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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES RESPONDS TO A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RULING AGAINST THE SECRETARY'S PLANS TO BAN OFFENSIVE SPEECH AT POLLING PLACES.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, TRAVEL WRITER ROGER NAYLOR TALKS ABOUT HIS FAVORITE PLACES TO VISIT IN THE STATE.

>>> AND A PREVIEW OF THE EDUCATION TOWN HALL BROADCAST TONIGHT ON ARIZONA PBS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE 9th CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED LAST WEEK THAT SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES CANNOT ENFORCE A BAN ON OFFENSIVE SPEECH AT OR AROUND POLLING PLACES.

THE LATEST IN QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS OVER ISSUES ADDRESSED BY FONTES IN THE ELECTIONS PROCEDURE MANUAL.

JOINING US NOW IS ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> THE 9th CIRCUIT RULING WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> IT WAS GREAT.

TWO PIECES TO THIS.

ONE PIECE WAS KIND OF KICKED OUT, THE 9th CIRCUIT SAID THE PLAINTIFFS DIDN'T HAVE STANDING REGARDING A RULE WE PROMULGATED IN 2023, AND THE SECOND PIECE, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO GO TO TRIAL ON BECAUSE THE PLAINTIFFS DID HAVE STANDING ON THAT ONE, AND THAT HAD TO DO WITH THREATS AND INTIMIDATION AGAINST VOTERS WHO ARE POTENTIALLY STANDING IN LINE OR HEADING TOWARDS POLLING PLACES, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO PREVENT.

IT'S KIND OF INSIDE BASEBALL STUFF BECAUSE THIS MANUAL IS REALLY A RULE BOOK FOR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS, FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE AT THE POLLING PLACES LIKE HOW TO RUN THE ELECTION.

IT'S NOT INTENDED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ALTHOUGH IT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC OBVIOUSLY.

TED: THEY SAID WHAT YOU WANT IS TOO BROAD AND CAN BE UNINTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT INTENT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFECT.

MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> DOES MAKE SENSE TO MEECHT THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE LAWSUITS AND WE'VE SEEN LAWSUITS BROUGHT BY POLITICAL OPPONENTS OF MINE.

THESE AREN'T FOLKS ADVOCATING FOR VOTERS, THEY'RE PLAYING THE COURTS AND USING THEM TO MAKE POLITICAL MONEY AND POLITICAL ARGUMENTS.

HERE'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

EVERY TWO YEARS THE SECRETARY OF STATE PROMULGATES NEW RULES, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNS OFF, AND THESE ARE THE NEW RULES.

WHEN I DO THIS, I LOOK TO THE LAW.

STATE LAW, FEDERAL LAW, CASE LAW.

SOMETIMES THESE THINGS CONFLICT.

WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THE RULES ARE GOOD TO GO FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS POLITICAL OPPONENTS OF MINE WANT TO GAME THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, RAISE THEIR FLAGS AND SAY WE'RE SUING FONTES OVER THIS, SUING FONTES OVER THAT, AND THEY CAN MAKE MONEY WITH THAT WITH THE FUND-RAISING AND GRIFFT OFF OF THIS.

THE 2025 MANUAL, THE NEW ONE, NOT THIS ONE UNDER LITIGATION IS BEING DRAFTED, DUE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE GOVERNOR ON OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FINAL ONE IN DECEMBER.

SO THIS CASE EFFECTIVELY IS ALREADY MOOT.

TED: I WANT TO ASK, THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP HERE, AND AGAIN, THE IDEA OF TRYING TO POLICE OR ENFORCE A BAN OF OFFENSIVE SPEECH AT POLLING PLACES COULD UNINTENTIONALLY BAN FREE SPEECH, PUT A CHILLING EFFECT ON FREE SPEECH.

THAT WAS 2023.

IS THAT ADDRESSED IN 2025 IN THE MANUAL DRAFT SO FAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HERE'S THE INTERESTING THING.

THE PLAINTIFFS PUSHING THIS THING, MY POLITICAL OPPONENTS CHEERING AND SAYING WE WON, THEY KNOW WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE NEW DRAFT.

