>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

A START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR CONVERSATION WITH ASU PRESIDENT DR. MICHAEL CEO.

AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE HE, THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

HE HE HEEDS HE GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME.

FALLOUT AFTER DEBATE LAST NIGHT BETWEEN VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP DONALD TRUMP.

>> THIS IS THE CLASSIC CASE OF A DONALD TRUMP.

MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW HER TOO WELL OTHER THAN A FEW DECEPTION THAT WERE NOT FLATTERING THAT YOU MIGHT SEE ON THE INTERNET AND PEOPLE SAW SHE'S AN INTELLIGENT CAPABLE PERSON WHO HAS POINTS OF VIEW ON ISSUES AND SHE DEMONSTRATED THAT AGAIN.

>> SHE WAS CLEARLY DISTRACTED.

I THINK SOME OF THE RALLY COMMENTS ON DOWN, AND SO MY FRIENDS WHO WERE VOTING FOR TRUMP, WE WANT TRUMP TO WIN, THIS WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WERE HOPING FOR.

>> A CNN FLASH POLL CONDUCTED BY SSRS FOUND THAT A MAJORITY OF REGISTERED VOTERS WHO WATCHED THE DEBATE BELIEVED THAT HARRIS OUT-PERFORMED TRUMP, 63% GAVE HARRIS THE NOD AT THE END OF THE NIGHT.

45% SAID THEY VIEWED HARRIS FAVORABLY, 44% UNFAVORABLY.

FOR TRUMP 39% FAVORABLE, 51% UNFAVORABLE.

OF NOTE, THE VAST MAJORITY SAID THAT THE DEBATE HAD NO EFFECT ON THEIR PRESIDENTIAL DECISION.

>>> NO WORD ON THE POSSIBILITY OF A SECOND DEBATE, BOTH CAMPAIGNS SUGGEST THAT THEY MIGHT IN FAVOR OF GOING AT IT AGAIN BUT THAT'S ABOUT THE EXTENT OF IT.

THE TWO CANDIDATES TODAY SHOOK HANDS AT NEW YORK'S 9/11 COMMEMORATION CEREMONY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN AND REPUBLICAN VICE-PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE WERE ALSO IN ATTENDANCE J.D.

VANCE.

A MEMORIAL EVENT AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE HELD TODAY MARKING 23 YEARS SINCE THE 9/11 TERROR ATTACKS IN NEW YORK, WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, AND THEN SECRETARY AUSTIN SPOKE AT THE PENTAGON, WHICH WAS ALSO ATTACKED ON 9/11.

>> WE DON'T JUST WORK NEAR A MEMORIAL.

WE WORK IN A MEMORIAL.

EVERY DAY WE SERVE IN THE ONLY SURVIVING BUILDING STRUCK BY AL-QAEDA ON 9/11.

AND EVERY DAY WE CARRY A POWERFUL SENSE OF PURPOSE.

>> THE DEFENSE SECRETARY ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A CEREMONIAL WREATH LAYING AT THE PENTAGON.

>>> ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY'S FALL SEMESTER IS UNDERWAY AND WITH THE START OF CLASSES ASU BROKE A NUMBER OF ENROLLMENT RECORDS INCLUDING 41,000 NEW UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS.

JOINING US NOW IS ASU PRESIDENT MICHAEL CEO.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TED.

HOW ARE YOU DOING.

>> I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.

HOW ARE THINGS GOING HERE?

ENROLLMENT IS UP.

HOW MANY RECORDS WERE BROKEN WITH THESE NUMBERS?

>> YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM IS PERFORMING AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL.

WE HAVE MORE THAN 80,000 STUDENTS ON CAMPUS WITH US AND ANOTHER 100,000 DEGREE SEEKERS THAT ARE WITH US ON OUR ONLINE PROGRAMS.

WE'RE AT MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT OF OVERALL STUDENTS, MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT OF ARIZONANS, 9,000 FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS FROM ARIZONA IN OUR FIRST-YEAR CLASS.

