAH, YEAH.

>> IF YOU LOOK TO TARGETING LOWERING CHOLESTEROL THROUGH DIET, ONE OF THE BEST DIETS OUT THERE IS THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL.

TED: THAT'S THE ONE YOU RECOMMEND, HUH?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

TED: WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND IT?

>> IT HAS EVERYTHING IN THE DIET THAT YOU WANT TO LOWER THE LDL, WHICH IS THE BAD CHOLESTEROL.

SO THE DIET CONSISTS OF LEAN MEATS, FISH, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAINS, EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW IS GOOD FOR YOU, ALL IN MODERATION AND FOLLOWING THIS DIET CAN EVEN TARGET BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES.

TED: INTERESTING.

LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO.

STATINS, WE'VE HEARD MAYBE SIDE EFFECTS NOT SO GOOD.

WE HEARD STATINS NOT THE BEST WAY TO GO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> STATINS ARE ONE OF THE BEST MEDICATIONS YOU CAN BE ON FOR CHOLESTEROL OVERALL.

IT IS ONE OF THE BEST MEDICINES.

IT WILL DRAMATICALLY DECREASE YOUR CHANCE OF HEART ATTACK, STROKE AND EARLY DEMENTIA.

TED: INTERESTING, DR.

SAMAN MANZOURI, OPTUM ARIZONA.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS REGARDLESS OF AGE, LDL IS UP, GO FIND OUT WHY?

>> YES.

TED: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: DOLAN ELLIS, ARIZONA'S OFFICIAL STATE BALLADEER SINCE 1966.

HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE WITH SONGS AND STORIES ABOUT ARIZONA'S COLORFUL CHARACTERS AND LANDMARKS.

♪ HAVE YOU EVER WALKED ACROSS THE MEADOW ♪ ♪ HAVE YOU EVER STROLLED DOWN SHADY LANE ♪ ♪ SEEN STAR LIGHT IN THE SKY ♪ ♪ THAT SPARKLE IN HER EYES ♪ ♪ IF YOU HAVEN'T, OH, BUDDY, IT'S A SHAME ♪ >> JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HIS ADVENTURES AS WELL AS HIS NEW BOOK, WE WELCOME ARIZONA STATE BALLADEER DOLAN ELLIS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU, BEEN A LONG TIME.

TED: IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME.

YOU HAVE THIS NEW BOOK OUT "ADVENTURES OF A BALLADEER."

HOW DOES ONE BECOME AN OFFICIAL BALLADEER?

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> I WAS THE FIRST, THE ONLY BALLADEER ARIZONA HAS HAD OFFICIALLY, AND I WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL STATE BALLADEER OF ANY STATE OF THE UNION.

THAT HAPPENED LIKE YOU SAID IN 1966.

THIS IS MY 60TH YEAR.

TED: WHAT DOES THE JOB ENTAIL?

WHAT DO YOU DO AS A STATE BALLADEER?

>> I WRITE SONGS, TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS, TRAVEL ALL OVER THE STATE.

I TRAVEL WITH SHEEP HERDERS, I GO TO ROUNDUPS, FESTIVALS, WHATEVER, I TRY TO CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF ARIZONA IN SONG AND PHOTOGRAPH.

TED: SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?

YOU BECAME THE OFFICIAL STATE BALLADEER AFTER YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THE NEW CHRISTIE MINSTRALS, HUH?

>> I WAS THE ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE NEW CHRISTIE MINSTRALS.

TED: WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE NEW CHRISTIE MINSTRALS?

>> I LEFT BECAUSE I MOVED TO ARIZONA BEFORE THEN, AND I LEFT ARIZONA TO GO TO THE CHRISTIES, AND I CAME TO ARIZONA TO BE IN ARIZONA, NOT TO BE IN HOLLYWOOD.

AFTER I GOT THERE, IT WAS WONDERFUL, AND I'M BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN THERE, BUT IT WASN'T WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR IN LIFE, AND I CAME BACK HOME TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING ALL THESE YEARS.

TED: WHAT IS IT ABOUT ARIZONA?

DESERT, HIGH COUNTRY, ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN, WHAT IS IT ABOUT ARIZONA THAT STILL MOVES YOU?

>> WELL, I LOVE ALL OF ARIZONA, BUT THE DESERTS REALLY SPEAK TO ME.

TO ME, THERE IS A DRAMA GOING ON IN THE DESERT THAT, IF A PERSON LISTENS TO IT AND WATCHES IT AND GETS TO KNOW HOW IT WORKS, YOU CAN RELATE IT TO YOUR OWN LIFE, AND IT GIVES YOU ANSWERS TO YOUR OWN LIFE.

