Sheriff Chris Nanos' reelection win confirmed by recount

Sheriff Chris Nanos won reelection, recount totals released Friday show.

Results of a recount triggered by an extremely tight race to be Pima County’s top cop confirmed Nanos’ victory over challenger Heather Lappin.

The initial results showed Nanos, the Democratic incumbent, beat Lappin by 495 votes, or just over 0.1% — 243,860 to 243,365 — out of 487,225 ballots cast in the race between them.

The new totals announced Friday in a hearing showed Nanos’ victory was even tighter than the results released in November: 481 votes.

Pima County Superior Court Judge Kyle Bryson said Nanos received 243,891 votes while Lappin received 243,410 votes.

Nanos said in a statement that it is a “true honor” to continue serving as sheriff.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead and work alongside the dedicated members of our department. Together, we are committed to enhancing the safety and well-being of our community,” he said. “In the coming months, we will focus on implementing new ideas and improvements to make our department even more effective and responsive to the needs of our citizens. Your safety and the safety of your loved ones remain our top priority, and we will continue to strive for excellence in our service to you.”

The Pima County Elections Department finished its recount Nov. 27, which involved rerunning the 518,595 ballots processed for the election through the tabulation machines. Because the election involved a two-card ballot, more than 1 million cards that had to be run through the tabulators for the recount, the release said.

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Nanos will serve through 2028.

Nanos survived a rough and tumble general election race.

Nanos suspended Lappin and Aaron Cross, a sergeant who leads a union in the Sheriff’s Department, three weeks before Election Day.

Nanos accused Lappin of colluding with a reporter on news stories critical of the jail, which the publication denied. Cross was suspended because he campaigned for Lappin on two separate occasions while dressed in clothes that made him look like he could be on duty, the department said.

Lappin, who had remained on paid administrative leave, said she returned to work Thursday night.

Steve Serbalik, the attorney who represents Cross, told the Star Thursday that his client has yet to return to duty and that the department extended his administrative leave.

Cross filed a federal lawsuit shortly after being placed on leave, saying it violated his free speech.

U.S. Federal Judge Raner Collins said that Cross’ actions violated the Hatch Act, which states that state or local officers or employees can not use their official authority or influence to interfere or affect the results of an election. And although Collins denied a preliminary injunction, he told the department to tighten its rules on what employees can wear while participating in political activities, the Star previously reported.

The Board of Supervisors reacted soon after Election Day, voting to seek a “criminal review and investigation” into Nanos’ actions during the campaign.