THEY KNOW WE'VE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN GOVERNANCE THAT'S NIMBLE AND EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE BECAUSE EVERY OTHER YEAR WE HAVE TO DRAFT THIS MANUAL TO MAKE CHANGES BASED ON WHAT THE STATUTES SAY AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE, SO THE WHOLE MOTIVE BEHIND THESE LAWSUITS IS TO GAIN POLITICAL POINTS.

POLITICAL THEATER AT THE COST OF OUR JUDICIARY, AT THE COST OF TAXPAYERS WHO HAVE TO PAY TO DEFEND THESE THINGS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY ARE MOOT.

TED: WOULD YOU NOT HAVE ADDRESSED THESE ISSUES IF THERE ARE NOT COURT ACTIONS?

>> THAT'S THE IN THE POINT.

THE POINT IS EVERYONE HAS A PUBLIC -- THERE'S A PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD, AND MANY OF THE PIECES OF PUBLIC INPUT THAT WE'VE HAD YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT MAKE IT INTO THE MANUAL, CHANGES GET MADE, IT IS RESPONSIVE, IT IS NIMBLE AND DOESN'T MATTER THAT WE GET SUED IN A LAWSUIT THAT'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE MOOT.

WHAT DOES MATTER IS THE FACT THAT THE FOLKS ARE GAMING THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, COSTING TAXPAYERS' MONEY TO GET POLITICAL POINTS AND WE, AGAIN, WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE FOLKS LIKE WE HAD TO DRAFT THE DRAFT THAT'S AVAILABLE NOW WHICH MAKES THESE ADJUSTMENTS.

TED: SO THERE'S NO SENSE OF ANY DIRECTION OR ANY CORRECTION WHEN THE THREE-JUDGE PANEL OF THE 9th CIRCUIT, HARDLY A BASTION OF CONSERVATISM HERE, THREE-JUDGE PANEL UNANIMOUSLY SAYS NO, WE'RE NOT GOING FOR THIS.

EVEN THOUGH YOU SAY IT'S NOT INCLUDED, PERHAPS, IN THE NEXT MANUAL?

>> THE JUDGE SAID WE'RE GOING TO LET THIS GO TO TRIAL.

THEY DIDN'T SAY FINALLY AND ULTIMATE THREE IS TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE.

THEY SAID WE'RE GOING TO TRIAL.

THE FACTS HAVEN'T BEEN PRESENTED ON THIS THING.

THIS WAS A QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THE INJUNCTION IS GOING TO HOLD.

IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF FACT.

ALL OF THE EVIDENCE HASN'T BEEN HEARD YET.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE.

IT'S GETTING SOLD AS A VICTORY, A HOLLOW VICTORY IF AT ALL, COMMON SENSE TELLS US WE WANT TO PROTECT VOTERS FROM HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION, AND SO THAT'S WHY THE NEW CHANGE SAYS HERE'S LAWS AGAINST HARASSMENT, LAWS AGAINST INTIMIDATION.

HERE'S FEDERAL STATUTES AND STATE STATUTES.

SO THE ADJUSTMENT WE MADE SAID HERE'S THE LAW.

THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO SCREAM AND YELL AT VOTERS WHO WANT TO INTIMIDATE THEM WEARING LONG RIFLES AND CAMOUFLAGE, YOU MAY BE BREAKING THE LAW AND HERE'S THE LAWS.

WE MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY.

I'M NOT COMPLAINING.

IF SOMEBODY THINKS WE DID SOMETHING WRONG, THE COURTS ARE AVAILABLE.

THE PROBLEM IS THE ABUSE OF THE SYSTEMS AND THOSE FOLKS GRIFTING OFF THE JUDICIARY, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

TED: GOP NATIONAL COMMITTEE, THEY'RE WORKED UP OVER THE FACT THEY WANT FULL PUBLIC NOTICE AND WANT COMMENT AND SAY THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

RESPOND.

>> AGAIN, WHAT WE HAD IN 2023, NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE THE ELECTIONS PROCEDURES MANUAL DOESN'T FALL IN THE PROCEDURES ACT, OKAY?

IT'S A SEPARATE THING AND HAS A SEPARATE TIME LINE OTHER THAN WHAT THEY WANT US TO USE.

IN 2023, WE DID 14 DAYS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, AFTER SIX MONTHS OF WORKING WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER FOLKS TO DO THE .

TED: WE CAN SAY GRANTED, THEY'RE DOING IT TO FUND RAISE, WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT.

