Pima County Republicans Sue To Prevent Tucson 'Sanctuary City' Ballot Initiative

Published: Monday, July 22, 2019 - 2:39pm

The Pima County Republican Party is suing to prevent a ballot proposition asking voters in Tucson whether the city should be declared a “sanctuary city.”

County GOP chair David Eppihimer said the city of Tucson incorrectly calculated the number of petition signatures needed to qualify the measure and that the proposed designation is roundly rejected by law enforcement. 

“Our police chief just issued an opinion piece for the local newspaper in which he comes out very strongly against it on public safety issues," Eppihimer said. 

Eppihimer added the suit questions the qualifications of some people who collected signatures and charges the city with setting too low a bar for the number of signatures required by state law among other things.