06/23/2026
Hello everyone,
The Apache Junction Democrats are proud to endorse Brian Matlock for Arizona State Mine Inspector in the July 21 Democratic Primary. Most of you have met Brian at one event or the other and he is an asset to our State. Please vote for him when you get your ballot.
In solidarity,
Steve
Apache Junction Democrats Endorse Brian Matlock for Arizona State Mine Inspector
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The Apache Junction Democrats are proud to endorse Brian Matlock for Arizona State Mine Inspector.
Here in Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, and across Pinal County, mining is not an abstract issue. It is part of Arizona’s history, part of our landscape, and part of the economy that shaped many of our communities. We live close to open desert, old mining areas, public lands, recreation trails, and working people whose safety depends on whether government does its job well.
That is why the office of State Mine Inspector matters.
Arizona needs a Mine Inspector who understands the work, understands the equipment, and understands that safety is not politics. It is about people going home at the end of the day. Brian Matlock brings that kind of real-world experience.
Brian is a Marine veteran, a mechanical engineer, and a longtime heavy-industry professional. His work has taken him into mining and industrial operations in Arizona, across the country, and around the world. He has worked with the kinds of machinery, systems, hazards, and safety questions that this office deals with every day. That practical background is exactly what Arizona should expect from someone asking to serve as State Mine Inspector.
We are especially encouraged by Brian’s focus on worker safety, abandoned mine hazards, rural communities, Tribal communities, and modernizing the Mine Inspector’s office. These are not partisan issues. They are Arizona issues.
For our part of the state, abandoned mines and desert safety are real concerns. Families hike, camp, ride, hunt, and explore in areas where old mine openings may still pose a danger. Workers in active mines deserve serious inspections and a Mine Inspector who treats safety as a responsibility, not a slogan. Rural and Tribal communities deserve to be heard and respected when mining decisions affect their land, water, roads, and future.
Brian Matlock understands that Arizona can support responsible mining while still demanding accountability, transparency, and strong safety standards. We believe he will bring independence, technical knowledge, and common sense to an office that too often receives too little public attention.
The Apache Junction Democrats endorse Brian Matlock because he is qualified, grounded, and focused on the job. He has the experience to understand the work and the values to put people first.
Vote to support Brian Matlock for Arizona State Mine Inspector.
Stephen Harshman
Chair, Apache Junction Democrats