IS IT SUBCONSCIOUSLY HELPING YOU GO IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT DIRECTION?

>> LOOK, I LOVE HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITH FOLKS WHO DISAGREE WITH ME, WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH BETTER IDEAS.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES AMERICA AMAZING.

WE HAVE THE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT.

I WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH FOLKS INSTEAD OF SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

YOU KNOW I HAVE A HALF A MILLION OUTSTANDING BILL FROM A LAW FIRM WE HAVE BEEN DEFENDING CASES, DEFENDING CASES AND DEFENDING CASES AND THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT GIVING US ANY MONEY TO PAY FOR THEM.

SO WE LITERALLY HAVE A DEFICIT TO DEFEND LAWSUITS THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THEIR POLITICAL CRONIES ARE BRINGING AGAINST US, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, AND THE TAXPAYERS ARE FOOTING THE BILL.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT OPPOSITION.

LET'S HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

LET'S HAVE THE DIALOGUE.

WHAT I DO CARE ABOUT IS ABUSE OF THE JUDICIARY, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

TED: THE JUDICIARY ALSO IS YOU REFERRED TO EARLIER, NO DECISION, A PUNCH HERE ON INCLUDING ELECTION RESULTS FROM COUNTIES THAT REFUSE TO CERTIFY.

RESPONSE THERE?

>> WE MADE AN ADJUSTMENT.

WE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, HEARD THE ARGUMENTS AND DECIDED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT.

IT'S REALLY THAT SIMPLE.

HERE'S THE THING.

AGAIN, TED, WE WANT TO BE NIMBLE AND RESPONSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS, WE WANT TO BE MATURE AND EFFECTIVE, BUT WHEN WE HAVE TO ANSWER LAWSUITS AND SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DO IT, THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM, IS THAT'S WHERE I HAVE A PROBLEM.

TED: FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WE HEAR THEY BASICALLY SAY YOU CAN'T REGISTER SOMEONE TO VOTE IF THEY'RE NOT A U.S.

CITIZEN.

STATE LAW SAYS THE APPLICATION MUST BE REJECTED, YOU'RE TELLING ME, TELLING US, THAT THE FEDERAL FORUM, YOU PUT IT ON HOLD, STATE FORUM, YOU DO SOMETHING THERE, AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE STATE APPLICATION FORMS AS WELL BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING LET'S GIVE THE PERSON THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

GO THROUGH MOTOR VEHICLE DATA.

THESE THINGS.

THEY'RE SAYING NO MEANS NO.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> VOTERS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN POLITICAL OPINIONS.

IF WE HAVE THE DATA TO SHOW THE FOLKS ARE U.S.

CITIZENS, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND REGISTER THEM TO VOTE.

WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW THE WAY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOESN'T, AND BY THE WAY, MY INTERPRETATION OF SOME OF THE STUFF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE STRICT THAN WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION WAS.

WE CAN EVEN DISAGREE.

SHE'S A DEMOCRAT, I'M A DEMOCRAT.

THE POINT IS THIS, TED.

PEOPLE JUST WANT US TO DO OUR JOBS.

SICK AND TIRED OF US FIGHTING ABOUT EVERY LITTLE DETAIL AND FORM, AND THIS KEEPS GETTING SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS.

I JUST WANT TO DO MY JOB AND LET EVERYBODY ELSE LIVE THEIR LIVES, AND THIS KIND OF THING, BECOMING A PROBLEM, IS A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL, WHEN SOMEONE CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY MR.

SECRETARY, CAN YOU SWITCH THIS THING AND THIS THING.

WE HAVE A DRAFT OF A NEW VOTER REGISTRATION FORM THAT DOES THAT.

WE TAKE TWO OF THE BOXES ON THE FORM AND SWITCH THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE CONCERNS FROM FOLKS.

IT'S NOT COMPLICATED, YOU JUST GOT TO CALL.

TED: THE MANUAL IS DRAFTED AND SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OCTOBER 1?

>> OUR DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 1, WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE DEADLINE.

TED: HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S ACCEPTED AND A NEW WAY TO RUN ELECTIONS COME NEXT YEAR?

>> THERE WILL BE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE GOVERNOR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT FINAL ELECTIONS PROCEDURES MANUAL FOR 2025, I ASSUME THEY'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP ON SUING US BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY CAN DO.

