Local opinion: Vote out Pima County Attorney Laura Conover

The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

As I run to be your next Pima County Attorney, I am compelled to address the recently revealed crucial issue concerning the ethics of my opponent, Laura Conover.

Initially, I intended to allow the State Bar diversion process to unfold as it should without any comment from me and allow the voters to make their decision based on comparing our respective abilities to perform the job of Pima County Attorney. Sadly, Ms. Conover has chosen to include me in her comments to the public regarding her run-in with the State Bar. I cannot let her unfair and untrue accusations against me go without response.

Ms. Conover has attempted to disparage me by falsely associating me with the person who filed the State Bar charges against her. She made unfounded claims about my relationship with this person and even tried to comment on my personal life. Everything she stated about me is a lie. My professional dealings with her have been marred by similar falsehoods and accusations. An attorney who consistently demonstrates a propensity for dishonesty, a lack of accountability, and a penchant for shifting blame is unequivocally unfit for the position of Pima County Attorney.

The Pima County Attorney needs to embody the principles of accountability and honesty. After all, the Pima County Attorney is the top law enforcement officer in our county with enormous power for good or bad. Recent revelations have brought to light Ms. Conover’s professional misconduct. The State Bar of Arizona’s disciplinary investigation into Ms. Conover’s conduct necessitated her enrollment in a Diversion Program to avoid formal discipline, underscoring the gravity of her actions.

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Ms. Conover’s refusal to accept responsibility is the biggest concern to me and the voters. In a press release dated March 13, Ms. Conover offered neither an apology nor any substantive facts for the electorate to assess her conduct. She offered no explanation about why she entered into a Diversion Program or her withdrawal from the Louis Taylor case. Instead, Ms. Conover chose to deflect blame onto those who brought these issues to the State Bar’s attention. She misled the public by claiming no misconduct was found by the Bar, a statement clearly contradicted by the facts.

As the primary election approaches, I urge the voters of Pima County to consider our respective records. The role of prosecutor is one of immense responsibility, where accountability is paramount. If we demand responsibility from those we prosecute, then we should demand that same responsibility from ourselves.

Moreover, setting aside her professional misconduct and misrepresentations, even in her best moments, Ms. Conover fails to meet the standards required for managing this critical public office tasked with keeping us safe.

Pima County residents understand the first responsibility of their County Attorney is public safety. While things like distributing gun locks, restorative justice programs, and litter abatement are all good, they are not the County Attorney’s primary responsibility. We need and should demand an experienced prosecutor who will restore public safety as goal number one. This means eliminating the unacceptable backlog in pending criminal cases that are clogging our courts; it means eliminating delays in accountability for those who have committed crimes in our community; it means eliminating dangerous drugs like fentanyl that are destroying so many lives in our community; it means restoring the faith of local businesses by prosecuting those who repeatedly steal from them; it means restoring public confidence that their top prosecutor is dedicated to their welfare and safety.

Ms. Conover has failed in every one of these responsibilities. I invite you to evaluate the facts, consider the implications for our community, and cast your vote for Mike Jette, a candidate committed to integrity, responsibility, and the safety and prosperity of our county. www.mikejette.com.