A Republican congressional candidate in Tucson is circulating a recall petition against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, the lawman whose department is leading the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC "Today" host Savannah Guthrie.
Daniel Butierez, who is hoping to flip Arizona's 7th Congressional District red, spoke about his campaign to oust Nanos in a Facebook video posted Tuesday, urging voters across party lines to sign on.
"Help us get these done, get these signed, and let's get the sheriff out of office and get someone in there that we can feel confident in."
The recall effort doesn't center solely on the Guthrie case. As reported by the Daily News, Butierez is also pushing back against what he describes as Nanos's alleged misrepresentation of his law enforcement background in a sworn deposition, a claim that carries its own weight regardless of the missing persons investigation.
A sheriff under scrutiny
According to the Arizona Republic, Nanos is accused of being untruthful about suspensions early in his career with the El Paso Police Department. His work history will reportedly be reviewed on Tuesday during a meeting of county officials.
Nanos, for his part, does not appear interested in answering questions. When contacted by an Arizona Republic reporter, he offered four words: "good luck with your hit piece." He hasn't responded to the Daily News for comment either.
That's a posture, not a defense. When a sitting sheriff faces allegations of dishonesty in sworn testimony, the public deserves more than dismissiveness. Voters elected Nanos to a second term in 2024. The question now is whether they had the full picture when they did.
The Nancy Guthrie disappearance
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her southern Arizona home on Feb. 1. What little the public knows is alarming. Video and images show an armed man wearing gloves and a mask approaching her front door in the hours she is believed to have disappeared.
Few clues have been made public despite extensive media coverage. The FBI is participating in an ongoing search. The Guthrie family has posted a $1 million reward.
Savannah Guthrie conceded the grim reality in a Feb. 24 Instagram video, saying "she may already be gone."
An elderly woman vanishes. Doorbell footage captures a masked, armed figure at her door. And weeks later, the investigating agency's sheriff is fending off credibility questions about his own sworn statements. The optics alone are punishing, but the substance is worse. Public confidence in the investigation depends entirely on public confidence in the man running it.
The broader political landscape
Butierez's recall campaign sits at the intersection of two problems that tend to animate conservative voters in Arizona: law enforcement accountability and institutional trust.
Conservatives have long argued that the solution to crime isn't defunding police but demanding competence and integrity from the people who lead them. A sheriff who allegedly misrepresented his own record in sworn testimony is not the face of that standard. If the allegations hold up, it doesn't matter whether he's a Democrat or a Republican. The badge requires honesty. The oath demands it.
Pima County's political dynamics add another layer. Adelita Grijalva is currently finishing the term started by her father prior to his death in March 2025. The region's leadership has not exactly inspired confidence among residents looking for serious governance. Butierez is betting that frustration runs deep enough to bridge partisan divides, which is why he urged voters of all political affiliations to sign the recall petition.
What comes next
Tuesday's meeting of county officials reviewing Nanos's work history could determine whether the recall effort gains institutional momentum or remains a grassroots campaign. If officials confirm discrepancies in Nanos's sworn testimony, the political math changes fast. A sitting sheriff caught lying under oath about his own career is not a survivable scandal in most jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, Nancy Guthrie's family waits. A million-dollar reward sits unclaimed. An armed man in a mask remains unidentified. And the department tasked with finding answers is led by a man who won't answer questions about himself.
That gap between authority and accountability is exactly where trust goes to die.
