GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS "AZ VOTES 2026, "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION," A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

TONIGHT WE FEATURE A CONVERSATION BETWEEN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR STATE MINE INSPECTOR, A POSITION RESPONSIBLE FOR INSPECTING MINES ACROSS THE STATE TO ENSURE SAFETY TO MINE WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC.

OUR CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION IS NOT A FORMAL DEBATE, IT'S AN OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GIVE AND TAKE BETWEEN CANDIDATES FOR AN IMPORTANT STATE OFFICE.

AS SUCH, INTERJECTIONS AND THE OCCASIONAL INTERRUPTION ARE ALLOWED, PROVIDED THAT ALL SIDES GET A FAIR SHAKE.

WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO SEE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

OUR CANDIDATES, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER: DEMOCRAT BRIAN MATLOCK, A MECHANICAL ENGINEER.

AND REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT, LES PRESMYK.

GOOD YOU HAVE BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: LES, WILL START WITH YOU.

WHY DO YOU WANT TOP KEEP THIS JOB?

>> I LOOKED AT RUNNING FOR THIS JOB 20 YEARS AGO, SO WHEN I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND ASKED TO APPLY FOR IT A YEAR AGO WHEN PAUL MARSH RESIGNED.

I WAS ONE OF SEVEN REPUBLICAN APPLICANTS BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR HAD TO APPOINT A REPUBLICAN.

AFTER I MADE SURE I HAD ABOUT EIGHT APPLICANTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT.

THEY WENT INTO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

I WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE GOVERNOR'S SENIOR STAFF.

THAT WAS THE FIRST INTERVIEW.

THE SECOND INTERVIEW WASES WITH THE GOVERNOR HERSELF.

THAT IS WHEN SHE ASKED ME TO TAKE THE POSITION.

SO MY ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN IN MINING.

I HAVE DEALT WITH ALL THE SAFETY ISSUES, MAKING SURE THAT OUR MINERS WERE SAR IN THE MINES THAT I WORKED IN.

FOR WELL OVER 14 YEARS, PLUS BY WORK AT SRP AS A MINING ENGINEER.

AND THIS IS MY OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE MINING TRY, THAT GAVE SO MUCH TO ME MY WIFE, AND MY CAREER.

TED: BRIAN, HE IS THE INCUMBENT.

WANT TO REPLACE THE INCUMBENT.

WHY?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, WAS NOT RUNNING AGAINST THE INCUMBENT.

THAT WAS NOT THE PLAN.

I ACTUALLY STARTED RUNNING EVEN BEFORE MR.

WERE PRESMYK WAS APPOINTED.

I KNOW THAT ELECTORAL HISTORY HAS BEEN WHAT WEAK ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

I BELIEVE EVERY ELECTION SHOULD BE A CONTEST, AND SOP THAT NOT ME STARTED LOOKING INTO IT.

AS A PRECINCT COMMITTEE PERSON AS WE EXCHANGEDDED THE BACKGROUNDS.

WE TALKED ABOUT MY BACKGROUND AND HOW IT FIT THE ROLE AND DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE OFFICE BEHIND THE TIMES AND SEEMED LIKE A VERY GOOD FIT AND SOMETHING I AM SUITED TO TAKE ON AND WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH MY WIFE.

WE DECIDED TO GO AFTER IT.

>> BEHIND THE TIMES.

EXPLAIN PLEASE ONE OF THE WAY THE LEGISLATIVE STATUTES.

THEN YOU HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SIDE OF IT.

EVEN THE WAY THE FORMATING MAKES IT A MONSTER AND HARD TO USE.

SO I HAN GIN IN 2026, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR IT TO BE OUT OF CONTROL, AND AS POORLY FORMATTED AND AS DIFFICULT TO USE AS IT IS.

SO I CAN SEE IMMEDIATELY, THERE ARE IMPROVE AMS THERE.

>> WOLFLY BEHIND THE TIMES, DO YOU AZE.

>> YES AND NO.