TED: WE'LL FIND OUT ABOUT THAT, ADRIAN FONTES, ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE.

MY GOODNESS, SO MUCH GOING ON.

LOT OF IT INSIDE BASEBALL BUT WE GOT A GOOD ACCESSIBLE WAY TO DISCUSS IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

.

TED: AWARD WINNING TRAVEL WRITER ROGER NAYLOR IS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CHRONICLING THE STATE'S SIGHTS AND SOUNDS AND TREASURES.

NAYLOR RELEASED A LIST OF HIS FAVORITE SPOTS IN ARIZONA.

JOINING US IS -- THERE HE IS, ROGER NAYLOR.

YOU'RE LIKE A CLEANSER, GO THROUGH ALL SORTS OF STUFF AND ALL THE BEAUTY.

WHAT PROMPTED TO YOU WRITE THIS COLUMN, 50 YEARS HIT YOU, HUH?

>> I CAME OUT TO ARIZONA AUGUST 24, 1975, TO GO TO COLLEGE A WIDE EYED COLLEGE STUDENT AT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY.

TOOK ONE LOOK, STEPPED OFF THE PLANE, SMELLED THAT PINE-SCENTED AIR AND SAID I'M HOME.

TED: WAS IT LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?

>> IT WAS.

ABSOLUTELY WAS.

MUCH TO MY PARENTS' DISMAY.

I DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE AND BEGAN RAMBLING AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL STATE.

I WAS IN TRAINING TO BE A TRAVEL WRITER EVEN THEN.

TED: DID YOU THINK ABOUT MOVING AWAY?

>> OH, NO.

TED: NOT AT ALL?

>> I KIND OF COMMUTED BACK AND FORTH FROM OHIO TO ARIZONA FOR A FEW YEARS WHILE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A LIVING AND ALL THAT, AND STUFF, BUT NO.

WHEN I MARRIED MY WIFE, WE HONEYMOONED IN ARIZONA, I DRAG HER ALL OVER THE STATE.

I SAID THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO LIVE.

SHE KNEW THAT GOING IN.

TED: YOUR COLUMN IN THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," IT WAS VERY WELL DONE.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

TED: ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT TOUCHES YOU A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS NICE STUFF.

TOP TEN PLACES, WE'LL GO TOP FIVE IN DESCENDING ORDER, AND START WITH NUMBER FIVE.

THIS IS THE WILDCAT TRAIL IN MONUMENT VALLEY.

I WOULD IMAGINE ANY TRAIL IN MONUMENT VALLEY?

>> I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET TO MONUMENT VALLEY, IT IS SPECTACULAR, ONE OF THOSE AMAZING PLACES TO SEE ICONIC WEST, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WILDCAT TRAIL.

WHEN YOU GO TO THE TRIBAL PARK, TAKE A NAVAJO-LED GUIDE INTO THE BACK COUNTRY, SEE ALL THAT, AND I DO ALL OF THAT, BUT I ALWAYS MAKE TIME TO HIKE THIS TRAIL, WHICH CIRCLES THE WEST MITTEN, YOU DON'T NEED A GUIDE TO DO IT, ONE OF THE FEW TRAILS CAN YOU DO IT ON YOUR OWN, IT'S EASY, ROLLING BUT MAGICAL.

YOU SEE THESE BLOCKY TOWERS VAULTING UP FROM THE SAND AND SAGE BRUSH AND PIERCING THE SKY.

TED: BUT YOU WROTE ABOUT THE SKY MORE THAN THE MONOLITH.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE THERE.

THE SKY BECOMES PART OF IT.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MONUMENT VALLEY WHERE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE SKY IN A WAY THEY NEVER FEEL ANYWHERE ELSE.

TED: ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

>> IT IS.

IT'S A FASCINATING PLACE.

TED: NUMBER FOUR IS ABOUT AS DIFFERENT FROM MONUMENT VALLEY, THE LA POSADA HOTEL IN WINSLOW.

IS THIS BEFORE OR AFTER THE RENOVATION?

>> AFTER, OF COURSE.

THAT'S PART OF THE CHARM.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST SANTA FE RAILWAY HOTELS, DESIGNED BY MARY COULTER, CONSIDER HER MASTERPIECE.

IT OPENED IN THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, IT STRUGGLED FROM THE START.

