Cactus Alliance

Quayle's Silver Lining Around IRC Cloud

2012-01-25T14:02:00.000-07:00

A m e r i c a n P o s t - G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Quayle's Silver Lining Around IRC Cloud

The political operatives in the inaptly-named Independent Redistricting Commission may very well have maneuvered themselves into a dilemma of unintended consequences with their boundary shifting chicanery.

When gerrymandering the Congressional District lines, the five-member Commission made the mistake of drawing Congressman Ben Quayle into the new CD9. Faced with the choice of running a primary contest against the well financed, Tea Party supported incumbent David Schweickert in CD6 or opposing in the general election a Democrat and communist sympathizing Kirsten Synema, it's a no brainer. Arizona simply cannot afford (literally) to send an avowed Leftist to Washington and thus Ben Quayle will emerge a hero for defeating her.

Quayle is guaranteed a high-profile race with national media attention, a situation that makes most politicians salavate in anticipation. Because the Maricopa County Republican Party is dominated - yes, owned - by Tea Party conservatives, he is likely to win with very respectable numbers. His current incumbency - albeit in the old district - is a plus, as is his connection to campaign financial resources.

Word on the street is that the Republican National Committee wants Quayle and CD9 in the red column together next November. Is there any doubt that Quayle will be positioned well for his future national political ambitions with this victory in his back pocket and a Tea Party feather in his cap?

The only remaing question is whether Ben Quayle will announce in time to head off a primary challenge from other rumored formidable contenders.

Tick tock.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

State GOP Chair Tom Morrissey endorses Pearce for 1st Vice-Chair

2012-01-24T11:55:00.002-07:00

A m e r i c a n P o s t – G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

On Saturday, January 28, Arizona State Republican Committeemen will elect their officers for the next two years. Those offices are First Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair, Third Vice-Chair, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, Sergeant-At-Arms and Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms.

The Honorable Russell Pearce, author of the nationally emulated SB 1070, is running for First Vice Chair. Pearce has the strong endorsement of State Party Chairman, Tom Morrissey.

The position of First Vice Chair is vital to the party structure because that person is key to the successful administration of the chairman, facilitating a smooth, coordinated team effort. Pearce’s favorable contacts, earned over years, will enhance the chairman’s efforts in this vital election year.

Pearce and Morrissey have worked closely together in advocating the conservative agenda along with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Pearce’s challenger lacks comparable credentials on the national, as well as the local scene.

The choice is clear.

Check out Russell Pearce’s new radio show Ban Amnesty NOW, Tuesday nights from 7-8pm on KPNX 1100am. Beginning a week from tonight.

SB 1070 rally at the State Capitol Monday

2012-01-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

A m e r i c a n P o s t - G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Need a show of support for SB 1070

Sen. Gallardo will be holding a press conference to announce his bill to repeal SB 1070

RALLY AT STATE CAPITOL MONDAY AT NOON (ARRIVE AT 11:30AM)

ALERT!!! - SUPPORTERS OF SB1070 NEED TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT THIS MONDAY AT OUR CAPITOL!!!

Sen. Sylvia Allen and Arizona Border Security Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Border Security State Sovereignty will be responding to a public Press Conference being held this Monday, at the Arizona State Capitol approximately 12noon.

Sen. Allen will be responding to Sen. Gallardo (Friend of Randy Parazz)who is a publicly proclaimed advocate for Open Borders and severely opposesthe development of the Arizona State Guard to secure Arizona's Border, and provide protection to the citizens of Arizona who continue to fight off the assault of illegal's and drugs coming into Arizona.

Sen. Allen is requesting citizen support from fellow Arizonans who are willing to stand for a secure border. Arizonans willing to stand with Sen. Allen, Sen. Stevens, Sen. Griffin, Sen. Antenori, and Sen. Melvin.

Please show your public support for these elected officials who are willing to stand and fight the good fight to preserve the welfare of Arizona.

Come to the Arizona State Capitol this Monday by 11:30am. Come and bring your voices and your determination to preserve our Great Grand Canyon State

SHOWTIME: TOM HORNE GIVES AID AND COMFORT TO THE ENEMY

2012-01-20T18:09:00.001-07:00

A m e r i c a n P o s t - G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

Friday, January 20, 2012

My enemy's friend is not my friend. Horne is harboring Andrew Pacheco on his payroll while Pacheco rehearses for his next audition for political office. So let's give him the spotlight.