SECTION 27 OF ARIZONA'S REVISED STATUTES, THE LAWS THAT WE ARE ALL GOVERNED BY IS THE MINING CODE OF ARIZONA.

ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO UPDATE THIS, AND BECAUSE MR.

MATLOCK IS RIGHT.

THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF IN HERE, THE FORMATING, THE WORDING, WE JUST NEED UPDATE IT AND WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON THAT.

>> OK.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE MENTIONED, THAT YOU WOULD WANT A SAFER, STRONGER AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE MINING SYSTEM WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

SO, I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT QUOTE.

BUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT MORE ACCOUNTABLE MINING SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FIRST STARTED LOOKING INTO IS WHAT KIND OF REPORT DOG WE SEE, ALL RIGHT?

WHEN I STARTED TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT WE WERE FINDING, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND ANYTHING OUT ABOUT THE INSPECTIONS THAT WERE BEING DONE, WHAT KIND OF FINDINGS THAT WERE BEING MADE, SO WHAT I DID, I SHIFTED OVER TO MORENCI AND LOOKED AT THE SIDE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT SIDE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY FIND, I KIND OF EXPECTED TO SEE SOME KIND OF A DOVETAIL THERE, SO I DIDN'T SEE THAT.

I AM NOT SAYING IT IS NOT THERE.

IT IS HARD TO PROVE SOMETHING DOESN'T EXIST.

IT WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND EASY TO FIND.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS TRANSPARENCY THAT NEEDS TO BE THE PUBLIC TO SEE.

>> TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS ANOTHER AVENUE OR AREA THAT AS SOON AS I TOOK THIS SURFACE YEAR AGO, I RECOGNIZED NA AS AN ISSUE.

FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY MINER, EVERY PERSON THAT WORKS AT A MINE HAS TO HAVE ONE OF THESE.

THIS IS THE 5023.

THAT SAYS SULZ THE TRAINING TO WORK AT A MINE.

THAT SAYS YOU HAVE THE TRANNING TO WORK AT A MINE.

TODAY IF I HAD V TO FUND ONE OF THESE, IT IS STILL A PAPER COPY.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.

THAT IS ANOTHER AREA WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN IN PROVING SO THAT EVERYTHING BECOMES DIGITIZED ON A DATABASE YOU CAN ACCESS.

I HAVE TO COMMENT ON THAT.

HE ACTUALLY TOOK THE SHORT COURSE, I HAVE THAT FORM ACTUALLY ON A LITTLE LIMBNATED PIECE IN MY WALLET.

>> OK.

I AM HEARING, YOU KIND OF AGREEING HERE.

WHAM WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?

YOU BOTH SEEM TO AGREE, IT IS ANT QUATED.

TRANSPARENCY NEEDS TO IMPROVE.

HOW DO YOU DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELFLE FROM THE INCUMBENT.

>> WELL, ONE THING IS FROM THE BACKGROUND, IT IS MINING, I COME FROM AN INDIVIDUAL BACKGROUND AND I HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERTISE.

WORKED IN THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY WHERE I WAS PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION TEAM OF THE QUALITY SYSTEM ISO THOUSAND ONE OF THENGS THIS I BRING IS THE TYPE OF QUALITY SYSTEM SO WE HAVE DOCUMENTED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

JUST LIKE THE POLICE FORCE, THOSE WOULD BE POSTED ON-LINE, SO ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO KNOW HOW THE MINE INSPECTOR'S OFFICE PERFORMS THE DUTIES THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK IT UP.

>> SOUND LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO YOU.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD.

BUT, I JUST WANT TO READ SOMETHING FROM THE MINING CODE, QUICKLY.

PLEASE.

>> OK.

THE VERY FIRST PARAGRAPH TALKING ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE PERSON THAT HOLDS THIS OFFICE.

AND I QUOTE, THE STATE MINE INSPECTOR SHALL HAVE AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS EXPERIENCE FOUR OR MORE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN IN THE STATE CONSISTING OF DIRECT OPERATIONAL OR MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE WITH MINING OPERATIONS AT A MINE, AND SO, WHILE I RESPECT THE EXPERIENCE THAT HE BRINGS, THERE IS NOTHING THAT SAYS, THAT HE MEETS THAT BASIC REQUIREMENT.