WE'RE INDICATIVE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S HIGH DEMAND IN THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE OFFERING.

>> THE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FROM ARIZONA, HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO YOU?

>> ESSENTIAL.

THIS IS OUR PRIMARY REASON FOR EXISTENCE IS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.

WE DO THAT BY CREATING A UNIVERSITY SETTING THAT HAS STUDENTS FROM ALL 50 STATES IN MORE THAN 160 COUNTRIES.

BUT THE PRINCIPLE BENEFICIARIES OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING ARE THE PEOPLE FROM ARIZONA AND THE STUDENTS FROM ARIZONA.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE NUMBER OF THOSE STUDENTS BECAUSE ARIZONA HAS A LOW COLLEGE GOING RATE.

>> AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT THERE WERE SOME UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE TRAINED IN EXCONCLUSIVELY.

>> YES.

>> YOU'RE THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>> WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS BUILD A UNIVERSITY THAT HAS A FACULTY EQUAL TO THE FACULTY AT ANY OTHER UNIVERSITY.

AND WE HAVE DEFINITIVELY DONE THAT.

EVERY INDICATOR OF SUCCESS, WE JUST ANNOUNCED OUR 2023 RESEARCH EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS A SIGN OF YOUR SORT OF COMPETITIVENESS.

WE'RE WELL ABOVE $900 MILLION FOR THAT, WHICH IS ONLY FIVE UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE DONE THAT.

SO A FANTASTIC FACULTY.

WHAT WE DO IS MAINTAIN ACCESSIBILITY BY HAVING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE THINK OF AS THE ACTUAL QUALIFICATIONS TO GET INTO A UNIVERSITY AS OPPOSED TO THE ALWAYS RAISING THE QUALIFICATIONS SO YOU CAN MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS BY HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU LEAVE OUT.

WE CALL IT BEING INCLUSIVE VERSUS EXCLUSIVE, AND THEN MEASURING THE SUCCESS OF THE UNIVERSITY BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS.

AND SO THAT'S THE MODEL ON WHICH WE'RE BUILT.

>> FOR THOSE CRITICS WHO SAY ASU, IT'S JUST TOO BIG.

TOO MUCH GOING ON.

IT'S AN ENORMOUS STATE UNIVERSITY INSTEAD OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> IT'S FUNNY THAT THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT THINKING OF THE SIZE OF ARIZONA, THE SIZE OF THE ECONOMY, THE SIZE OF THE NEW THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO BUILD A NEW ECONOMIC FUTURE.

TURNS OUT ARIZONA HAS FEWER STUDENTS IN COLLEGE THAN OREGON, AND OREGON IS A SMALLER STATE.

FEWER THAN COLORADO, AND COLORADO IS A SMALLER STATE.

WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT YET SERVING ARIZONANS AT THE LEVEL THAT WE WISH WE WERE -- OR COULD.

WE HAVE ABOUT 70,000 ARIZONANS ATTENDING ON CAMPUS AND ONLINE.

WE SHOULD HAVE TO BE A GREATER SERVICE ABOUT 90,000, GIVE OR TAKE.

MAYBE 100,000, AND THEN WE'D BE SORT OF AT THE LEVEL THAT WE NEED TO BE FOR THE SIZE OF THE ECONOMY AND THE SIZE OF THE ASPIRATIONS.

>> THE UNIVERSITY HAS A CHARITY, AN OFFICIAL CHARTER.

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS THAT, AND HOW IS IT PROGRESSING?

>> SO THE CHARTER, LIKE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, IT'S THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTRY.

IT'S THE ASPIRATIONAL SELF, THE THING THAT YOU ASPIRE TO BE IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, YOU KNOW, LIBERTY, EQUALITY, YOU KNOW, ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE UP OUR ASPIRATIONS.

