Supervisor John Fanning, who represents District 3 on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, said Wednesday that restoring public trust and addressing community concerns about a proposed South32 mining project — especially water quantity and quality and air impacts — are top priorities, but that some county actions are limited because federal agencies and legal processes are involved.

Fanning made the comments during a Gov 101 podcast interview with hosts Amal Acosta and Natalia Flores. "People say water is life and I totally agree with that. Water is life and so we have to be careful," he said when asked why the proposed mine is controversial. He also cited air quality as a concern.

The comments came in the broader context of Fanning discussing his priorities as a newly elected District 3 supervisor, which covers Tubac, Tumacacori, Carmen, East Rio Rico, Patagonia, Sonoita and Elgin. Fanning said transparency and communicating what the county can legally disclose are central to rebuilding trust after past decisions that he said eroded public confidence. "We need to do whatever we can as a county to continue to take steps forward and eliminate the foolishness, the greediness, and the bad decisions that people are making," he said.

Fanning told the hosts that some authority over environmental review and related oversight lies with federal agencies, which can limit what the county itself can do. He also said county auditors are conducting reviews of recent county operations: "We have auditors that are auditing much of what happens within this county," he said, adding auditors may find additional issues. He noted that some information discussed in executive sessions cannot be shared publicly.

During the interview Fanning described the trade-offs residents raise when considering a mine: some welcome potential jobs and revenue, while others are concerned about health and environmental risks. He repeatedly emphasized decision-making based on evidence and stated he tries to share what he can without jeopardizing litigation or confidentiality: "...we make decisions based on the information we have, and we try to do our best to represent the constituents."

Less-critical items mentioned late in the interview included community events and communication channels. Fanning encouraged residents to follow county communications led by Shannon Hall and noted a Lavender Festival in the Elgin area this Saturday as an example of local events residents can learn about through the county newsletter and Instagram.

No formal county action, motion or vote on the proposed mine was taken during the interview; Fanning described the topic as an ongoing community concern and indicated next steps depend on federal reviews and the results of local audits.

An End note: the interview focused on community concerns and the limits of county authority; Fanning urged transparency and fact-based decisions as the county navigates oversight, audits and public debate over the proposed mining activity.