ARE YOU STATE TOLY QUALIFIED?

>> I ABSOLUTELY AM.

I ABSOLUTELY A.M.

TED: HOW SO?

>> THE FIRST THING I WILL TELL YOU.

SO WE HAVE A PUBLIC, KIND OF A PUBLIC RECORD TO MARKET.

I THINK IT WOULD BE FEBRUARY 4th ONE YEAR BEFORE THE CENTENNIAL FOR ARIZONA, THAT IS THE FIRST MINING PATENT AND WENT AND WAS FILED SO THAT GETS ME TO 2011 AND WAS UNMINING WELL BEFORE THAT.

SO I EASE SLY WHAT YOU DESCRIBED AS FAR AS THINK TIME.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE 5023'S.

I HAVE MORE THAN 33 OF THOSE BETWEEN 2014 AND 2023 IN ARIZONA WORKING AT MINES.

NOT ONLY THAT, WHEN I GO TO THE MINES, I DO THAT AS A SUPERVISOR.

I HAVE SUPERVISED INSTALLATIONS.

GOY THERE TO COLLECT DATA, I GO THERE TO INSPECT EQUIPMENT.

AND I WORK WITH MINERS, THEN THAT IS ACTUALLY THE EXACT DEFINITION OF WORKING WITH MINE OPERATIONS.

TED: HE SAYS HE HAS EIGHT YEARS OF DIRECT OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

AND FOR AT LEAST FOUR OF THOSE YEARS ARE IN ARIZONA.

ARE YOU BUYING THAT?

>> NO, I AM NOT.

BECAUSE THERE US NOTHING ON HIS WEBSITE.

THERE NOTHING THAT HE HAS PUBLISHED, THAT DEFINES THAT EXPERIENCE AT A MINE WORKING AT THE MINE.

IT IS ONE THING TO BE A CONTRACTOR OR CONSULTANT.

I SPENT THE FIRST TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF MY COLLEGE CAREER IN OPERATIONS FOR MIAMI COPPER, THEN I WENT TON 11 YEARS WITH COPPER, UNDER GROUND MINING WHERE MY OFFICE WAS BOTH 4,000 FEET UNDERGROUND AND SUPERIOR.

2300 FEET UNDERGROUND AT WELL IN.

SO I WORKED AS MINOR, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WORKED IN OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE MOONERS WERE SAFE.

TED: SO A DIRECT OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE IS HOW IT IS DEFINED HERE.

YOU SAY YOU HAVE THAT?

>> YES.

IT HAS BEEN LEAGUE LEGALLY REVIEWED INMUCH LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

HAVE 10,000.

YOU SPENT THOUSANDS.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON CONSULT ANDS RIGHT.

BACK IN APRIL, YOUD THAT.

THE 16-351 WHERE YOU COULD HAVE CALL LENGTHED ME.

YOU HAD TEN DAYS TO DO THAT.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

I HAVE NOT UPDATED SINCE THEN.

SO WHAT CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS?

ALL OF THE SUDDEN, NOW, AFTER SPENDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

TED: RESPOND, PLEASE.

>> WE LOOKED AT THAT.

>> THE PROBLEM THAT IS TRYING TO DEFINE THAT TO A JUDGE, THE ATTORNEYS SAID THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.

BESIDES THAT, EVEN IF WE HAD DISQUALIFIED YOU, THEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WOULD HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE RIGHT TO REPLACE SOMEBODY WITH YOU.

SO WE FIGURED, WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

WE'LL JUST DEAL WHITEN THE CAMPAIGN.

>> YOU NOTICE THROUGH THE WEBSITE.

IS THE LOOK THE OLD JOKE, IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON STRAVA, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE BIKE RIDE.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO MOVE ON HERE.

THE STATE MINE INSPECTOR.

WHAT ARE THE TUTTIS?

