Inside Pima County with Rex Scott

Supervisor Rex Scott
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  • Government

Inside Pima County with Supervisor Rex Scott is a new podcast created to bring our community closer to the people, programs, and services that keep Pima County running. Hosted by District 1 Supervisor and Chair of the Board, Rex Scott, this series opens the doors to county government in a way that’s accessible, transparent, and genuinely human. Every episode features candid conversations with the dedicated department and program directors who lead Pima County’s essential work. From public health and public safety, to parks, transportation, economic development, environmental stewardship, community resources, and beyond, these are the people who help make our neighborhoods safer, our region more resilient, and our quality of life stronger. Whether you’re curious about how county decisions are made, want to understand the services available to your family, or simply enjoy learning more about the community you call home, this podcast offers a front-row seat to the work happening every day on your behalf.

  1. Oct 23

    Pima County Wireless Integrated Network

    The Pima County Wireless Integrated Network (PCWIN) stands as one of the region’s most essential yet often unseen public safety assets. Created in response to significant communication gaps revealed during a local tragedy—the 2011 shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords—PCWIN was envisioned as a unified, interoperable radio system that would allow law enforcement, fire departments, medical responders, and other agencies to communicate seamlessly during routine operations and critical incidents alike. Covering Pima County’s 9,200 square miles and serving what has grown from 32 to 57 partner agencies, the system represents a landmark achievement in regional collaboration, technological innovation, and long‑term planning. At the center of PCWIN’s ongoing success is Director Robert “Bob” Meredith, whose diverse background uniquely prepared him for this role. After growing up in rural Kentucky, Meredith began his career in the U.S. Army during the Desert Storm era, specializing in communications and encryption. His military training launched a long trajectory in technology, leading him to Tucson by way of Fort Huachuca. Over the decades, Meredith built deep expertise in network infrastructure, telephone systems, and IT operations—experiences that positioned him perfectly when Pima County transitioned from legacy phone systems to emerging voice‑over‑IP technologies. His leadership in that effort, combined with his strong relationships across county departments, eventually led him to PCWIN. Today, PCWIN operates through three primary divisions: administrative services, subscriber services, and infrastructure management. Together, these teams maintain thousands of radios, dozens of mountain‑top communication sites, and the complex network backbone that enables real‑time interoperability across the county. Their work, which is quiet, technical, and critically important, ensures that first responders can act quickly, safely, and collaboratively, regardless of the situation. As technology evolves, so too does PCWIN. Advances like GPS-enabled radios, automated data lookups in the field, and the potential future integration of satellite-based communication are reshaping what responders can do and how efficiently they can operate. Meredith and his team are actively navigating these developments, ensuring that PCWIN remains at the forefront of public safety communications. Behind the scenes, PCWIN also represents an exceptional model of interagency cooperation. Guided by a board of directors composed of member agencies and supported by an executive committee, the system continues to function not only because of its technical sophistication but because of the shared commitment of leaders across jurisdictions. Their willingness to come together with common goals has produced a system recognized nationally as a model for regional collaboration. PCWIN’s story is one of innovation, coordination, and community commitment. Under Meredith’s leadership, the network remains a vital, ever‑evolving safeguard for Pima County residents and the first responders who serve them.

    Pima County Wireless Integrated Network

  2. Oct 9

    Pima County Elections Department

    Welcome to this latest episode of Inside Pima County with Rex Scott. In this installment, we are joined by Constance Hargrove, Director of the Pima County Elections Department, for an in-depth and wide-ranging conversation about how elections are administered in one of Arizona’s largest counties. The discussion begins with Constance’s unexpected entry into the elections field—an opportunity that emerged when she was working at the Virginia Legislature and was invited to join the City of Richmond’s elections office. What started as an unfamiliar role grew into nearly two decades of experience, followed by time in seminary and later positions in Chesterfield County that ultimately led to her becoming Director of Elections for Pima County in 2022. The conversation focuses on the structure of election responsibilities in Pima County, clarifying the distinct duties of the County Recorder’s Office—such as voter registration, list maintenance, and early ballot handling—and providing an overview of the Elections Department, which is responsible for ballot processing, vote center operations, election programming, equipment testing, and tabulation. Constance provides a detailed look at how early ballots are processed, how damaged or unreadable ballots are duplicated, and how vote centers are identified, evaluated, and maintained across the county. She explains the intricacies of ballot-on-demand technology, electronic poll books, connectivity challenges in remote locations, and the extensive training, staffing, and coordination required for both permanent and temporary election workers. We also walk through the safeguards built into every election, including logic and accuracy testing, post-election audits, chain-of-custody procedures, and the creation of the official canvass. Constance outlines how each step ensures accuracy and transparency before results ever reach the Board of Supervisors for certification. Finally, the discussion highlights recent improvements such as Pima County’s new election night reporting platform and the optional early ballot drop-off verification process. Constance also shares her enthusiasm for launching a voter academy in the coming years to further improve public understanding of elections. Through this discussion, listeners gain a clear, accessible overview of the complex work required to run secure, accurate, and transparent elections in Pima County.