Recall the earlier review by this journal that exposed Pacheco for hosting a fundraiser at his home in 2008 for Democrat candidate for Maricopa County Attorney, Tim Nelson. That gathering of Democrat elites in Pacheco's home says it all.

Pacheco is a disciple of John McCain, having pledged his allegiance to the Roman Senator in McCain's first failed Presidential bid back in 2000. Since then Pacheco has been vying for public office by propping himself up at various law firms and prosecutors' offices, mostly as a do nothing tag along under Rick Romley. Now Horne is about to give Pacheco a big stage to rehearse on.

It is widely known that Horne's Criminal Division Chief, James Keppel, is leaving soon. None too soon. Keppel was a Romley staffer who should have exited the stage when the voters yanked Romley with the bad actor hook. Instead, Horne picked Keppel up off the cutting room floor. Now Pacheco wants the starring role of Criminal Division Chief and Horne is dangerously close to handing him the script.

This production is going on with the unwitting approval of Horne's Chief Deputy Rick Bistrow. The affable Bistrow is Horne's long-time friend and law partner, but clueless in his current position. This makes Bistrow the perfect choice for former Democrat heads of the Attorney General's office, who still run the box office. Bistrow is a lefty and showing signs of having stars in his eyes after the mention of a possible federal judgeship under an Obama II administration.

While Keppel clears out his dressing room, Pacheco is already painting the set.

From all appearances, Horne is just weeks away from endorsing Pacheco for Attorney General in 2014 by foolishly promoting him, without giving it a second thought.

Or maybe, as it seems, not even giving it a first thought for a smart guy like Horne who did not carry Maricopa County in his last primary election.

If this turns out to be Horne's first B movie, the re-runs will ruin him.

Explosive new evidence AZ judge ruling is illegal

2012-01-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

A m e r i c a n P o s t - G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Anthony Martin

Conservative Examiner

In a stunning development that could potentially send the nation into a Constitutional crisis, an astute attorney who is well-versed in Constitutional law states that the ruling against the state of Arizona by Judge Susan Bolton concerning its new immigration law is illegal.

The attorney in question submitted her assertionin a special article in the Canada Free Press. Her argument states in part, "Does anyone read the U.S. Constitution these days? American lawyers don't read it. Federal Judge Susan R. Bolton apparently has never read it. Same goes for our illustrious Attorney General Eric Holder. But this lawyer has read it and she is going to show you something in Our Constitution which is as plain as the nose on your face.

"Article III, Sec. 2, clause 2 says: "In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction."

In other words, the Judge in the Arizona case has absolutely no Constitutional jurisdiction over the matter upon which she ruled. As the Constitution makes abundantly clear, only the U.S. Supreme Court can issue rulings that involve a state. This means that neither Judge Bolton nor the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, to which the case is being appealed, have any legal standing whatsoever to rule on the issue.

Thus, U.S. Attorney-General Eric Holder filed the federal government's lawsuit against the state of Arizona in a court that has no authority to hear the case. The attorney whose heads-up thinking concerning the Constitution provides the legal remedy for dealing with this blatant disregard for Constitutional law in the article at Canada Free Press, which can be accessed at the link above.

In a related development, another explosive discovery was made by those who actually take the Constitution seriously. The Constitution specifically allows an individual state to wage war against a neighboring country in the event of an invasion, should there be a dangerous delay or inaction on the part of the federal government. This information was cited byUnited Patriots of America.

From Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution, we find these words: "No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay." No one who is actually familiar with the crisis at the southern border can deny that Arizona is endangered by the relentless assault of lawless Mexican invaders who ignore our laws, inundate our schools and medical facilities with unpaid bills, and even endanger the very lives of citizens with criminal drug cartels that engage in kidnapping, murder, human trafficking, and other mayhem, including aiming missile and grenade launchers directly at U.S. border cities from just across the Mexican border. This is every bit as much of an invasion as the nation of Iran sending in a fleet of warships to the Port of Charleston.

The Constitution that forms the basis of the rule of law in this country says that Arizona has legal right to protect itself in the case of inaction or delay on the part of the federal government, including waging war in its self-defense. This, when coupled with the clear Constitutional mandate that only the Supreme Court hear cases involving the states, should be ample legal basis for attorneys representing Arizona to go after the federal government with a vengeance. Governor Jan Brewer and the stalwart members of the Arizona legislature have ample legal reason to stand firm against the illegal bullying of an arrogant, lawless federal government.

