Welcome to 🌵 Arizona Unscripted — the show all about Arizona: the people, the places, the food, the fun, and the stories that make the Grand Canyon State unlike anywhere else.

In this episode, host Bart is joined by co-hosts Kathryn and Jim for a conversation with Brian McMahan, the Democratic nominee for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 30, representing communities across Mohave and La Paz Counties and the Wickenburg area.

Brian shares what he's hearing as he travels throughout the district, where affordability, water, rural healthcare, public safety, education, and government spending are among the issues on residents' minds.

Water takes center stage as the group discusses Arizona's increasingly urgent need for a comprehensive plan to protect its limited water resources. From agricultural use and groundwater to the enormous demands of new data centers, the conversation explores some of the difficult choices Arizona may face as communities plan for continued growth in an increasingly dry state.

The discussion also turns to rural healthcare, where access to doctors, specialists, hospitals, emergency medical services, and affordable care can be very different from what residents experience in Arizona's larger cities. Drawing on his experience as a retired fire chief, Brian discusses the connection between healthcare, fire districts, EMS services, and the challenges of providing essential services across Arizona's vast rural areas.

Brian also talks about government spending, public education, term limits, and why he believes Arizona needs to start planning for tomorrow's challenges before they become full-blown emergencies.

It's another wide-ranging Arizona Unscripted conversation about the issues facing Arizona's rural communities—and the people working to shape the state's future.

🌵 Arizona Unscripted — exploring Arizona one conversation at a time.