>> Ted: Coming up on Arizona PBS, on Arizona horizon, in lieu of a Democratic party gubernatorial debate, we'll hear from one of the candidates in the race and on Cronkite news, how wildfires in our state, take a toll on tourism and that's all ahead on Arizona PBS.

Good evening and welcome to Arizona horizon.

I'm Ted Simons.

Busy day at the U.S. Supreme Court as Kentanji Jackson Brown was sworn in as the first black woman to serve as the first black justice.

She replaces judge Breyer.

She took a constitutional only and a judicial only administered by Breyer.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Biden Biden Administration's plans for the remain-in-mexico administered by the sequestration.

It wasTrumpAdministration.

It was rejecting a challenge designed to keep the policy in place.

That policy forces aside Element seekersforces asylumseekers and wait approval in Mexico and Texas and Missouri filed suit and a the Supreme Court lowered that court decision.

A Supreme Court cut the EPA's ability and 6-3 at the EPA doesn't have the authority to enforce sweeping regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions former EPA administrators not pleased.

>> And this does ham hamstring the emissions from power plants and that is disturbing because we already see a transition happening in the industry.

And what we should be doing is encouraging more renewables and not walking away to make less polluting energy and how we can generate less electricity.

Be have the solutions and we can build a clean energy future and this is not prepared to look at how the world is functioning today.

>> Ted: Conservatives argued and the court agreed that EPA does not have the authority to regulate the industry to regulate the economy.

And the ruling raises questions on the power of other agencies including the F.D.A.

and consumer product safety commission to issue regulations.

Tonight, Arizona horizon was scheduled to be a debate.

But one of the candidates, secretary of state Katie Hobbs declined to participate and in the and of fairness, we invited Marco Lopez and good to have you.

>> Good to be here.

>> Ted: Tell us about yourself.

>> I'm a former border city mayor, border Obama administration alum and small business owner and proud immigrant.

My parents came to Arizona almost 50 years ago and unlike or aside from Kari lake or Donald Trump, they didn't come here bringing drugs or crime by the spirit that their kids, my two sisters and I would have a great opportunity they could never think about and always telling my mom, saying dream big and as a Arizona is a place to get ahead and those opportunities have been achievable to me and Ted, today in Arizona, across this state, that reality is out of touch and out of reach for so many families and that's why I'm so excited to join you in a discussion of ideas unlike what we saw yesterday.

You did a great job, by the way.

>> Ted: We had ideas floating around and let's get to some of what's happening here on the democratic side.

A lot of offices you could run for and why governor?

>> Look, I think that for what has been clear to me, if we're going to make the impact fort for the next ten, 15 years, we need some at the state, local level.

If we get rid of the chaos that we see playing out in political circles today, all across the country and in this state, we have to be bringing people together to solve the major ideas of healthcare, of education, of job creation and so, it takes that preparation, Ted, and I love the state of Arizona and in order to move it into the next ten, 15 years of sub cess,success, we need someone to bring people together.

That's what I've been doing.

>> Ted: You're running against someone as Secretary of State, a senate minority leader, a lot of experience in political circles mere in the state and why would democratic voters choose you instead of her?

>> First of all, it's important we show up.

As I travel the state of Arizona in the 15 counties 22 tribes, absent repeatedly from those conversations is the Secretary of State and the refrain has now become, where is Katie?

The reality is that the issues that matter most to people in Arizona can only be addressed and Democrats can only win, Ted.

If you are building that coalition to help us lead.

Secretary Hobbs thinks by not showing up, she can up from run from the discrimination verdict and that's not going to go away.

So if you build the coalition, it's unimaginable to believe that you can be the only candidate in the country for the democratic ticket to be governor of a state and be the only one with a record of discrimination.

You cannot do that, Ted.

You cannot do that to voters of our state.

If you don't show up and have the ability to bring people together, you can't lead us into the next decade of success that our working families demand and need.

That's why she won't show up.

>> Ted: Many people Arizona see this as being one of success certainly as far as growth and business and these are concerned.