FINALLY TURNED INTO RAILROAD OFFICES MADE AS JUNK WITH LINOLEUM FLOORS, ACOUSTIC TILE CEILINGS AND HORRIBLE STUFF AND THEY WERING ABOUT IT TO DEMOLISH IT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN IT INTO A GRAIN SILO.

ONE GUY STEPPED FORWARD.

HE AND HIS WIFE PARTNERED AND SAVED IT FROM THE WRECKING BALL, AND RESTORED IT, RETURNED IT TO GLORY, IT IS AIRY, BEAUTIFUL PLACE INSIDE.

FILLED WITH ARTWORK, THE TURQUOISE ROOM AND REMINDS US HOW PEOPLE USED TO TRAVEL, BUT ALSO A REMINDER THAT ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THINGS AND THAT'S THE STORY WE NEED TO HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

TED: KEEP IT MOVING HERE, ROG.

THE WILD FLOWERS AT PICACHO PEAK, IS IT WILD FLOWERS OR WILDFLOWERS AT PICACHO?

>> I CHASE WILDFLOWERS LIKE PEOPLE CHASE CARS AT CAR SHOWS.

SOME OF MY BEST SIGHTINGS HAVE BEEN AT PICACHO PEAK.

EVERYTHING BELONGS IN THE DESERT.

SPINY CACTUS, THE THORNY TREES, THE BOULDERS, EVERYTHING EXCEPT THESE.

THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING HERE, AND ON THE RARE YEARS WHEN THEY LIKE IN 2023 WE HAD THE SUPERBLOOM, IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE WITNESSING A MIRACLE.

TED: ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

CASTLE DOME MINE, A MINE MUSEUM IN YUMA IS NUMBER TWO?

>> NORTH OF YUMA.

FASCINATING PLACE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MINING DISTRICTS IN ARIZONA, AND THE PROPERTY WAS BOUGHT BY ALAN AND STEPHANIE ARMSTRONG NORTH OF YUMA AND THEY SAVED ALL THESE OLD BUILDINGS.

WHEN THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT WAS GOING TO BULLDOZE A BUNCH OF OTHER ONES, HE SAID I'LL SAVE THEM.

RE-CREATED OTHERS, THERE IS 60 BUILDINGS AND THEY'RE ALL FILLED WITH ARTIFACTS HE'S THE TAKEN FROM MINE SHAFTS AND IT IS A TIME CAPSULE, A STEP BACK IN TIME TO WHAT THE FRONTIER WAS LIKE IN THOSE DAYS, AND AGAIN, ONE OF THOSE STORIES WHERE ONE PERSON STEPS UP AND SAVES A PIECE OF OUR HERITAGE, A PIECE OF OUR HISTORY.

TED: I KNOW NUMBER ONE IS DEAD HORSE RANCH IN COTTONWOOD.

AND THAT ONE PERSON THAT STEPS UP TO MAKE IT NUMBER ONE YOU IS.

I KNOW THAT.

>> THIS IS MY SANCTUARY, WE LIVE IN COTTONWOOD, THE LAST 30 YEARS, I'M HIKING HERE EVERY DAY PRACTICALLY.

SAVES A PIECE OF THE VERDE RIVER, THREE SHADY LAGOONS, LIMESTONE HILLS.

I'M NOT ALLOWED TO YELL GET OUT OF MY YARD ANYMORE.

RANGERS PUT A STOP TO THAT, BUT IN IS MY PERSONAL SANCTUARY.

BUT HERE'S WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE WHOLE CONCEPT AND STORY.

THIS IS MINE.

EVERYBODY IN ARIZONA HAS ONE.

WE HAVE SO MUCH OPEN SPACE.

WE HAVE SO MANY PARKS AND PRESERVES THAT EVEN HERE IN PHOENIX, IN THE HEART OF PHOENIX IN THE URBAN LANDSCAPE, THERE ARE PARKS AND PRESERVES AND HUNDREDS OF MILES OF HIKING TRAILS RIGHT THERE.

WE CAN ALL RECONNECT TO NATURE.

WE CAN ALL GET BACK VERY QUICKLY, AND THAT'S A GIFT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE ARIZONA AND HAVE LOVED IT FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.