IN THE ASU CHARTER THERE'S THREE ELEMENTS TO IT THAT WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS BASED ON WHO WE INCLUDE AND HOW THEY SUCCEED, AND WE DON'T MEASURE OUR SUCCESS BASED ON HOW MANY STUDENTS WE TURN AWAY.

WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS BASED ON OUR RESEARCH AND OUR DISCOVERY, BEING OF VALUE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS OF THE INSTITUTION AND OUR COMMITMENT BASED ON THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE, THAT IS REACHING OUT AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE COMMUNITIES, RESPONSIBILITY FOR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, K-12, HEALTH OUTCOMES, COMPETITIVENESS OUTCOMES, NATIONAL DEFENSE OUTCOMES, AND SO THAT'S OUR CHARTER.

>> AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, AS WELL.

WE KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS ACTUALLY IN POLITICS HERE IN ARIZONA THAT WOULD SAY RESEARCH, THAT'S GREAT, THAT'S FINE.

BUT THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD BE ABOUT EDUCATION AND NOT NECESSARILY POLICIES, AND SOCIAL POLICIES AND ALL OF THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT TO THOSE THAT SAY THE UNIVERSITY IS TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH AND BE TOO MUCH WHEN ALL WE WANT IS TO BE EDUCATED.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS -- WELL, ONE, WE'VE GRADUATED MORE PEOPLE FROM ARIZONA THAN EVER ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE CHOOSE TO CHOOSE THE SUBJECTS THAT THEY WANT TO STUDY.

BUT THIS NOTION ABOUT TEACH, TEACH, TEACH, EVERYTHING YOU TEACH, IF YOU'RE TEACHING BIOLOGY AND LEARN BIOLOGY IN 1980 AND DON'T UNDERSTAND BIOLOGY FROM 2025, YOU'RE NOT TEACHING BIOLOGY ANYMORE, YOU'RE TEACHING HISTORY.

AND SO THE UNIVERSITY HAS GOT TO BE AN INSTITUTION WHICH IS ALWAYS AT THE EDGE OF EVERY SUBJECT.

THE BEST WAY TO TEACH EGG LANGUAGES, THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, THE BEST WAY TO CREATE FINANCIAL OUTCOMES FOR COMPANIES, THE BEST WAY TO ADVANCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DRIVEN WORLD.

SO THE UNIVERSITY IS AN INSTITUTION WHICH IS DETERMINED TO HELP DRIVE FORWARD THE BEST POSSIBLE FUTURE BY CREATE WHAT WE CALL AS MASTER LEARNERS, PEOPLE CAPABLE OF LEARNING ANYTHING.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE PRODUCING.

AND WE'VE GOTTEN VERY GOOD AT THAT.

WE'RE ACCELERATING AT THAT.

AND THAT'S THE CONTRIBUTION.

NOW, YOU ADOPT THAT WITHOUT ALSO BEING INVOLVED IN RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY AND PROBLEM SOLVING AND CREATIVITY.

SO WE ADD ALL OF THAT IN AS THE WAY THAT A REAL UNIVERSITY WORKS.

>> AND THIS PARTICULAR UNIVERSITY IS TOP RANK FOR SUSTAINABILITY.

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I MEAN, IS SUSTAINABILITY DEFINED AS WHAT?

>> IT'S NOT WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK.

IT'S NOT ENVIRONMENTALISM THERE'S TWO WAYS WE OPERATE ON EARTH.

THE PLANET WITHOUT US, THIS UNBELIEVABLE GARDEN OF EDEN AND UNBELIEVABLE CAPABILITY, WE CALL THAT THE NATURAL SYSTEM.

THEN THERE'S EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BUILT, THE BUILT SYSTEM, THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NATURAL WORLD AND THE BUILT WORLD IS SUSTAINABLE.

MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR 13, 14 GENERATION ON MY FATHER'S SIDE, AND IT'S POSSIBLE FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT, BECAUSE I KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT HISTORY, 10 GENERATIONS FROM NOW, 15 GENERATIONS FROM NOW, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD A SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIP WHERE ALL THINGS THAT WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF, YOU KNOW, ALL THE POWER OF NATURE, THE BEAUTY OF NATURE, THE POWER OF THE WAY THAT THE SYSTEMS WORK CAN, SUSTAINED, AND WITH 8 BILLION PEOPLE ON THE PLANET AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF WAYS THAT WE'RE COMBUSTING ENERGY AND SO FORTH AND SO ON, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUILD SUSTAINABILITY.

SO THAT'S A KEY THING FOR US.

>> AND FINDING SOLUTIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEMS AND THE WORLD'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS IN OTHER AREAS.

AGAIN, YOU SEE THIS AS A UNIVERSITY'S FUNCTION.

>> HAS TO BE OUR FUNCTION.

SO WE'RE NOT IN THE MARKET.

WE'RE HELPING PRODUCE PEOPLE THAT GO INTO THE MARKET.

WE'RE PRODUCING THE PEOPLE WITH THE IDEAS FROM WHICH THESE NEW SOLUTIONS ARE EMERGENT.

WE'RE PRODUCING PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND HOW TO NOT ONLY DO ACCOUNTING FOR NORMAL FINANCIAL THINGS BUT HOW DO YOU DO ACCOUNTING TO BE CARBON.

IF YOU HAVE TOO MUCH CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE, HOW DO WE MAKE THAT INTO A BUSINESS, TAKE THE CARBON OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND BUILD NEW BUSINESSES FROM THAT.

SO WE RECENTLY WON ONE OF THE NEW NATIONAL CARBON HUBS, ONE OF SIX IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SO WE'RE ADVANCING WITH DOZENS OF COMPANIES AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES, A WHOLE NEW WAY TO TAKE CARBON AND MOVE IT INTO AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

>> I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ASK YOU ABOUT SPORTS BECAUSE ASU IS BIG IN SPORTS.

A LOT GOING ON THERE.

>> YES.

>> THE UNIVERSITY, IS IT READY FOR THE NIL ERA?

IS IT READY FOR THE BIG 12?

I MEAN -- >> WE'RE READY.

COLLEGE SPORTS ARE GOING THROUGH A MOMENT TREMENDOUS TRANSITION, THE NIL WHERE STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BASICALLY PARTNER WITH OTHERS, SELL THEIR NAME, THEIR IMAGE, THEIR LIKENESS FOR THEIR OWN CONVERSATION, THAT'S BEEN RULED ON, THAT'S BEEN DETERMINED AND OUR ATHLETE ALSO DO FINE IN THAT.

I'M STILL A BIG BELIEVER IN STUDENTS GOING TO COLLEGE AND PLAYING SPORTS.

WE COME IN AS THE NUMBER 1 ACADEMIC INSTITUTION IN TERMS OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES.

WE COME IN AS THE NUMBER 1 SCHOOL IN TERMS OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE BIG 12 WE COME IN TODAY TO FOR THE MOST SPORTS IN THE BIG 12.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BEING IN THE BIG 12 AND ADVANCING SOME OF OUR KEY SPORTS, WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, MEN'S BASEBALL ARE SPORTS WE'RE WORKING ON FOR IMPROVEMENT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME 24 OF OUR GRADUATES OR STUDENTS WENT TO THE OLYMPICS.

NINE OLYMPIC MEDALS.

TREMENDOUS PERFORMANCE, NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SWIMMING AND WOMEN'S TRIATHLONS.

SO WE'RE PERFORMING AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, SO WE'RE ALL IN TO OF THE BIG 12 IN TERMS OF MAKING THAT OUR NEXT HOME.

>> IN TERMS OF THE BIG IMAGE, BIG 12 VERSUS PAC-12, DOES THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AS FAR AS A UNIVERSITY IS CONCERNED?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IS BEING COMPETITIVE AND WINNING, AND BEING COMPETITIVE AGAINST ALL OPPONENTS AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD THAT.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEATING MORE SCHOOLS IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS AND IOWA AND OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA AND FLORIDA AND ALL OF THE OTHER PLACES THAT THE BIG 12 IS OPERATING.

