Once again, the controversies surrounding Supervisor Matt Heinz consumed a large share of the Call to the Public portion of the Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. Heinz, an emergency room doctor, has become the focus of residents’ growing resentment due to his dismissive attitude toward constituents and disruptive behavior during Board meetings.
It has been rough sailing for Heinz ever since his appearance at a January Board meeting from a cruise ship. On that occasion, the Board meeting was interrupted by an appearance of Heinz’s young male cruise companion in a state of undress.
Since that time, the water has been choppy for the supercilious supervisor due to his support for draconian COVID measures and lack of availability to constituents struggling in the fifth poorest metropolitan area in the country.
During Tuesday’s 5-hour-long marathon meeting, over 20 members of the public came to express their frustration with the county. Topics included masking, covid grants, homelessness, fentanyl, opioids, the use of taxpayer funds to bond people out of jail, Heinz’ cruise ship scandal, and the Board’s decision to ban a local nurse from meetings for 3 months for merely asking for an investigation of Heinz to determine if he has broken any laws related to inappropriate contact with minors.
One speaker, John Backer, who announced his intention to challenge Heinz in the 2024 election cycle, admonished Heinz for not attending meetings consistently.
“I have three full-time jobs, I figured that at least I [would] get a little credit for participating remotely in this board meeting because of my commitment to my constituents and public service,” Backer said quoting Heinz.
Backer argued that Heinz, through his words and actions, has demonstrated that he does not value his role of supervisor and suggested that he has too many jobs.
At a February meeting of the Board, Supervisor Steve Christy laid blame on Heinz for the growing lack of civility and respect at meetings due to his erratic behavior when members of the public are speaking. According to Christy, Heinz becomes especially disruptive when members of the public express opposition to the draconian COVID measures employed by the County’s Health Department:
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