Republicans see this as a rousing success.

In the past eight years, assess those eight years of governor Ducey.

>> Look, Ted, if you are making a lot of money in this state, you'll be successful.

That's the reality and that's the demographics that the republican party lead by governor Ducey focused on.

However, if you're a working family, struggling to make ends meet and one of the 11% of the people in Arizona that don't have access to affordable quality healthcare, that's 822,000 people in Arizona that today will go to bed not knowing if they'll able to afford the prescription drugs or pay rent or you might be one of 180,000 people in Arizona that are currently living in an environment that you have to maybe with a parent because of the rental rates.

That you would like to have a home, but it's unaffordable for you.

We have to chose these gaps.

So, again, I think the focus has been misguided,.

Ted.

Our focus needs to invest in education.

I released a $2.5 billion education plan and closing the gap of children.

We need to invest in trade skills.

I went to the university and not every child in Arizona will want to do that.

>> Ted: I want to get to education, but back to the Ducey administration and eight years as many see as successful eight years.

>> So many people making a lot of money for someone else.

>> Ted: Not necessarily a lot of money and a variety of income levels.

PensionPositionPension plans are paid off and I guess the question would be and a democratic primary and most are not enamored but what's not to like with that stuff?

And I understand those that are at the bottom are not seeing the same success, but can you see that success by those at the top?

>> The reality is, I'm glad near making the investments in a fund to secure our water resources for the next ten to 20 years.

That's a good move and teaching our nursing providers for the next ten to 15 years that Arizona will need.

However, where the gaps exist is in education.

I keep coming back to that, because if we have a vibrant economy in the next ten, 15 years, it's beyond the two, two year sixcycles.

This is not the promise of Arizona that brought my parents here, and we love it here.

We have to make sure our economy can sustain that and it's about educational investment.

investment.

>> Ted: This current budget adds millions of dollars year over year and total K-12 is 4.5 billion and, I mean, is more needed or should there be more focus on where this money is going?

>> More is needed and this is why I released an investment plan because it has to change the entire gamut and childcare for working families that want to make sure that we eliminate the learning gap before they get to pre-K and before they get to Kindergarten and once we're investing in a curriculum to allow our kids to thrive.

We saw in our shooting, in the latest shooting in Texas.

If a child is having issues, they can get the right counseling.

It will set us off to a strong which for the next ten to 15 years and that's what I'm thinking about, making investments now so we're not suffering ten, 15 years down the line.

Up know what they missed?

You rattled offer budget numbers.

The aggregate expenditure number.

>> Ted: We'll talk about that because you can budget all you want because if you don't have that cap lifted, you can do much.

The deal to expand school choice, to all kids, your thoughts on expanding -- on the program, first of all, and expanding the program to all of K-12 students.

>> It sounds great, doesn't it?

But the reality is, this is a continuation of privatizing 90% are attending a private district school throughout our state and the system is not equitable and for anyone to tell us and lead us to believe that the system is equitable and anyone can get a voucher and they can go to any school, I think you properly were asking yesterday and sadly they didn't answer, the reality is, if a child gets a voucher go to a private school, you're, they get a voucher for $6,000 but a private school, costs 14 found.

$14,000.

You think a family making $24,000 will afford that extra $7,000?

It's ludicrous.

We have to invest in district schools and once we fix it, I'm happy to accept it.

>> Ted: By expanding vouchers, yes, the initial response is difficult for those who can't afford a private school, tuition, regardless of how much they get, but eventually, the market will say, I'm going to hope you a schoolopen up a school for these kids and by that matter, you get better education.

The idea is for better education, does this not go in the direction of better education as far as you're concerned?

>> Once you devastated and decimated public schools, absolutely not.

This is equality and equity and it doesn't matter you're a child living or growing up in bizby or summerton or Tucson or Scottsdale.

I want to make sure every child has the able ability to succeed and that's not the reality.

You can only know about this by traveling and visiting and listening to people in Arizona.