>> LAST QUESTION, WHEN YOU FIRST GOT TO ASU, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAD AN OVERALL VISION.

I'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE, AND THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN, THINGS CHANGE BIG TIME, WHEN YOU FIRST GOT HERE AND HAD THAT VISION IS WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU ENVISION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WIN THE BACK RECENTLY AND LOOKED AT MY INAUGURAL SPEECH FROM 22 YEARS AGO.

AND WE'RE ON TASK, ON ASSIGNMENT, AND THE TEAM IS MOVING IN ORDER VERY SIGNIFICANT WAYS.

IN FACT, WE'VE GONE BEYOND THE VISION, THE PHILOSOPHICAL PART OF THE VISION, THE BUILDING OF A TRULY AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, TRULY COMMITTED TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES WORKING WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN, TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUTCOMES, WE BUILT A CULTURE AND A TEAM AND A SET OF MECHANISMS AT ASU TO MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.

>> HURDLES, CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY?

>> 20 HURDLES YESTERDAY AND TODAY.

ALL OF THE RACES HAVE HURDLES.

ALL OF THE HURDLE RACES HAVE WATER TRAPS, YOU KNOW.

SO THERE'S HURDLES EVERY DAY.

THERE'S WATER TRAPS EVERY DAY.

SNAKES ON THE SIDE, RATTLE SNAKES ON THE TRACK.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE NORMAL.

BIG THINGS ABOVE THE NORMAL THINGS, THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA WANT GREAT UNIVERSITY.

THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA WANT A GREAT ASU.

THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA WANT THEIR ANYONE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS, WORLD-CLASS INSTITUTION.

SO WE'RE DELIVERING THAT.

THE HURDLE THAT WE HAVE HERE IS HOW DO WE REMOVE THE BARRIERS PRINCIPLEBLY THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS, WHERE KIDS OF EVERY BACKGROUND HAVE ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY.

SO THEY FIGURED IT OUT IN GEORGIA, THEY FIGURED IT OUT IN FLORIDA, THEY FIGURED IT OUT IN TEXAS.

THEY FIGURED IT OUT IN ALL OF THE OTHER ULTRA LIBERAL STATES.

SO WE NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT HERE IN ARIZONA, AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET.

>> ASU PRESIDENT MICHAEL CROW, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

>>> THE MARICOPA.

COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE MANAGES PUBLIC RECORDS AND GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATION, BUT IS BEST KNOWN FOR MAINTAINING VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS AND ADMINISTERING EARLY VOTING, INCLUDING THE VERIFICATION OF VOTER SIGNATURES ON EARLY BALLOTS AND PETITIONS.

EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY RECORDER, TIM STRINGHAM.

WE INVITED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE JUSTIN HEAP TO PARTICIPATE IN A DEBATE, BUT WE DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

AND SO WE HEAR FROM DEMOCRAT TIM STRINGHAM.

>> TIM, WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET'S GET THIS THING STARTED HERE.

WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO BE THE COUNTY RECORD CENTER.

>> FIRST, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO COME OUT TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE RACE.

THE COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE IS A 140 PLUS FULL-TIME PERSONNEL, THOUSANDS OF TEMPORARY WORKERS FOR THE ELECTIONS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIRE SOMEBODY WHO HAS TULIP AND EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE.

I'VE SPENT 15 YEARS IN THE ARMY AND NATIVE AS AN OFFICER LEADING SOLDIERS AND SAILORS ON FOUR DIFFERENT CONTINENTS.

I'VE MANAGED LARGE PROJECTS.

I'VE MANAGED LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

I'VE BEEN A LEE AS I SON WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES BUT ALSO WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, I'VE BEEN A LIAISON.