Barry Young is not our friend

2011-12-22T10:27:00.002-07:00

A m e r i c a n P o s t - G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Boycott beginning of Barry Young Show advertisers

No longer a good fit for a conservative talk radio station

Are you as fed up as we when you turn on right wing talk radio 550 KFYI every morning and hear Barry Young endlessly smear conservatives and Tea Party activists? Enough is enough! Time to boycott his advertisers and get him removed from the air. He pretends to be on the right but he is a fraud. Please read the following and start contacting the companies that advertise on his show and tell them you will not use their services until they remove their ads. Stop using their services NOW.

KFYI 550 BARRY YOUNG SHOW

Barry seems to be unaware of who is devastating our Republic! There seems to no greater pleasure for him than to attack the Patriots who are fighting thankless battles in the trenches for us all. Maybe we need a "taller" host in this 7-10am time period, and a new sidekick with a more stable personality.

Barry is not one of us! He is constantly attacking people we care deeply about. We want him off the air. There are thousands of us!!! We will no longer support ANY of his advertisers. If a sponsor is named on his show - they are giving comfort to someone who is AGAINST US. We need to avoid doing business with THEM - until Barry is GONE. PERIOD. Contact the advertisers, ask for a "Marketing" executive, tell them "we will not use your service as long as you advertise on Barry's show." Other KFYI shows are OK. Suggest that they contact KFYI and have their advertising completely removed from the Barry Young show. (Especially, stop the endorsements.)

AHNCLINIC.ORG 480.515.2000 http://ahnclinic.org/

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 602-462-6500

BANNER MEDI-SUN Medicare (800) 446-8331 http://www.bannerhealth.com/_MediSun/_Banner+MediSun+Home.htm#

BASHA'S SUPERMARKETS Bashas' Public Relations Department at (480) 895-5369.

BEV-MO STORES http://www.bevmo.com/Misc/StoreLocator.aspx?area=stores

RICK EDLEMAN FINANCIAL SERVICES 888-752-6742 (toll free) http://www.ricedelman.com/cs/contact_us

H2O CONCEPTS 623.582.5222

HOME DEPOT STORES Customer service 800-553-3199 http://www.homedepot.com/

JOHN C. LINCOLN Main Number 623-879-6100

KEITH DEGREEN FINANCIAL PLANNING Call 888.708.9110

KINETICO WATER SYSTEMS 602-910-6560

LERNER & ROWE 602-977-1900 http://www.lernerandrowe.com/

LifeLock 1-800-543-3562 VP Corp Communications Mike Prusinski mike@lifelock.com

LOWE'S HOME IMPROVEMENT Customer service 800-445-6937 http://www.lowes.com/

LUND MORTGAGE 623.875.9940 www.lundmortgage.com

McMAHON'S RV Mesa, AZ 602.370.3565 http://www.mcmahonrv.com/

MEDIFAST WEIGHT-LOSS CENTERS 602-368-8900

PARKER & SONS 602-273-7247

QUICKEN HOME LOANS 1-800-610-5499

REPUBLIC MONETARY EXCHANGE 602-955-6500

RETROFOAMAZ.COM 602-910-4067 http://www.retrofoamaz.com/contact.html?view=form

SAM'S CLUB 888-746-7726 http://www.samsclub.com/sams/homepage.jsp

SCHUMACHER MERCEDES 480-991-1155 http://www.schumacher.mercedesdealer.com/

SPENCER'S TV & APPLIANCE Arrowhead 623-487-7700 Gilbert 480-366-3900Goodyear 623-930-0770 Mesa 480-833-3072 Scottsdale 480-991-7200

SUSAN G. KOMEN 1-877-465-6636) http://ww5.komen.org/

STEAKEN BURGER ( TITLE FRIDAY SHOW SPONSOR ) 602-944-9888

TO FIX IT 800-863-4948

TOTAL WINE & MORE 301-795-1000 http://totalwine.com/StoreList.aspx?state=AZ&store=1002

TRAVEK HOME REMODELING 480-367-1171

ZERO RES FLOOR CLEANING 480-507-2419

Stapley will use tax increase as litmus test to appoint legislators

2010-02-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

A m e r i c a n P o s t – G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

Monday, February 8, 2010

Stapley supports 18% tax increase
Threatens to appoint like minded legislators

Indicted Republican Supervisor Don Stapley

Yes you read that right. Liberal Republican and indicted County Supervisor Don Stapley will not appoint new legislators unless they SUPPORT a tax increase. This sounds more like a litmus test coming from a DEMOCRAT directed at a Democrat candidate, not a litmus test coming from a Republican for Republican candidates! The County Supervisors have the power to appoint replacement legislators. With the recent wave of legislators resigning to run for higher office, Stapley and other Supervisors will get to choose SEVERAL of our next legislators. Conservatives worked hard last year to ensure that the legislature became more conservative. Arizona was one of only two state legislatures (Tennessee was the other) to actually GAIN Republican seats, and in addition, the Arizona Republicans overall became more conservative.