AND YOU TACKED ABOUT BEING EDUCATOR AND A MENTOR.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

MORE THAN A STRICT REGULATOR.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO WELL WELL, SO, THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THE MINING VERSION OF OSHA.

FOR THE STATE MINE INSPECTORS, IT IS BAWL SAFETY.

PUBLIC SAFETY, THE SAFETY OF MINERS, THE SAFETY OF IN THE VIRN PRESIDENT.

SO WHEN WE GOEN TO A MINE SITE AND WRITE WHAT WE CALL A NOTICE OF VIOLATION BASICALLY, A TICKET, IF YOU WILL.

THERE IS NO PENALTY TO THAT.

WE SPEND MY INSPECTORS AND I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO THE SAFETY PEOPLE, THE MECHANICS, THE TRUCK DRIVERS, WHOEVER WE ARE DEALING WITH, TO EDUCATE THEM ON WHY THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IS SOMETHING THEY NEED TO BE ON THE LOCKOUT FOR.

AND WHY IT IS A SAFETY VIOLATION.

TED: DOES THAT SOUND LIKE IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU?

MORE OF AN EDUCATOR THAN A REGULATOR?

>> IT IS MORE OF A PARTNER, THE WAY I SEE IT.

I LOOK AT THE ROLE HERE WHEN WE TACKED, I WILL AGREE WITH IT.

WHEN I SAY IT IS A PARTNER, IS THAT WE ARE EXTENSION OF THE SAFETY PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE AT THE MINING SITES.

MOST HAVE A GOOD SAFETY PROGRAM.

>> SO IT IS A MATTER OF BEING THE OTHER SET OF EYES LOOKING OVER THE SHOULDERS?

ARE PROPERTY SAFETY MEASURES, ARE THEY BEING APPLIED AT ARIZONA MINES RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY, MOSTLY, YES.

BUT NOTHING IS PERFECT.

BEING I HAVE GONE UP, I WORKED IN THOUGH FOOLED BE THIS THEN SPENT TIME IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS, THERE ARABLE TOES THAT ADHERE TO THE LOCKOUT, TAGOUT, ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TO.

AS THE DAY RUNS ON.

SOMETIMES THERE IS THAT TENDENCY, TO CLIMB UP ON SOMETHING WHERE YOU SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE PROTECTION AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THAT IS WHERE I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE AN OPEN CULTURE OF SAFETY TO WHERE WE CAN SAY YOU NEED TO STOP THAT.

>> SAFETY MEASURES APPLY IN ARIZONA MINES.

GOOD SO STAR IN WHAT DID YOU SAY?

THEY ARE VERY GOOD.

>> WELL, VIRTUALLY, ALL THE MINING COMPANIES HAVE A VERY STRONG SAFETY CULTURE, THEY ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING ON MAKING SURE, THAT THE WORKING CONDITIONS ARE SAFE.

AND ALSO, THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE ENGAGED AND UNDERSTAND A THEY WILL, ARE REQUIRED TO WORK SAFE FIRST NOT TAKE THOSE SHORTCUTS.

>> SOMETHING YOU TOUCHED ON EARLIER.

INCIDENTS WHERE SHALL ARE INCIDENT RATES BEING REPORTED ACCURATELY AS FAR AS YOU KNOW?

>> WELL, I CAN'T COMMENT TO THAT.

WILL MAKE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT TO WHAT I WILL STEP BACK TO.

IT IS IT SAFE HERE IN ARIZONA?

I HAVE GONE TO MINE SIGHT WHERE IT COMES TIME TO CLIMB IN.

IT IS CONSIDERED A CONFINED SPACE.

WE DOZ THROUGH THE SAME PROTOCOLS.

THEN TO A SISTER SITE WHERE I HAVE GONE IN, OH, WE CHECKED THE AIR, IT IS FINE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

I HAD TO BRING MY OWN PEOPLE TO COME.

SO IT IS HIT-AND-MISS.

IT IS IT HIT-AND-MISS SNA IT IS NOT HIT HIT-AND-MISS.