AND I THINK FOR SOMEBODY TO RUN THE DAY TO DAY OF OUR GOVERNMENT, WHICH INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE ELECTIONS BUT RELATIVELY MUNDANE TASKS LIKE THE RECORDING OF DEEDS AND PLATS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PERSON WITH DIVERSITY HE EXPERIENCE AND CAN LEAD ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

>> BUT NO EXPERIENCE IN ELECTED OFFICE.

WHY SHOULD VOTERS NOT BE CONCERN CHANGED ABOUT?

>> THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT JOB THAN OTHER JOBS THEY POLITICS.

I THINK I MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST FIT FOR LEGISLATIVE OFFICE.

I LIKE POLICY.

I LIKE LEADING PEOPLE.

I LIKE WORKING WITH PEOPLE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

AND AT END OF THE DAY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE VERY, VERY STRICT REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE FEDERAL LAW, WE HAVE STATE LAW, WE HAVE THE ELECTIONS MEETING, WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES.

AND SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE HIRING SOMEBODY, WHO CAN LEAD THAT OFFICE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, AND WHO INFORMS POLICY, BUT NOT WHO CREATES IT.

>> DOES CONFIDENCE IN THE OFFICE AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW -- DOES IT NEED TO BE RESTORED?

CONFIDENCE NEED TO BE RESTORED?

>> WELL, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD POINT OUT TO PEOPLE, RIGHT.

I'M RUNNING AGAINST JUSTIN HEAP, WHO SAYS RUNNING TO REPLACE SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THEIR LIES AND HALF TRUTHS.

I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT LIES AND HALF-TRUTHS HE MEANS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A FORMER PRESIDENT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION WHO APPLIED 2021 ABOUT THE CURRENT COUNTY RECORDER WHEN HE SAID THAT THE VOTER ROLLS WERE DELETED.

THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

WE ALSO HAVE A CURRENT SENATE CANDIDATE WHO LIED AND HAS ADMITTED THAT SHE LIED IN COURT WHEN SHE SAID THAT THE CURRENT COUNTY RECORDER RIGGED THE '22 ELECTION.

SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTORING CONFIDENCE IN THE OFFICE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WITH SPECIFICITY WHAT THE OFFICE CAN DO TO RESTORE THAT FAITH.

AND I WANT TO ASSUME WITH AN OPEN MIND, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP AND KARI LAKE NEED TO ADDRESS THEIR OWN LIES AND HALF-TRUTHS.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO RESTORE FAITH IN THEMSELVES, AND I WOULD ASK JUSTIN HEAP, IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE OFFICE, BE VERY CLEAR, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THESE LIES TOLD BY DONALD TRUMP AND KARI LAKE, OR IS THERE SOMETHING THAT ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE US TO ADDRESS.

>> HE SAYS, AND HE SAID ON THIS PROGRAM WHEN I INTERVIEWED HIM, THAT THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE IN MARICOPA COUNTY WAS THE WORST RUN IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IT MADE US A LAUGHING STALK IN THE COUNTRY.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I THINK KARI LAKE IS THE LAUGHING STALK, AND KARI LAKE IS MAKING A LAUGHING STALK OF HERSELF.

AND I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A POLITICIAN AND TALK ABOUT INTEGRITY, YOU NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT ACCEPTING THE ENDORSEMENT OF KARI LAKE.

HERE ARE THE FACTS.

WE DID HAVE A PRINTER ISSUE.

THAT PRINTER ISSUE, BY THE WAY, WAS NOT EVEN UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE.

IT WAS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISORS.

NONETHELESS, I THINK THE POINT IS CLEAR, WE CAN ALWAYS DO THINGS TO IMPROVE OUR ELECTION PROCESSES, BUT HAVING A PRINTER ERROR DOESN'T MEAN WE WERE THE LAUGHING STALK OF THE COUNTRY.

>> CAN WE ALWAYS DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THE TRUST THAT VOTERS HAD IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM?