Now, Supervisor Stapley wants to undo those changes and only appoint Republicans who favor a sales tax increase. This is a slap in the face to the Republican legislators resigning who stood firm against Governor Brewer’s tax increase, Sen. Gorman and Rep. Crump.

As reported in the Arizona Guardian on January 25, 2010:

Board Chairman Don Stapley, R-Mesa, said Monday he would use the tax increase as a litmus test. Stapley, who has served on the board for 16 years, says he supports the tax hike only because it keeps the Legislature from pushing off unfunded mandates onto the counties. “I do think this is the only way the state can get out of the structural deficit it’s currently in,” Stapley said of the tax hike. “We’re going to want to appoint individuals who understand the role of local government and don’t want to pass additional costs onto counties and municipalities.”

Sure enough, the Supervisors appointed a replacement for Gorman today who favors the tax increase, District 6 chairman Dave Braswell. From today’s Arizona Guardian,

In discussing the state’s current economic problems, he said he was supportive of Gov. Jan Brewer’s budget and financial proposals that call for further cuts to core government services as well as referring a temporary 1-cent (18%) sales tax increase to the ballot in May. “It’s a thoughtful proposal based on the fact that state revenues are down,” Braswell said. “We at the state legislature should only be working with what we have to work with.”

Fortunately, there is legislation underway that could be heard as soon as tomorrow in the legislature to transfer this appointment power from the Supervisors so that the Executive Guidance Committee of the respective county political parties gets to choose the three to send up. The next two seats to be filled are those recently resigned by Rep. Crump and Senator Waring. It’s long been known that Supervisors Stapley and Wilcox are corrupt. Now we find out Stapley wants to hijack the Republican Party with Democrat Party litmus tests for candidates. Let’s hope this legislation passes.

Who is Chris Salvino for Congress in CD-5?

2010-01-14T20:16:00.006-07:00

Wow!

Wanting to know a little bit more about the new candidate for Congress in CD-5 Chris Salvino, I typed in “Chris Salvino and Congress” into Google hoping to find his website. I didn’t make it that far. The third link on Google was a Federal Bankruptcy Court (http://www.ilnb.uscourts.gov/opinions/JudgeWedoff/Salvino.pdf ) decision involving Salvino. Having nothing better to do, I decided to read it.

My first reaction was “Wow! This guy is running for Congress?” If you are interested in the CD-5 race I would suggest reading it, but I’ll summarize for those who don’t.

A thumbnail timeline on Salvino’s bankruptcy case:

Prior to decamping to Arizona circa 2005-06, Salvino and his Dr. partners were running a chain of bariatric surgical clinics (I.E. weight reduction surgery).
They take out a series of loans to finance expansion. One way Salvino (who was president and CEO of the company) secured the loans was through a personal guarantee.
Company defaults on loans and bank is not happy. Bank threatens to go to FBI alleging fraud unless they pay loan or refinance.
Salvino and partners find investors who ultimately bought company who prior to buying company want Salvino to sign contract promising to work for company. Salvino does.
Salvino then signs contract with a competitor.
Salvino then changes mind and decides to stay with company signing another contract promising to stay 5 years and promising to pay liquidated damages if he bolts.
Investors buy company. Very shortly thereafter Salvino breaches contract and bolts again going to AZ.
Investors are not happy and company goes down.
Salvino and wife file Chapter 7 ostensibly to escape paying liquidated damages for breaching contract.
Investors sue to try and get money from Salvino for breach of contract.
Judges decision says that Salvino intentionally misrepresented his own investors but discharges debt because actual damages weren’t proved.

So in sum, we have a candidate for Congress who was found by a federal bankruptcy court judge to have intentionally mislead his investors and breached his contract and now he wants to run for Congress. And it’s all out there for the Democrats and anyone else to see before his actual website. Not smart.

JD or not JD? – That is the question

2009-12-24T16:35:00.001-07:00

Clueless Grant Woods thinks he has the answer

(Reprinted from Common Sense)

For those of you who live in Rush Limbaugh’s Rio Linda, JD is former Congressman and current KFYI 550 AM conservative, radio talk-show host. Grant Woods is a washed up politician who formerly held the post of Arizona Attorney General.