This is why I've spent the last 15 months listening in their neighborhoods, in their homes, in their living rooms, in those forum.

An example, last weekend, a gentleman comes up to me after a forum, again, Katie does not show up because she doesn't want to answer question.

A gentleman comes up and wearing a Maga hat and he says, you know what, Marco, I would never consider voting for a Democrat, but I'll vote for you because you're the only one talking about how to invest in children's success.

HeThe issue that got him to listen to me and consider voting for me and now he'll vote for me.

That's what he said.

The issue is education.

That's the great unifier.

>> Ted: Last question, how much accountability is there?

>> Absolute accountable accountability.

If we invest in the school districts to elevate them, we have to make sure they're meeting the right objectives so kids are learning.

It's the entire wrap-around services, counseling, making sure they have access to a nurse, quality food.

That's how we get kids to succeed and that is what happened my parents achieved for their kids, success, education.

>> Ted: I want to talk about the border and how many state dollars should be used to help secure the border?

>> So, look, this is another waste in this government's -- Ducey administration's budget.

About $364 million is the latest figure that I see to secure the border.

The reality is, I lived, I lead that community and I know a thing or two and lead the largest law enforcement agency dealing with the border, customs and border protection.

It's to make sure they're investing in technology and manpower and today they're having to catch up because the fosfocus under trump is building the wall.

We have equipment that can't respond to the border when there's an incident.

You're asking me what the state can do.

Hold the Federal Government accountable, as a partner, not throw stones.

>> Ted: How do you do that?

We have a state race and people are talking this way and that way, very little that state officials can do and how can you hold a Federal Government accountable?

>> I don't know who you've spoken to, but none have the experience I have.

How we hold them accountable by having concrete mans on technology, infrastructure and pushing to make the investments to secure the Arizona border.

As governor, we'll push to get a Daca agreement for kidded.

Wearkids.And for the future flows that our economy needs, we need to maybe sure the system is robust and they can be registered you know who wins when we 'do don't do that?

The smugglers and we have to go after the smugglers and the Fentanyl.

Those are two areas and that's what I will do.

Tid >> Ted: It's a partnership and do we have an immigration crisis in as snaz.

>> WeArizona?

>> We do,Ted, and this is another flip-flop Katie Hobbs that came in on this problem.

program.

When you have people that don't understand, they'll say anything to get elected and at the end of the day, who is decision appointed in she's Daca kid.

In Texas, 53 people are dead because of what.

The system was not properly properly equipped?

They hired a smuggler and perished.

>> Ted: Title 42, Biden Administration's plans to end title 42 and what are your thoughts?

>> I've been pushing and pressing the secretary of homeland security when I was at homeland security.

Making sure that they are properly prepared and equipped for the flow of assylum seekers is the priority.

That's the reality.

As Covid-19 restrictions get lifted, they have to have the resources to properly process assylum seekers and that's the bottom line.

>> Ted: If they don't have the resources, right now to should title 24 be 42 be lifted?

>> I've been working so that they are getting the proper equipment.

You have to push.

Ted, raising issues without solutions is nonsense.

People in Arizona are tired of this and this is why we have a great opportunity to do and make that change.

Make a real change because otherwise, this is only going to get worse and I'm the only one that can win.

Anyone of the folks had on TV, I'm the only one that has success and achievement and no dis-crimdiscrimination.

>> Ted: The Democrats say republicans want onlyThe republicans sayDemocrats want open borders as a strategy?

>> No one wants open borders.

Again, it's this chaos and fear that republicans use to create that fiction that Democrats are weak on security and they want open borders.

No, nobody wants open borders.

It's a fallacy, but they keep running and guess what?

Kari lake is carrying 34% of the base.

Those folks that fall for that narrative, that's false and ludicrous and 34% she had, and she calls it America first.

It's baloney.

>> Ted: Let's talk as governor how you would reverse the Roe reversal.

>> I answer this question not knowing what it fully feels like, Ted, to make that full decision.