I AM NOT SAYING THERE ARE NOT EXCEPTIONS BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN NATURE.

YOU, YOU CANNOT TECHNOLOGICALLY IMPROVE EVERYTHING TO THE POINT UNTIL WE GET TO WHERE WE ARE MOVING, TO AUTONOMOUS FLEETS, THE BAGHDAD FLEET IS ENTIRELY AUTONOMOUS.

THAT MEANS THERE IS NOT A PERSON IN THAT TRUCK, SO WE NO LONGER HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE HUMAN FRAILTIES OF FALLING ASLEEP, GETTING DISTRACTED, OR WHATEVER.

THE RAY MINE AT KEARNY IS MOVING TO AUTONOMOUS FLEETS.

MORENCI, ACTUALLY, THE OPERATION IS MOVING TOWARD REMOVING PEOPLE FROM THOSE HEAVY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, AND LETTING COMPUTERS AND SATELLITES RUN THEM.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE QEZ TO YOU REGARDING RATES OF, ARE THEY BEING PROPERLY RECORDED?

ARE THEY BEING ACCURATED REPORTED?

ARE YOU AFIRE?

WELL, I AM NOT THE INCUMBENT.

I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE DATA THAT THE INCUMBENT HAS.

WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD, WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN INTO WELL, WHAT I HAVE SEEN?

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE INACCURATE.

WE DO THE HAHA'S.

I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE YEAHS I SEEN SOMEONE GET INJURED.

I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE IN THAT.

NEAR MISSES DO NEED IMPROVING.

DO YOU AGREE THAT?

WELL, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE REPORTING IS, IS PARAMOUNT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TRACKING WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT IS ALMOST HAPPENING.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

BUT THE STA STATISTICS, THE CAPTURING OF ALL OF THIS IS VERY ACCURATE AND THE REASON I SAY THAT, IS BECAUSE IF THEY FIND OUT, A COMPANY IS FALSIFYING THEIR INFORMATION, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A CITATION THAT THEY WRITE, STARTS AT $130.

THEM ARE TWO THINGS THAT TAKE THAT FIND UP TO THE SIX FIG FIGURES.

ONE OF THOSE TWO IS FALSIFYING DATA AND INFORMATION.

THAT IS REPORTED TO THEM, SO IS IT 100%.

US THERE NOTHING IN THIS WORLD THAT IS 100%.

AM CONFIDENT THAT ALL OF THESE MINING COMPANIES UNDERSTAND, THAT IF THEY ARE FOUND TO BE FALSIFYING INFORMATION, THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT PENALTIES.

>> RIGHT NOW.

ALL MINES ARE OPERATING SAFELY.

THERE IS NO REASON TO CLOSE ANY OF THEM AS FAR AS YOU SEE?

NO.

TED: ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT?

>> I WOULD BE COMPLETELY OKAY WITH THAT FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN.

TED: OK.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, WHAT DO MINE WORKERS TELL YOU?

WELL HE START WITH YOU, TELL YOU ABOUT SAFETY AT THE MINES?

WHAT ARE THEIR CONCERNS?

WHAT DO THEY SEE AROUND THEM?

>> OK.

WHAT I HAVE RUN INTO AS I HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING.

OF COURSE, I AM A DEMOCRAT.

I RAN INTO A FELLA THAT DIDN'T KNOW I WITH AS A DEMOCRAT.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HE WITH A WAS REPUBLICAN AS WE WERE CO RECK SIGNATURES.

WHAT CAME UT OF THAT CONVERSATION IS THAT THINGS ARE GETTING STRETCHED OUT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE ARE IN A BOOM NOT THE MINES ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING RISKY, PRODUCTION SOMETIMES WE CAN GET AT FEW EXTRA DAYS BEFORE WE GO TO THE MAINTENANCE CYCLE.

THAT IS WHAT I WAS HEARING SNA.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM MINERS IN.

THAT IS INTERESTING POINT HERE.

WITH DATA CENTERS EVERYTHING GOING ON HERE.

