Heather Lappin enjoyed an early lead in the Republican primary race for Pima County sheriff, early results show.
Lappin collected nearly 45% of the vote. Meanwhile, Bill Phillips had about 40% and Terry Frederick had nearly 15%, according to initial results.
The winner of the three-way primary race will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Chris Nanos, the incumbent, and Sanford "Sandy" Rosenthal in the November general election. Nanos started the night with a big lead over Rosenthal in initial vote results.
Lappin, who’s worked with the sheriff’s department for the past 19 years, started her career in October 2004 as a deputy sheriff after working in the jail’s records section. She went on to become a sergeant in April 2015 and a lieutenant in May 2019. Lappin held numerous leadership positions throughout her career including overseeing training programs and serving as commander of the south and southwest sides as well as Green Valley.
Throughout her campaign, Lappin has been outspoken and open about personal issues such as filing for bankruptcy in 2011 after her husband’s unemployment and her son’s five-year struggle with substance abuse. If she wins, Lappin would be the first female sheriff not just in Pima County, but in Arizona.
