Tucson Now: Les Presmyck’s plan to stay the Arizona State Mine Inspector

For Tucson residents who hike, ride off-road vehicles, work in mining, or live near Arizona’s historic mining districts, the race for state mine inspector has consequences beyond the November ballot. The office is responsible for mine safety and for addressing dangerous abandoned shafts and tunnels across Arizona, including hazards that can sit in remote desert areas visited by the public. Incumbent Les Presmyck says his first year in office has focused on updating the agency, improving safety enforcement, and preparing for an expected expansion of major copper projects in the region.

Presmyck discussed his record and campaign priorities during an appearance with Tucson Now host Makayla Goos. He said modernizing the agency’s internal operations has been one of his main goals during his first 12 months as inspector. He also highlighted efforts to begin long overdue revisions to Section 27 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the portion of state law that governs mining. Presmyck presented those changes as part of a broader effort to bring the state’s mining oversight framework up to date.

The State Mine Inspector’s Office is a small agency, with 18 employees, and its responsibilities are specific. Presmyck said the office does not oversee environmental permitting, a distinction that can be important in debates over new or expanding mines. Instead, its inspectors work with operating mines to enforce safety requirements and provide training for miners. That role could become increasingly significant as large copper projects prepare to expand in southern Arizona and elsewhere in the state, bringing more attention to workplace safety and the preparation of mining crews.

The office also deals with a much older legacy of mining. Presmyck said Arizona has about 100,000 abandoned mine sites, including shafts and tunnels that can pose serious risks to hikers, off-roaders, wildlife, and other people traveling through the desert. His office has a five-person team dedicated to identifying and securing those locations. So far, the team has inventoried and fenced approximately 11,000 hazardous openings, leaving many more sites to locate, evaluate, and protect.

Closing those openings involves more than simply blocking access. Presmyck said the office works with the Arizona Game and Fish Department when installing wildlife-friendly steel mesh over abandoned shafts and tunnels. The coordination is intended to address public safety while protecting bats and their habitat. Abandoned mines can provide shelter for bats, so closures must be designed to prevent people from entering without unnecessarily eliminating access for wildlife.

Presmyck is asking members of the public to help identify dangerous sites that inspection crews may not yet know about. Hikers, off-road enthusiasts, and other outdoor recreationists can report unmarked openings by recording GPS coordinates and taking wide-angle photographs that show the surrounding landscape. Those details can help crews find a shaft or tunnel in remote terrain and determine where safety work is needed. For Tucson area residents who regularly explore desert roads and trails, the request offers a practical way to contribute to public safety without approaching or entering a mine opening.

The campaign has also produced a debate over how technology should be used to improve mining safety. Challenger Brian Matlock recently proposed a real-time mobile application that would allow workers to report near-misses, incidents in which an accident almost occurred but did not result in injury. Presmyck said he understood the purpose of collecting that information, but questioned whether phones or applications belong in the middle of active mining operations. He argued that workers operating heavy machinery need to stay focused on their surroundings and immediate conditions rather than being distracted by a device.

Near-miss reporting can help identify hazards before they lead to injuries, but Presmyck’s response reflects the practical concerns he says come with work around heavy equipment. The disagreement gives voters a look at the candidates’ different approaches: Matlock is emphasizing immediate digital reporting, while Presmyck is stressing attention on the job and direct safety practices. The discussion comes as the state considers changes to its mining code and as Arizona’s mining industry anticipates growth, placing the next inspector in a position to shape both enforcement and policy.

Presmyck’s final argument to voters is based largely on experience. He pointed to more than 40 years in the mining industry and said he meets the legal qualification for the position, which requires at least eight years of experience in mining operations or management. Arizona’s mine inspector is the only elected mine inspector position in the country, making the November contest a statewide choice about who should oversee mine safety, miner training, and abandoned mine hazards. For Tucsonans, the decision touches both the region’s mining economy and the everyday safety of people who spend time in Arizona’s desert.