As a man, I will never know the feelings that it takes and the stress that women in Arizona and their families are under because of the reversal and what I do know is that I trust Arizona women to make that choice.

I trust them and their healthcare provider to make that choice and as governor, I will stand up for them, with them.

First, I will support codifying the right to choice in our Arizona constitution and second, I will support part pardoning any healthcare providers and the wholewomen should seek that care.

That's my commitment.

It's a very personal choice that women make and I will support their ability to make that choice.

>> Ted: You answered quite a few questions in that statement.

So you would push to codify and you would not take the task, big city mayors, phoenix and Tucson who would push to go after doctors.

>> No, that's good.

>> Ted: We got you.

We have a billion dollars budgeted over three years for water issues and water concerns and we have brown water pumping in Arizona and a lot is unregulated and the Colorado river drying up in front of us.

What do we do as a state -- what can we do as a state to address water concerns?

>> This is another leadership issue, Ted.

We are way behind the eight-ball here.

This governor should have been leading on this issue ten years ago when he took office.

On the board of the nature conserve eventcyconservancy and up north, there's proper run-off that is recharging and that we are regulating the uncontrolled wells that we don't have an idea how much water is being pumped.

And we're work wig working with the tribals.

The commitment was that they'll be at the able to negotiate the next 50 years of properly regulating the water and once they're gone, they're gone.

>> Ted: How do you properly regulate water resources?

>> Bring all resources to the table, city planners, native American tribes and regulators.

We do what was done in 1980 by governor Babbott, to prepare for the next 50 years and all options are on the table.

$1.2 million is a good start and we won't buy our way out.

It a management issue and conservation issue and think about some of the things you talked about yesterday.

Desal, and we have to think about the techniques and tools and this is a not one size fits all solution.

Just like the border wall is not a one size fits all and leadership.

>> Ted: Aren't we having stakeholders coming to the table now?

We have groundwater acts and it sounds like folks are negotiating, are they not?

>> Not to the degree it will help us move to the next 50 years.

That's the reality.

So between CAP, SRP, we have to bring them to the table and not -- these are Bandaids and these have been been Bandaids and I'm tired because every time we talk about water, we talk about education, we talk about these other things, it's a crisis.

It's a crisis because bad leers leaders let them become crises.

This is what I learned as chief of staff.

If you were laying defense on any issue, you were in trouble and I learned this at 7:00 a.m. for the three years as chief of staff with my command staff, the department of defense and all of my command staff telling me what happened overnight that I needed to respond.

That's the level of leadership their provide and I'm the only one that can provide it so that we can lead the state of Arizona and be proud of our successes.

>> Ted: Republicans say way too many questions regarding the 2020 vote and the validity of that vote and the claim is, everything from elections was rigged, the ballot stuffing and 2000 mules and a minute and a half here.

And I know how you feel about this and most Democrats feel the same way, wasn't stolen and wasn't rigged.

Be that as it may, how do you convince people in this state, convince these people that the election system is on the up and up.

>> Showing up and making sure large numbers participate so there is no question about who wins and that's how we do it, Ted.

And that's what I'm prepared to do and this is why I'm the only one showing up in the on part only part of our state, so they know what's at stake and they participate in our democracy and in this beautiful system we have called elections.

>> Ted: For those who stay our vote isn't counting because of some sort of shenanigans, what do you say?

>> Show the authorities proof and they with respond.

If we come out in large numbers, it makes the case the losers lost and that's what we do.

Never any proof there was any large scale fraud, not only in Arizona but in any election across this state.

I saw you juggling the question with republican candidates yesterday.

Even amongst them, they couldn't come to an agreement as to what happened.

That's how crazy this is.

>> Ted: We'll stop right there and thank you for joining us and we wish this was a debate and good conversation and thank you for your time.

>> Thank you so much.

>> Ted: That is it for now.

Thank you so much for joining us and you have a great evening!

Coming up in the next half hour on Cronkite news, parents health experts weigh in how an urgent need to get young kids vaccinated against Covid.