THE NEED FOR EXTRACTION, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

ARE WE UP TO SPEED?

ARE YOU OF DAPT THAT MINES WILL BE ABLE ABLE TO HANDLE THE EXTRA WORK?

THAT IS A QUESTION THAT I GET QUITE A BIT BECAUSE IN ALL OF THE TRADES, EVERYTHING THAT MINES NEED, JUST LIKE A LOT OF OTHER INDUSTRIES, WE NEED ENGINEERS.

WE NEED COME PEWTER TECHS.

WE NEED THE TRADES, YOU KNOW?

TODAY, TO BECOME A ME CANTIC, OAR PIPE FITTER OAR CARPENTER IS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT TO THE MINING INDUSTRY AS IF YOU ARE ENGINEER OR COMPUTER TECH.

AND SO, THERE IS NO QUESTION, THAT WE NEED TO WORK HARDER AT FILLING THAT PIPELINE AND BRINGING YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY INTO THE INDUSTRY.

TED: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM MINERS WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM?

WHAT I AM HEARING FROM MINERS, AND WHERE I HEAR THIS IS WHEN THEY COME IN FOR THE TRAINING, WHETHER IT IS ANNUAL REFRESHER TRAINING, WHICH IS EIGHT HOURS, 24 HOURS OF NEW MINER TRAINING IS THE FIRST, ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS WE GET, WHERE CAN WE FIND OUT IF THE COMPANY THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO WORK FOR AS CONTRACTOR OR WHATEVER?

ARE THEY SAFE?

AND THAT IS WHERE THEY HAVE ALL OF THOSE FIGURES OUT THERE.

SOME YEARS FROM NOW, SO WILL THE STATE MINE INSPECTOR, RIGHT NOW WE DEPEND ON TO COMPILE THAT INFORMATION.

>> OK.

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARIZONA HASES WITH THE TRIBES, THAT THOSE NEED STRENGTHENING.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THAT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE.

SO I WAS IN THE HARD ROCK CHAPTER HOUSE.

THAT IS DEEP IN THE HEART OF THE NAVAJO NATION.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE UP THERE.

ONCE THE PEA BODY MINE LEFT.

WHAT THEY DIDN'T REALIZE, THE MONEY WENT AND SO DID THE WATER.

AND THEY FILLED COMPLETELY ISOLATED AND LEFT BEHIND.

THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO RAISE THE ANIMALS THEY USED TO RAISE.

THEY CANNOT HAVE THE CROPS.

NOTHING GROWS IN IN THE SOIL.

THEY ARE STRUGGLING.

THEY FEEL LIKE NOBODY IS LISTENING TO THEM.

IN FACT ONE OF THE ELDERRERS WHEN I CAME UP THERE BECAUSE I WAS CAMPAIGNING AT THE TIME.

I WAS THE FIRST MINE INSPECTOR.

HE CALLED ME A MINE INSPECTOR, WHICH OBVIOUSLY I AM NOT WHERE, TO COME UP THERE AND SPEAK TO THE COME IN THIS.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> I SPENT 30 PLUS YEARS DID ADEALING WITH THE COAL MINES BOTH ON THE BLACK MESA SO WE COULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT WHAT THOSE END!

MINES MEANT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THE WATER SHORE!

ISSUES.

BUT, THE STATE MINE INSPECTOR HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER ANY OF THE SOVEREIGN NATION OR INDIAN RESERVATIONS, SO IF WE ARE GOING TO GO ON TO THE RESERVATION, ANY RESERVATION, WE HAVE TO BE INVITED, I HAVE STARTED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ESPECIALLY WITH THE RESERVATION BUSINESSES IN AROUND PHOENIX, THAT OPERATES AND AND GRAVEL OPERATIONS, WE HAVE OFFERED OUR EXPERTISE TO COME ON AND JUST DO A COURTESY INSPECTION, YOU KNOW?

HELP EDUCATE THEIR SAFETY PEOPLE AND THE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN, THE TRIBAL PRESIDENT SAYS THANKS VERY MUCH.