    Pima County Elections Department

  3. Oct 2

    Pima County Parks and Recreation

    Welcome to the latest episode of Inside Pima County, where today’s conversation highlights one of the County’s most far-reaching and community-centered departments: Parks and Recreation. Joining in this conversation is Vic Pereira, the department’s director, whose path to this role is grounded in service, leadership, and a deep connection to the community he now helps shape. Pereira’s journey to Pima County began with a distinguished 31-year career as an Air Force officer, culminating in his assignment as Deputy Commander at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. In that role, he was responsible for community engagement, forging relationships with civic leaders across Tucson. As he approached retirement, a family decision to remain in the area created an opportunity for a new chapter. That led Pereira, first, to the Health Department, where he served as Deputy Director, and later to Parks and Recreation, a position he assumed in 2022. Today, Pereira oversees a department whose footprint stretches across Pima County’s 9,200 square miles, touching nearly every community and every age group. The Parks and Recreation Department is made-up of 42 urban parks, 12 community centers, nine pools, a shooting sports complex, a golf course, and the iconic Chuck Huckleberry Loop. But Pereira emphasizes that beyond the parks, pools, and programs, the department’s true strength lies in its people: the hundreds of dedicated professionals and seasonal staff who maintain facilities, teach children, support families, and often go above and beyond in moments that matter most. In this episode, Pereira shares some stories of staff, outlines the departments newly completed master plan, discusses priorities for rural and fast-growing communities like Vail and Catalina, and offers a look at upcoming initiatives—from a countywide e-bike study to future accreditation. He also highlights beloved programs such as youth aquatics, adult fitness opportunities, seasonal community events, and the critical role of the Parklands Foundation in supporting Parks and Recreation. Through the conversation, one theme stands out: Parks and Recreation is not only about infrastructure and amenities; it’s about enriching lives. Pereira’s leadership reflects that belief, and his team’s work demonstrates it daily. This episode offers a closer look at the department’s mission, its people, and its plans for a future that continues to serve Pima County residents with excellence, accessibility, and heart.

    Pima County Parks and Recreation

  4. Sep 18

    Cooperative Extension

    In this episode of Inside Pima County with Rex Scott, we take a slight detour from our usual conversations with Pima County program and department directors to highlight the University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension. In this episode, we’re joined by Jenn Parlin, who is currently serving as the interim Cooperative Extension Director. We’re delighted to have her with us to shed light on this unique and tremendously impactful resource. Jenn found her way to Arizona and chose to stay because of our iconic mountains and sunshine. Jenn’s journey with Cooperative Extension began in 2010, following her time at the University of Florida, where she earned degrees in business and sociology. After running business operations for her team, she steadily moved through roles as business manager, program coordinator, faculty member, and now serves as the interim director. Cooperative Extension, she explains, is rooted in the mission of land‑grant universities, institutions established to ensure that education and innovation reach beyond campus walls and into surrounding communities. For Arizona, the University of Arizona fulfills that role, and since 1915 Cooperative Extension has served as a bridge between university expertise and the everyday needs of residents across all 15 counties and multiple tribal communities. Jenn walks us through the four pillars of Cooperative Extension: Family and Consumer Sciences; Agriculture and Natural Resources; 4‑H Youth Development; and Tribal Extension programs. Whether it provides support for mental health, nutrition, financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, youth leadership, or culturally relevant community engagement, Cooperative Extension is designed to serve people across their entire lifespan—from youth discovering vegetables at Tucson Village Farm to older adults seeking gardening advice from the Master Gardeners program. With programs ranging from urban agriculture at Tucson Village Farm and culinary education at the Garden Kitchen, to wildfire mitigation, invasive species management, livestock support, and Smartscape trainings for landscapers, Cooperative Extension’s reach is broad and intentionally community‑centered. Many programs are free, tailored to local needs, and enhanced by an extraordinary network of volunteers. In this episode, Jenn highlights how Cooperative Extension collaborates closely with Pima County, expands access to nutritious food, engages youth through hands‑on learning, and supports families with practical tools to thrive. Whether you’re two, or one hundred and two, Cooperative Extension has something for you—and Jenn is here to help us understand just how valuable that is.

