Adrian Fontes soundly defeated Trump Republican, January 6 participant and perennial election denier Mark Finchem in the November 8 elections to become Arizona’s next Secretary of State.
That means Democracy in Arizona, with the election of Mr. Fontes, Katie Hobbs, and in all probability, Kris Mayes is likely safe…for now.
With the task of governing in front of him and his team, Secretary of State Elect Fontes graciously took time to meet and answer questions about the 2022 elections and plans for the office in 2023.
The questions and his responses are below.
- Mr. Secretary-Elect, does your election mean that democracy has won and the danger of authoritarianism to Arizona and the country has gone? Please explain.
“Well, it means that we’ve won this round, but this fight is not over, and we’ve seen how the battle continues to morph and shift. We fought a civil war over this. We fought through suffrage for women over this. We’ve had the civil rights movement over this. The power of repression continues to wield its ugly head in different forms. So, I feel good that we’ve won this round, but the battle will continue.”
- To what extent do you see it as your responsibility to attempt to convince people that voted for your opponent that you’ll be working for them as well as your supporters. Please explain.
“Well, I think that selling that idea is very different than showing. By hard work and inclusion. The folks who choose to continue to stay on the election-denier path will continue to be disappointed. Folks who want to see the good work that’s been done and has been happening for years and years in Arizona, they will come around on their own. But there’s no hard sales pitch that’s going to win anyone over.”
And your opponent has not conceded yet?
“Nor do I expect him to.”
- Please advise on the transition process. How is it proceeding? To what extent will people from the Hobbs team at State be remaining and how many newcomers will be coming with you and in what roles? What are at least three items that need to be done before you assume office in January?
“Those are part and parcel of the same question. Establishing a strong core group in any transition is important. We’ve already made one selection that will be announced probably early next week now. We’ve pushed back that announcement by a week because of the holiday. I have made a selection for Assistant Secretary of State, which will basically be my chief of staff. We are working to build the core of the remaining team, but we are the second domino, so it depends on what the Governor-Elect chooses to do and who decides to move with her from the seventh floor to the ninth floor.
The folks that are remaining will be assessed as would anybody else. We’re building the right team for my administration.
The second thing that needs to be done that we’ll continue to do through the rest of this month and in the next month, is to establish solid lines of communication with all 15 of the county governments and the Clerks of the Boards so we can communicate with the boards and the recorders because I really want to be a partner, a strong partner with the county governments in their interaction with the legislature when it comes to helping them continue to bolster the solid election system.
“I think the third thing that has to be done before the inauguration is that. I, probably need a haircut and a new suit. I think those are going to be manageable.”
- Mr. Secretary- Elect: what will be your top three policy goals after taking office in January 2023?
“I think the number one policy goal is going to be to turn the focus from what’s happening in the office towards what’s happening outside of the office. Servant leadership requires listening. So, we’re going to pay close attention to what folks need, as long as it’s benefiting the voters.”
“Number two, I want to make sure that our heritage is, is well preserved and well promoted. We will continue to talk with folks in the legislature, past secretaries of state, and folks in all of our heritage, preserving communities, including libraries, archives, museums, and cultural centers across Arizona because it’s my belief that to be the keeper of the seal is to be the promoter and preserver of the heritage of the state.”
“Finally, the third, but equally important goal is going to be to really listen carefully to the business community, and the business services that are provided by the Secretary of State’s office. We need to move at the speed of business. We need to pay very close attention to what they think can be improved and partner with them to help the legislature understand that these vital services need to be upgraded, find out those pressure points, and get the resources necessary to relieve them.”
- Is there anything, not covered in the first four questions that you would like the readers to know about your transition to assume the Office of Arizona Secretary of State? Please explain.
“I think the only thing that I’d like to add is that my administration intends to celebrate Arizona: the good, the bad, and the ugly. We have a wonderfully colorful history and it may not always be pleasant. Sometimes there are hard lessons from the past, and we will promote that. We will promote all the wonderful places that people need to visit, all of the fun things that folks should know, and a lot of the sometimes difficult lessons that we’ve learned along the way that make Arizona really amazing.”