NEED TO TALK TO MY ATTORNEY.

TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY DOESN'T MITIGATE, DOES IT NOT?

IT DOES NOT.

I HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY NATIVE AMERICAN SIRENNISTS WHOSE SPECIALITY IS URANIUM WHEN ELECTED HE WILL WORK WITH ME AS AD VAASOR AS WELL AS I HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY JONATHAN NES WHO WILL BE UNOF THE FUTURE CONGRESSMAN.

SO I HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS ALREADY EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT IN THE ROLE UP IN THE NATIVE, UP IN THE NAVAJO NATION.

A WE ARE CLOSING IN ON A CLOSING STATEMENT HERE.

I WANT TO ASK, DO WE HAVE A $10 QUADRILLION IN THE MINING INDUSTRY IS HUGE HERE IN ARIZONA SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

>> IT IS WAY BIGGER.

I BET IT IS.

I BET IT IS.

IT IS IT YOUR JOB TO SUPPORT THAT INDUSTRY?

>> YES.

SO TO BEGIN WITH, ASU JUST FINISHED THEIR ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY FOR MINING.

FOR 2025, IT IS $35 BILLION BUSINESS.

IT EMPLOYS 29,000 PEOPLE DIRECTLY.

ANOTHER 70,000 INDIRECTLY AND LET'S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT FRESH WE DID AWAY WITH THE SANDING FAVATION OPERATION.

THAT IS $225,000 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SO I DO SEE MYSELF AS AN AM PASS DORE AND SOMEBODY THAT WILL BE OUT ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF RESPONSIBLE MINING, NOT ANY INDIVIDUAL MINE OR MINING COMPANY, BUT MINING AS AN INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

TED: STATE MINE INSPECTOR, PART OF THE JOB IS TO SUPPORT MOONING IN THE MOONING INDUSTRY IN ARIZONA.

DO YOU AGREE THAT?

>> NO, I DON'T.

I FEEL THE MINING INDUSTRY WILL SURVIVE JUST FINE.

WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT, IT IS TRACKLY ABOUT KEEPING THE MAINERS SAFE AND KEEPING THEM, KEEPING THEM GO HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF A DY'S HARD WORK WITHOUT IN JR.

ARE OR DISTRESS.

IF WE KEEP THE MINER'S SAFE.

THE MINING COMPANIES ARE GOING TO DO JUST FINE.

IF YOU ARE AM PASS DORE FOR THE MINING COMPANIES, HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU ARE ALSO FOR THE MINER?

AND THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MR.

PRESMYK AND MY FINANCING TO BE A. I WOULD TAKE A LOOK.

TED: RESPOND, PLEASE.

>> I DOES THIS RUN UNDER CLEAN ACTIONS.

CLEAN ACTIONS IS SET UP SO THAT THERE IS NO UNDO INFLUENCE BY ANY SINGLE PERSON OR A PACK OR A COMPANY.

THE MOST I COULD TAKE FROM ANYONE IS $220.

THAT WAS UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $18,000.

MR.

MATLOCK HAS BROUGHT UP THAT ISSUE.

I JUST SAY, CLEAN ACTIONS WAS SET UP TO ELIMINATE THAT.

NOW, DID I RECEIVE A NUMBER OF MY $220 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MINING INDIVIDUAL, YES.

I ALSO KNOW HE REACHED OUT TO MINING COMPANIES LOOKING FOR CAMPAIGN COUNTRYTUTIONS?

>> LAST WORD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IT IS A TALKING ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO A MINING COMPANY.

I DID VOLUNTEERZ WITH RESOLUTION COPPER TO HELP THEM FILL SANDBAGS, THOUGH.

ALL RIGHT WE GOT TO STOP IT THERE.

GENTLEMEN THANKS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, CANDIDATES.

TIME NOW FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS WE START WITH BRIAN MATLOCK.

>> YEAH.

AM BRIAN MATLOCK.

A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I EARNED MY ENGINEERING DEGREE WHILE I SERVED IN THE MARINE REEVERIES.

I HAVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE INCLUDING MINING OPERATIONS HERE IN ARIZONA.

I HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE, I HAVE WORN THE RESPIRATORS, I PUT ON THE FOG RESTRAINTS AND CRAWLED INTO CONFINED SPACES.

WORKED ALONGSIDE THE VERY PEOPLE THAT THE MINE IN INSPECTOR'S OFFICE IS MEANT TO PROTECT I AM THE PREFERRED CONDITIONDATE BECAUSE OF THE ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE.

MY ENGINEERING EDUCATION, MY ROAD EXPERIENCE, THE PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE.

ONCE ELECTED, WILL BE SUPPORTING THE RURAL NATION, THE RURAL COMMUNITIES, THE TRIBAL NATIONS WITH THE EFFORTS THEY HAVE AROUND MINING COMMUNITIES OR MINING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS WORKING TO KEEP OUR MOONING, OUR MINES SAFE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND NOW, THE CLOSING STATEMENT FROM LES PRESMYK.

HI, I AM LES PRESMYK.

I AM THE STATE MINE IN SP KOR.

I AM ASKING FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

LOVE THE JOB.

I SPENT THE ENTIRE CAREER AS MINING ENGINEER IN ARIZONA MINING YUN ARE STARTING WITH SUPERIOR AND SALMON WELL I HAVE NOT ONLY WORKED SIDE-BY-SIDE, I HAVE WORKED AS UNDERGROUND MINER AND WORKED IN THE OPEN PIT MINES.

MY EXPERIENCE IS END ENTIRELY IN ARIZONA MINING AS A MINING ENGINEER.

I AM A LIFELONG, I AM ARIZONA NATIVE.

I WILL TELL YOU, THAT THIS JOB IS ALL ABOUT SAFETY.

NO MATTER WHAT ELSE I DO, SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.

SAFETY OF EVERY PERSON THAT STEPS ON TO A MINE SITE TO WORK THAT DAY.

WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY TRAINED.

AND THAT WHEN THEY LEAVE THAT AT THE END OF THEIR SHIFT, THEY WILL BE AT LEAST IN AS GOOD OF A CONDITION AS WHEN THEY STEPPED TON THE MINE SITE SO THEY CAN ENJOY THEIR SPARE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

YES, CANDIDATES THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD KISS DISCUSSION.

GOOD HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

OUR "NEXT" "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" WILL BE MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST, AS WE HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

THAT'S MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21, AT 5PM AND AGAIN AT 10PM HERE ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WE CLOSE TONIGHT'S PROGRAM BY RECOGNIZING THE PASSING OF TWO PROMINENT ARIZONANS.

FORMER U.S.

SENATOR JON KYL HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 84.

JON KYL SERVED ARIZONA IN CONGRESS AS A 4- TERM MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AND MOST NOTABLY, 3-TERMS IN THE SENATE, WHERE HE ROSE TO THE RANKS OF LEADERSHIP IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

JON KYL WAS A FREQUENT GUEST ON ARIZON HORIZON HE ADDRESSED A VARIETY OF ISSUES AFFECTING THE STATE, INCLUDING A SPECIAL FOCUS ON WATER POLICY.

JON KYL, DEAD, AT 84.

AND, CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR AND EDUCATOR PAUL BENDER DIED THIS WEEK.

HE WAS 93.

PAUL BENDER WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF ARIZONA HORIZON.

HE WAS WITH THE SHOW IN ITS EARLIEST DAYS AT SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR'S SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION HEARINGS IN 1981.

PAUL WENT ON TO BECOME A REGULAR GUEST ON HORIZON.

HIS ABILITY TO CLARIFY OFTEN COMPLICATED SUPREME COURT CASES AND DECISIONS WAS A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO OUR SHOW AND OUR VIEWERS.

FORMER ASU LAW SCHOOL DEAN AND MENTOR TO UNTOLD NUMBERS OF ATTORNEYS IN THE STATE AND OUR FRIEND, PAUL BENDER, DEAD AT 93.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.