TED: IT'S CLEAR SPECIAL MOMENTS HELP TO MAKE THESE SPECIAL PLACES AND ROGER CONGRATULATIONS ON THE LIST, AND JUST A GREAT COLUMN AND A GREAT LIST AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT HAVING YOU HERE.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE, ANY TIME.

.

TED: INSIDE THE ISSUES, EDUCATION SOLUTIONS FOR ARIZONA IS A STATEWIDE TOWN HALL FEATURING EDUCATION LEADERS DISCUSSING ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY AND THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE.

TOWN HALL AIRS TONIGHT ON ARIZONA PBS AT 8:00 P.M.

AND SUNDAY AT 4:00 P.M.

WE LEARN MORE FROM ROXANNE DE LA ROSA OUR NEW EDUCATIONS REPORTER HERE AT ARIZONA .

>> YES, BECAUSE I THINK A MAJOR ISSUE FROM A TAKEAWAY THAT I GOT FROM ATTENDING THIS TOWN HALL IS OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS MASSIVELY UNDERFUNDED.

TED: THAT SEEMS TO BE THE RUNNING THEME AROUND EVERYTHING, CORRECT?

>> YES, YES.

TED: OBVIOUSLY THE SOLUTION IS TO BORDER FUND EDUCATION THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

ASIDE FROM THAT, ANYTHING ELSE FLOATED AS A WAY TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE?

>> TO VOTE AND TO -- THAT'S THE FEELING THAT I GOT.

THE GENERAL FEELING IS THAT VOTERS NEED INFORM THEMSELVES ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN OFFICE AND WHAT LEGISLATORS ARE SUPPORTING.

TED: SO IT'S BASICALLY GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE?

>> YES, CORRECT.

TED: THIS IS -- AND SEE WHAT MENTION, DESPITE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, STUDENTS IN ARIZONA, THEY GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>> YES, MORE THAN 90% OF KIDS IN ARIZONA ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> WHO PUT THE EVENT ON?

THIS IS AMA AND CLEAN ELECTIONS?

>> YES.

ARIZONA MEDIA ASSOCIATION HELPED FUND MY ROLE AND MANY OTHER ROLES ACROSS THE STATE OF ARIZONA, AND MAJORITY OF THESE ROLLS ARE FOCUSED ON EDUCATION SOLUTIONS, REPORTING SPECIFICALLY.

AND THEY PUT THEM IN NEWS DESERTS WHERE THERE MAY NOT BE A REPORTER TO REPORT AROUND EDUCATION.

TED: THAT BRINGS US TO YOU AND YOUR ROLE AT ARIZONA PBS, TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE COVERING.

EDUCATION?

ALL ASPECTS OF EDUCATION?

SOLUTIONS TO EDUCATION?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> I CAN DO ANYTHING SURROUNDING EDUCATION, MY ROLE IS TO FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE EDUCATION IN ARIZONA.

TED: AND A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE CAN DO VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

ARTICLES, WRITTEN AND OBVIOUSLY BROADCAST TELEVISION.

TED: IN PARTNERSHIP AGAIN WITH AMA AND CLEAN ELECTIONS?

>> ARIZONA MEDIA ASSOCIATION AND REPORT FOR AMERICA.

TED: AND REPORT FOR AMERICA.

CLEAN ELECTIONS IS INVOLVED IN THE EVENT TONIGHT BUT REPORT FOR AMERICA FOR THIS ONE?

>> FOR THE GRANT THAT FUNDED MY ROLE.

>> I WOULD THINK IT IS REWARDING TO DO THIS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS?

>> IT IS REWARDING BUT IT'S ALSO A CHALLENGE BECAUSE EDUCATION HAS BECOME SO POLARIZED IN ARIZONA SO I NEED TO FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS.

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING AND SPEAKING TO EDUCATION LEADERS IN THE WORK I'VE DONE, IT'S A LOT OF OUR LEGISLATORS MAKING POLICY DECISIONS AROUND EDUCATION THAT LACK FUNDING.

TED: I LOOK FORWARD TO THE VARIETY OF PLATFORMS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ROXANNE DE LA ROSA, WELCOME TO ARIZONA PBS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: AND AGAIN, THE EDUCATION TOWN HALL AIRS HERE ON ARIZONA PBS TONIGHT AT 8:00 P.M.

AND SUNDAY AT 4:00 P.M.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.