TED: HAS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON ARIZONA -- AND I KNOW THIS BOOK, YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS, YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON ARIZONA AND LIFE, HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

>> WELL, THE ONLY WAY IT'S CHANGED IS I LEARNED TO UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE IN THAT BOOK, 20 YEARS AGO, I HADN'T FIGURED OUT YET, AND NOW AT THIS AGE, I'VE HAD TIME TO KIND OF LET THAT ALL BREW AND PUT IT TOGETHER IN A BOOK, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP SOME OTHER PEOPLE TO FIND ANSWERS TOO.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU WRITE ABOUT LISTENING TO YOUR INNER VOICE AND FOLLOWING YOUR DREAM.

THAT'S WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT?

>> IT'S ABOUT FOLLOWING YOUR DREAM AND FINDING YOUR HOJO, A NAVAJO WORD, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS IN THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE, IT MEANS TO BE IN HARMONY WITH THE NATURE AND THE UNIVERSE.

TED: 20 YEARS AGO, YOU DIDN'T FEEL LIKE YOU WERE QUITE THERE?

>> I WAS THERE, I WAS DOING IT NATURALLY AND HADN'T FIGURED OUT EXACTLY ACADEMICALLY WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH ME, BUT I THINK AGE HELPS A PERSON TO DO THAT, AND I PRETTY MUCH GOT IT FIGURED OUT TODAY.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WRITING A BOOK, A NONFICTION BOOK LIKE THIS AND WRITING A SONG, WAS THIS MORE DIFFICULT?

WRITING A SONG MORE DIFFICULT?

>> HUGE DIFFERENCE.

I'VE WRITTEN HUNDREDS OF SONGS ABOUT ARIZONA.

TO WRITE A SONG, YOU TRY TO WRITE IT AS CONCISELY AS YOU CAN, THREE, FOUR MINUTES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IN A BOOK, YOU WANT TO EXPRESS YOURSELF, AND YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT DESCRIPTIVE NARRATIVE IN THERE.

IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO GET A LITTLE LONGER WINDED IN MY BOOK.

TED: DO YOU THINK WRITING THE BOOK CHANGED YOUR SONGWRITING?

>> NO, BUT I THINK I'M A BETTER SONGWRITER TODAY THAN I'VE EVER BEEN.

I THINK, AGAIN, LIFE HAS DONE THAT FOR ME.

TED: THAT'S A SIX-STRING GUITAR, BUT YOU ARE KNOWN FOR 12-STRING GUITAR.

>> I BOUGHT IT IN 1968 IN MILANOS.

TED: IN MESA?

WOW, WHY DID YOU PLAY A 12-STRING SO MUCH?

>> I PLAYED 12-STRINGS DURING MY PERFORMANCE DAYS, AND I'M NOT PERFORMING ANYMORE, NOT MUSICALLY, I'M DOING BOOK SIGNINGS.

TO DO MUSICAL SHOWS, PER SE, I'M NOT DOING THAT.

BUT THE 12-STRING HAD A BIG BEERM SOUND TO IT, WHEN YOU'RE ON STAGE ALONE, YOU NEED ALL THE ENERGY AND THE SOUND YOU CAN GET.

TED: YEAH.

YEAH.

>> BUT THIS IS A WONDERFUL GUITAR.

TED: MARTIN D28, YOU SAID?

>> YES.

ARE YOU A PICKER?

TED: I CLAIM TO BE.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO STAY BUSY THESE DAYS, WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

>> PARDON?

TED: HOW DO YOU STAY BUSY THESE DAYS?

>> MY WIFE AND I LIVE IN TUBAC BUT WE'RE MOVING CLOSER TO PHOENIX TO BE CLOSER TO MEDICAL SERVICES AND THAT SORT OF THING, SO WE'RE COMING BACK TO THE PHOENIX AREA AGAIN.

TED: VERY GOOD, AND AS FAR AS THIS BOOK, "THE ADVENTURES OF A BALLADEER, DOLAN ELLIS," WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE WHEN THEY READ THIS?

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO THEIR INNER SELVES.

WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN LITTLE MAP THAT'S INSIDE OF US, AND I THINK TOO MANY PEOPLE TRY TO LIVE OTHER PEOPLE'S MAPS RATHER THAN THEIR OWN MAP, AND IF A PERSON CAN LEARN TO LISTEN TO THAT MAP AND MAKE THEIR DECISIONS BASED UPON THOSE NATURAL CALLINGS THAT THEY HAVE, IT REALLY DOES, IF YOU DO IT LONG ENOUGH AND WELL ENOUGH, IT WILL PUT TOGETHER A WONDERFUL LIFE FOR YOU.

TED: YOU CERTAINLY HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE.

>> I'VE HAD THE GREATEST.

TED: YOU KEEP GOING.

DOLAN ELLIS, ARIZONA'S OFFICIAL STATE BALLADEER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.

I APPRECIATE IT YOU.

>> BET.

AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.