Phoenix – State Rep. Justin Heap, the Republican candidate for Maricopa County Recorder, will not participate in the general election debate, with Democratic candidate Tim Stringham being interviewed instead.

The two candidates vying to succeed Republican Steven Richer in the November election had been scheduled for two debates: a PBS debate on September 11 and a debate hosted by the Clean Elections Commission on September 12.

Stringham is an attorney and a Navy Reserve officer but has never held public office.

In an interview with Arizona PBS, he explained his motivations for running for office.

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He was also asked whether, given the attacks he had received, he was prepared to tackle the personal challenges that come with the job.

“I ask myself that same question sometimes,” Stringham said, “but ultimately it's a reminder of the lessons of 9/11, when I was 20 years old. Today is 9/11, the day that set my life on a path to public service. At 20 years old, I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States, including protecting your right to vote, even if you disagree with me. And I'm a man who went 10,000 miles to Afghanistan to defend democracy. I'm not going to allow democracy to suffer here.”

Asked whether he would still be running if Richter had won the Republican primary, Stringham acknowledged, “Absolutely not. I think Steven Richter would have sat down, had a coffee, maybe had a photograph taken, and the world would have quickly forgotten about my foray into politics.”

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7, with early voting beginning two days later.