You can always tell when a politician is beginning to panic. A leading indicator is a poll that shows them losing ground or trailing another candidate. Not too long ago, Senator John McCain was shown to be out of touch with Arizona and another poll showed him in a statistical dead heat with JD Hayworth, in a bid for the Senate in the 2010 election. This is rather remarkable in-as-much as Hayworth is not even in the race. In fact, his position does not differ dramatically from that of Charlie the mailman who serves the postal route in our neighborhood. Charlie also has not declared his candidacy for the Senate seat, and we doubt he will. However, JD might, and this is why McCain is showing signs of discomfort.

Many seasoned politicians keep a bag of dirty tricks in their closets, that they haul out when the season starts. In a cowardly attempt to ensure they maintain the aura of “Mr. Clean,” they get someone else to do the dirty work for them. Grant Woods is apparently eager to fill that role. He recently filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission in Washington, alleging that Mr. Hayworth and his employer, Clear Channel, the owner of KFYI, are violating federal law through in-kind contributions, in a bid to launch JD’s campaign for the US Senate.

It is the nature of talk shows that callers will phone in and suggest that the host ought to run for this office or that. Some of JD’s fans have talked to him about running for governor; others have suggested taking back his seat from Congressman Harry Mitchell, and of course, some believe that JD would make a fine US senator. John McCain has alienated a substantial portion of his natural base by drifting leftward, and no issue separates candidate McCain and non-candidate Hayworth more than illegal immigration. McCain is virtually an icon for immigration reform, (wink-wink) which is just another way of saying: Let’s keep the floodgates open so non-citizens

can destroy our country (McAmnesty). Hayworth has been very critical of McCain and others on this, and wants sealed borders along with strong measures to encourage illegals to pack up and move to their natural homes. This division makes McCain and Hayworth natural political rivals, and sets the stage for a potential battle.

Will JD declare himself a candidate? At this point nobody knows, including Hayworth himself. Political life is not a bed of roses. It exposes anyone who decides to swim in those murky waters to the seedy underside of human behavior. Anything goes, families become fair game, and even non-candidates who are suspected of posing a potential threat become targets. Frequently it is the American people who suffer the most, when the vanguards of special interests prevail. Maybe this time we will get lucky. Keep your fingers crossed and support the candidate who supports us, the little guys. One thing is sure. Whatever feud simmered between Grant Woods and John McCain for almost two decades has been put aside in their mutual political panic concerning the popularity of JD Hayworth with the Republican Base in Arizona.

That’s a small miracle at this special time of year-and in its own strange way, makes Hayworth a uniter, not a divider!

The sheriff vs the feds and illegals

2009-12-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

A m e r i c a n P o s t - G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

December 19, 2009

Obama administration sides with lawbreakers

Sheriff Joe fights back - you can help

My Dear Friends:

.I am outraged at the sham being played right now by the Obama administration to stop my lawful enforcement of our immigration laws. Please - I need your help today.

The United State Justice Department just advertised late last week that they established a Sheriff Joe Arpaio "Hotline" fo

r the sole purpose of soliciting people (so-called victims) to call and report so-called injustices and wrongdoings that my deputies are allegedly conducting. This is a blatant and transparent demonstration of the hollow shell of the Justice Department's non-existent case against me. Further, it clearly shows the level of outright fraud on their part to bring baseless allegations against the very deputies that THEY THEMSELVES trained to arrest illegal aliens.

Just last month, the Obama White House through the Justice Department and Homeland Security Department under Janet Napolitano, took away my authority to make street arrests and detain illegal immigrants and human smugglers. I have defied that outrageous and irresponsible federal policy that does nothing but tie the hands of Sheriffs and Police officers all across the country.

Since October when my Deputy Sheriffs had their federal authority pulled by the Obama White House, we have continued crime suppression operations in accordance with the Constitution of the United States and the Laws of the State of Arizona. My office, in this short month-and-a-half time, has arrested 54 felony smugglers and caused the deportation of over 1,400 illegal aliens. This brings to a total of illegal aliens captured and deported to almost 35,000 in the last two years. This represents almost one-third of the total arrests and deportations in the entire United States; and more than all of the other 64 local law enforcement agencies combined.

The Obama White House wants to put me out of business. Why?

