Rep. Gail Griffin’s Closed Water 101 Meeting in Sierra Vista Draws Protest
- Rural Arizona Action
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 10
A presentation on water issues hosted by State Representative Gail Griffin in Sierra Vista, Arizona, drew protests outside the venue on Wednesday, August 27, highlighting ongoing tensions over Arizona’s groundwater management.
The event, titled “Water 101” and organized by the Cochise County Republican Committee, was billed as the first in a series of educational discussions on water management. In a Facebook post, the Committee described it as “a basic presentation about water and water rights in Arizona more specifically in Cochise County,” noting that Griffin would share “her knowledge of the law, resources and state controversies surrounding the use of water in our backyard.” The Water 101 event was promoted as an educational event, only open to Republican precinct committee members and invited guests due to limited space. This decision frustrated community members who felt excluded from the discussion.
Cochise County community members held signs and voiced concerns about Griffin’s record on water legislation outside the venue to show their concern over the closed meeting and to demand accountability.
Anna Darian, Executive Director of the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (PARA) and one of the protest organizers, shared Griffin’s track record speaks for itself.
“This is a woman who has made it almost her personal mission to stand in the way of even sensible bipartisan water reform,” Darian explained, citing Griffin’s role as chair of the House Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee. “Governor Hobbs introduced rural groundwater management reform this year with bipartisan support. She [Griffin] wouldn’t even allow it to be heard in committee. When you sit over a committee and water is an issue across the state, at a minimum, you should allow that bill to be discussed.”
Other community members who took part in the protest raised concerns about access to the event.
Tricia Gerrodette, who has worked on water issues in Cochise County for three decades, said she believed the presentation should have been made public.
“It should be public, not just for select Republicans,” Gerrodette said. “I think it's appalling that the system at the legislature allows the chair to not hear a bill that's been worked on and brought up to a committee.”
Gerrodette also said Griffin’s reluctance to engage with reporters makes it difficult for the public to understand her positions. “She almost never responds to questions from reporters,” she said.
For some demonstrators, the protest centered on Griffin’s broader approach to water management.
“Gail Griffin is in the way of any kind of rational, wise water management in this state,” said Joni Stellar, chair of PARA. “She’s in the corporate pocketbook and catering to corporate interests at the cost of little people. Landowners and small water users are at risk.”
Stellar said the limited water resources in the region make cooperation essential. “There’s not enough of it for all of us, and we need to get smart about sharing it properly,” she said.
Water access and regulation remain contentious topics in rural Arizona, where agriculture, mining, and residential use all compete for limited supplies. Cochise County, home to the San Pedro River and major agricultural producers, faces mounting pressure to balance growth with conservation.
While Griffin’s supporters describe the “Water 101” series as a valuable tool for education on water law and rights, critics argue that leadership on the issue requires broader inclusion and action on reform measures.
The next events in the series have not yet been announced.