    Cooperative Extension

  5. Sep 4

    Pima County Environmental Quality

    Today’s guest brings decades of expertise in air quality, water protection, solid waste, and climate planning. We are glad to be joined by Scott DiBiase, Director of the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. Director DiBiase’s professional journey spans several states, agencies, and roles, all of which shaped the deep technical and leadership experience he now brings to Pima County. After earning his degree in atmospheric sciences from the University of Arizona in 1991, he began his career in Connecticut in 1993, working in the state’s air monitoring program. He then returned to Arizona to work for the Maricopa Association of Governments, focusing on air quality modeling and state implementation planning. That technical foundation led him to Pinal County in 2004, where he grew from planning manager to deputy director, eventually serving as interim director of their air quality program before joining Pima County DEQ in 2023. Today, Director DiBiase leads a department of about 40 professionals across a broad range of programs including air, water, waste, climate planning, and community outreach. DEQ’s responsibilities stretch from air monitoring, permitting, and enforcement, to water system inspections, septic reviews, pool and spa permitting, hazardous waste oversight, and management of the county’s landfill and transfer stations. The department also plays a major role in stormwater inspections, landfill closure maintenance, and regional climate planning efforts. These programs, though diverse, share a common goal: safeguarding the air residents breathe, the water residents drink, and the environmental quality of Pima County as a whole. Director DiBiase explains how DEQ’s air program is the largest and most technical component of the department, requiring daily fieldwork, precise monitoring, rulemaking, and enforcement. He outlines the county’s stormwater inspections, water sampling responsibilities, and the complexities of maintaining closed landfills for three decades. He also discusses recycling services at county transfer stations, the challenges of expanding those services in unincorporated areas, and the realities of tracking septic system use across the region. The Director also shares updates on the county’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, a four‑year EPA planning effort that has produced both a Priority Climate Action Plan and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan in collaboration with regional partners. He highlights workforce development efforts with the University of Arizona’s Drachman Institute, aimed at preparing residents for jobs in home energy auditing and weatherization that support both household savings and regional emissions reductions. Finally, Director DiBiase touches on one of the most important roles the Department plays, managing the concerns of the public while ensuring environmental protection. Learn more about the types of complaints DEQ receives from the public, how residents can report concerns, and ongoing outreach programs including the state’s “No Drive Day” and Lawn and Garden equipment exchange grants. It’s a wide‑ranging conversation that sheds light on the daily work required to maintain environmental quality across a large, diverse county. We’re grateful to Director DiBiase for sharing his insight, and grateful to all of you for tuning in to Inside Pima County.

    Pima County Environmental Quality

  6. Aug 21

    Grants Management and Innovation

    In this latest episode of Inside Pima County with Supervisor Rex Scott, we shine a spotlight on a department whose work often happens behind the scenes but makes an enormous impact on how Pima County can serve its residents: the Grants Management and Innovation Department, known as GMI. Joining the podcast is GMI’s director, Ken Walker, along with Dorothee Harmon, who manages the division responsible for countywide grant development. Both bring decades of experience in nonprofit and governmental work, and both play critical roles in ensuring that Pima County can identify, secure, manage, and monitor the grant funding that supports so many essential public services. We discuss the mechanics of grant development, grant compliance, and the partnerships that make these funds possible. Learn how Ken’s and Dorothee’s backgrounds help shape the County’s grant strategy, how GMI supports departments large and small, and how their roles connect directly to the public good. We explore what makes federal and state grant opportunities so complex, why indirect cost recovery matters, and how GMI’s partnerships with dozens of nonprofit subrecipients strengthen the countywide network of services residents rely upon. You’ll also hear about recent grants that have benefited District 1 and Pima County as a whole, from FEMA-funded improvements to flood control infrastructure to innovative water conservation upgrades at Arthur Pack Park, as well as the essential human services delivered by organizations like Interfaith Community Services and IMPACT.