BURKE AGAIN, YOUR OPPONENT SAYS THERE WAS -- I THINK HIS WORDS ON THIS PROGRAM, A MONUMENTAL COLLAPSE IN THAT TRUST.

HAS HE GOT A POINT?

>> I THINK IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE HAS TRUST IN THE ELECTIONS, WHICH IS THE GOAL, ABSOLUTELY.

WE NEED TO START WORKING THAT TRUST BACK, AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT PRINT ERRORS HAPPEN.

BUT THEY'RE GONNA CHIP AWAY AT TRUST.

SO WE NEED TO TRY TO UP OUR GAME EVERY SINGLE DAY AND DO BETTER, AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THERE ARE SOME CONSPIRACY THEORISTS OUT THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HAVE THOUGHTFUL, HEART-FELT CONCERNS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOTER ROLLS ARE MAINTAINED, FOR INSTANCE.

WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE, CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO VOTE, NON-CITIZENS ARE NOT.

AND I THINK WE CAN TAKE THOSE CONCERNS SERIOUSLY WITHOUT DEVELOPING CONSPIRACY.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOUR ROLLS AND YOUR OPPONENT SAID THE VOTER ROLLS WERE NOT BEING CLEANED AND THEY WERE NOT BEING MAINTAINED BY THE CURRENT OFFICE-HOLDER.

AGAIN, DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

>> NO.

I THINK HE'S COMPLETELY WRONG, AND I'D LIKE TO TURN IT AROUND AGAIN.

THEY 2021 DONALD TRUMP SAID THAT THE VOTER ROLLS WERE DELETED TO DESTROY EVIDENCE.

THAT WAS PATENTLY FALSE, AND WE WANT TO KNOW, IS IT THE POSITION OF THE MAGA REPUBLICANS THAT THE ROLLS WERE NOT CLEANED OR THAT THEY WERE ENTIRELY DELETED?

I THINK THESE CONSPIRACY THEORIES NEED TO AT LEAST BE INTERNALLY CONSISTENT.

THE FACT IS SINCE STEVEN ORCHARD WAS LEGISLATED WE HAVE HAD A NET LOST OF 200,000 VOTERS.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT EVEN AS MARICOPA COUNTY HAS GROWN AND MORE CITIZENS ARE MOVING INTO THE COUNTY, WE HAVE NONETHELESS NET LOST 200,000 VOTERS WHO WERE SCRUBBED OFF OF THOSE ROLLS.

THAT ABSOLUTELY GOES TO SHOW YOU THE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THE ROLLS.

THEY'RE TAKE THOSE CONCERNS SERIOUSLY.

AND IF I'M ELECTED, NOT ONLY WILL WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT ABSOLUTELY WE WILL GO A STEP FURTHER AND EVERY DAY WE'LL FIGURE OUT IF THERE ARE MORE EFFICIENT WAYS OF DOING SO.

THE IDEA THAT NOBODY IS SCRUBBING THE ROLLS ABSOLUTELY FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE DATA.

>> ALSO THE IDEA OF TOO MANY EXTRA BALLOTS.

YOUR PHONE HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED MENTIONED THAT HE GOES TO SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AND SAYS RAISE YOUR HAND IF SOMEONE HERE HAS RECEIVED AN EXTRA BALLOT.

AND HE SAID YOU'D BE AMAZED HOW MANY PEOPLE RAISE THEIR HAND THEY'VE RECEIVED EXTRA BALLOTS.

ARE THEY RECEIVING EXTRA BALLOTS THROUGH THE MAIL, AND IS THAT SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALWAYS VOTED BY MAIL.

AS AN ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER, I'VE ONLY HAD THE ABILITY TO VOTE IN PERSON ONE TIME.

I HAVE VOTED FROM AFGHANISTAN, FROM KOREA, FROM LONDON AND FROM HAWAII.

ONE OF THE GREAT FEATURES IN MARICOPA COUNTY IS THAT IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT TOO MANY BALLOTS, YOU CAN GO TO BE BALLOT READY.VOTE, YOU CAN TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN VOTER REGISTRATION.

YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE TRACKING YOUR BALLOT FROM PRINTING TO MAILING TO WHEN IT'S RECEIVED TO WHEN IT'S TABULATED.

BEBALLOTREADY.VOTE.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ASK YOURSELVES IF OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE SIMILAR PROGRAMS.

NOT ONLY IS MARICOPA COUNTY DOING VERY WELL AT ELECTIONS, I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY LEADING ON THAT FRONT.

I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED TO GO INTO A DEPARTMENT THAT I THINK SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DOING.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE ELECTION LAWS WERE FOLLOWED AS FAR BACK AS 2020, WHICH, AGAIN, YOUR OPPONENTS SAID THEY WEREN'T FOLLOWED IN 2020.

I CAN'T QUITE GET HIM TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT DONALD TRUMP WAS RIGGED OUT OF THE ELECTION.

HE DOESN'T SEEM TO WANTED WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT BUT DID SAY ELECTION LAWS WEREN'T FOLLOWED.

DO YOU KNOW ELECTION LAWS THAT WERE NOT FOLLOW MILLION DOLLAR 20 WENT IN.

>> I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A PARTICULAR COMPLAINT FROM JUSTIN HEAP.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT HE'S SPEAKING TO.

I HAVE HEARD INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DIDN'T HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE AT A PARTICULAR POLL, AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO UPGRADE THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A DOCUMENT INSTANCE ANYONE IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT TELLING A LIE.

AND AGAIN, CARRIY LAKE IS NOW IN COURT, ADMITTED TO LYING ABOUT THE ELECTIONS, KARI LAKE.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY JUSTIN HEAP THINKS IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO ACCEPT THAT ENDORSEMENT FROM SOMEONE WHO IS ON THE RECORD IN COURT HAVING LIED ABOUT THE ELECTION, AND THEN TO HAVE THE GULL TO MAKE ACCUSATIONS ABOUT DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AMIDST A LOT OF DISTRESS.

>> BOTTOMLINE, ELECTIONS IN MARICOPA COUNTY, ARE THEY INHERENTLY SECURE?

>> I WOULD NEVER SAY INHERENTLY SECURE.

I THINK THAT IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN THAT DEPARTMENT, WE EVERY SINGLE DAY HAVE PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATE AGENCIES, NATIONAL AGENCIES THAT ALWAYS WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE NEXT THREAT.

I THINK THAT OUR ELECTIONS IN THE PAST HAVE ABSOLUTELY BEEN SECURE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN SLEEP ON FUTURE THREATS.

>> PERSONAL QUESTION HERE, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE, CONSIDERING THE CURRENT OFFICE-HOLD HERE GONE THROUGH A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT IN TERMS OF THE LEFT, RIGHT, CENTER ATTACKS.

ARE YOU UP FOR THIS YOU READY FOR THIS?

>> IT COMES DOWN TO THIS, WHEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD, REMEMBERING LESSONS OF 9/11.

TODAY'S 9/11, AND IT'S A DAY THAT SET MY LIFE ON A COURSE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.

WHEN I WAS 20 I SWORE AN OATH TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT INCLUDES DEFENDING YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE, EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ME.

AND I AM SOMEONE WHO WENT 10,000 MILES TO AFGHANISTAN TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY.

I'M NOT WILLING TO LET IT SUFFER HERE.

>> LAST QUESTION, IF STEPHEN RICHER HAD WON THE PRIMARY, THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, WOULD YOU BE ON THE STAGE RIGHT NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I IMAGINE STEVEN RICHER AND I WOULD HAVE SAT DOWN FOR A COFFEE, PROBABLY TAKEN A PHOTOGRAPH AND I THINK THE WORLD WOULD HAVE QUICKLY FORGOTTEN ABOUT MY ADVENTURE IN POLITICS.

>>> GOOD CONVERSATION, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE APPRECIATE.

>> THANKS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.