Pima County Republican Party elects new leadership

The Pima County Republican Party has a new chairperson after an organizational meeting over the weekend.

Kathleen Winn, who lost a bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-CD6) in this year’s GOP primary, won the leadership position over Al Nichols on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Winn hosts a local radio show Monday through Friday on KVOI, 1040 AM. She previously ran for Congress in 2022 and worked in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office when Republican Tom Horne served as AG from 2011 to 2015. She has also worked in the real-estate field.

Winn said the local GOP’s first order of business would be opposing Prop 414, a half-cent sales tax proposition that Tucson voters will decide on March 11. The proposal covers a range of programs, including funding more positions in the police and fire departments, boosting emergency and affordable housing programs and supporting various neighborhood and education initiatives.

“Quite frankly, the reason they have to do this (tax proposition) is they have mismanaged the money we’ve given them before,” Winn said.

She said the party would also be recruiting candidates to run in next year’s Tucson City Council election for seats in Wards 3, 5 and 6.

Brook Doty was elected first vice chair, Pat Rogers was elected second vice chair, Tara Maldonado Oster was elected third vice chair and Roderick Smith was elected fourth vice chair.

Kelly Hazel won the treasurer post and Lynn Kronk is the Pima GOP’s secretary.

Members at large include Ron DeSouza, Janet “JL” Wittenbraker, Bill Lake, Betsy Smith and Gabby Mercer.