    Grants Management and Innovation

  7. Aug 7

    Pima County Public Defense Services

    In this episode of Inside Pima County with Supervisor Rex Scott, we’re pleased to host a conversation with the head of Pima County’s Public Defense Services Department, Dean Brault. Dean has spent nearly three decades in public service as an attorney, administrator, and advocate, and we’re grateful to have him with us. Public Defense Services performs duties that aren’t optional — they’re required to provide legal services under both Arizona law and the United States Constitution. As Dean explains, the right to legal representation for indigent individuals originates from foundational principles affirmed in landmark case, Gideon v. Wainwright. Those protections ensure that anyone facing prosecution has access to a lawyer regardless of their financial circumstances. Dean walks us through his professional journey, beginning with his graduation from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1996. His career started here in Pima County as a law clerk and bailiff, followed by years of service as a public defender handling everything from misdemeanors to serious felonies. Over time, Dean became a trial team supervisor, then served as the county’s legal defender, and eventually stepped into his current leadership role overseeing Public Defense Services. Dean breaks down the many divisions that fall under Public Defense Services, including the Public Defender’s Office, the Legal Defender’s Office, the Office of the Legal Advocate, the Office of Court Appointed Counsel, the Office of Children’s Counsel, the Mental Health Defender, the Public Fiduciary, and the administrative unit that ties them all together. Each division carries unique responsibilities—from criminal defense, to protecting the interests of children in dependency cases, to supporting vulnerable adults who have no one else to manage their affairs. Dean offers insight into how cases are assigned, why conflicts of interest require multiple divisions and contract counsel, and how the department balances a wide array of constitutional duties with limited resources. He also highlights one of the department’s most impactful public-facing services: the Pima County Legal Clinic, which helps individuals take important steps after their cases conclude—restoring civil rights, sealing records, or addressing the long-term consequences of past convictions. Above all, Dean emphasizes the dedication of the professionals who make up Public Defense Services. Their commitment ensures that every person entitled to representation receives high-quality advocacy during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

    Pima County Public Defense Services

  8. Jul 24

    Pima County Justice Services

    In this latest edition of Inside Pima County with Supervisor Rex Scott, we’re shining the spotlight on one of the County’s most essential, yet often lesser-known, departments: Justice Services. We’re thrilled to be joined by the Director of Justice Services, Kate Vesely. Born at TMC and raised here, she’s a proud product of local public and private education, now raising her own children in the community her family has called home since the 1800s. With parents who dedicated their careers to public service and education, Kate grew up surrounded by a duty to serve her community. While other kids dreamed of being astronauts, she knew early on she wanted to be a bureaucrat — someone committed to strengthening systems and helping people navigate them. That commitment led her into a 25‑year career in justice system innovation. Justice Services is a department where the work happening within that team is fast-paced, data‑driven, and deeply impactful. Justice Services itself is a relatively new agency, about five years old, and was originally established to address jail overcrowding. A decade ago, the jail population regularly exceeded 2,300 individuals, presenting major challenges for detainees, staff, healthcare providers, and the broader justice system. Through targeted strategies and partnerships, the department helped drive the jail population down by 500–600 individuals, improving safety and saving millions of taxpayer dollars — all without increasing violent crime. With that success, Justice Services expanded its mission: advancing community safety, reducing unnecessary incarceration, supporting recovery, and improving outcomes for individuals and families involved in the justice system. One of the most visible and transformative elements of this work is the Transition Center: the “crown jewel” of Justice Services. It grew due to community feedback and from a simple but powerful question: if individuals with non‑violent misdemeanors aren’t entering custody, how do we ensure they still receive support? Open seven days a week, the Transition Center has become a trusted, walk‑in hub for people seeking help, guidance, and connection to services. Staffed entirely by justice navigators with lived experience, it offers stigma‑free support, immediate trust, and a path forward for individuals and families facing some of the hardest moments of their lives.

    Pima County Justice Services
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Inside Pima County with Supervisor Rex Scott is a new podcast created to bring our community closer to the people, programs, and services that keep Pima County running. Hosted by District 1 Supervisor and Chair of the Board, Rex Scott, this series opens the doors to county government in a way that’s accessible, transparent, and genuinely human. Every episode features candid conversations with the dedicated department and program directors who lead Pima County’s essential work. From public health and public safety, to parks, transportation, economic development, environmental stewardship, community resources, and beyond, these are the people who help make our neighborhoods safer, our region more resilient, and our quality of life stronger. Whether you’re curious about how county decisions are made, want to understand the services available to your family, or simply enjoy learning more about the community you call home, this podcast offers a front-row seat to the work happening every day on your behalf.

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