The only reason they are doing this is to stop me from enforcing the laws of this state and our country. Why? Why would they try to prevent me from arresting those who are breaking the law? It all comes down to AMNESTY. They want to so badly weaken laws against illegal immigration that they can establish automatic citizenship for those who cross our borders illegally. It is appalling to think that the Obama administration wants to spend our tax dollars in placing these criminals in hospitals and hotels at our expense while they figure out a way to con the citizens of the United States that this is good for our economy. This is rubbish and insults the intelligence of hard working Americans.

If the liberal politicians and media want me to stop arresting illegal immigrants and human smugglers, then they need to change the law. For me to pick and choose which laws I want to enforce would not only be a dereliction of duty, it would lead to anarchy and chaos. I am saddened that so few politicians will join this fight and choose to ignore the laws and make empty excuses as to why we cannot secure our borders. That is why I need your help today.

The DOJ knows full well that by establishing a toll-free number, in English and in Spanish, that my political opponents, left-wing open borders activists and extremists can "stack the deck" and make any open-ended allegation they want to. The Department of Justice has already lied and openly violated the rights of my Deputies.

The allegations against me and my office are already absurd. You can just imagine what will happen now.

Never in my thirty years of working as a federal law enforcement official did we ever target a locally elected Sheriff the way this Obama Administration has. This is a fight that I cannot lose. This is the front line in the battle on illegal immigration. This is a fight that WE cannot lose.

The same people who have called me a racist; depicted me as a KKK member hanging a Hispanic man; burned me in effigy; beheaded me in effigy then paraded my severed head in a mob of cheering protesters; sued and picketed me will be calling that hotline on daily basis making more and more outrageous and false claims against me and my dedicated Deputies.

This action by the Justice Department is completely irresponsible, reckless and provocative. In fact, it's so far out there they may have gotten the idea from the Reverend Al Sharpton. (The Rev. Al Sharpton came to Phoenix earlier this year just so he could hold an Anti-Arpaio rally and label me a racist.)

Today, I make you a steadfast promise: No matter what political shenanigans these people try, I will never back down one inch. And, I'm not going to surrender.

But I desperately need your help.

These left-wing groups and their allies in the media need to know just how strong the support is among law-abiding people like you for me and my policies. They are mounting an all out effort to remove me as Sheriff. For months now, people have been bused in to protest in front of my headquarters. Will you please stand with me and help me fight this fight?

It's going to take a lot of resources to combat these false allegations - as well as the latest talk about a recall campaign against me. We anticipate the hardest campaign in Maricopa county history to remove me due to my unyielding stance on illegal immigration enforcement.

Your financial support today is so critical. Please log on to http://www.reelectjoearpaio.com right now and make a much needed contribution. Any amount you can offer today is tremendously appreciated. I promise I will not let you down. Our country's future depends on what we do now.

I cannot thank you enough for joining me in this battle. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Maricopa County

P.S. In addition to making a contribution, please do me a favor and forward this email to your friends, family and other individuals who share our views. Together we can win this fight. Thank you.

Politicians worse than payday lenders

2009-12-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Payday lenders have been unsuccessfully trying to get the law that allows them to operate extended. Without this change, the industry will cease to exist on July 1, 2010.

You may have noticed that various politicians, including Attorney General Terry Goddard, have lined up to bash the payday loan industry. http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/info/PubPamphlet/english/Prop200.htm Typical of this bashing has been regulator, er, legislator Debbie McCune-Davis bashing payday lenders for charging a 391% annual interest rate. http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/info/PubPamphlet/english/Prop200.htm

But when it comes to usurious activities by our city officials, Goddard and McCune Davis look the other way.

In late September I received a $16 parking ticket from the City of Phoenix for an expired meter. Actually, someone else was driving my car, and I paid the ticket, but the City says the payment arrived too late and has assessed extra charges. It's now mid-December, about two and a half months after receiving the ticket, and the $16 ticket has grown to $58.

For those of you with a calculator at home that's a 1,226% annual interest rate, a rate that would make your neighborhood loan shark blush.

I've got no love for the payday loan industry, but I would have been much better off taking a loan out from a payday lender, even at 341% interest, and paying the City with that money. Of course, the politicians want to rid me of that option by eliminating payday lenders. It's also interesting to note that payday lenders can only sue you if you don't pay, whereas the City will take your car away for nonpayment (but don't worry, you can take their crappy bus service or trolley around if you lose your car!)

So I ask you, who is worse, the payday lender or the politician?

Criminal Complaint Filed against Presiding Criminal Judge

2009-12-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced today that a criminal complaint has been filed against Judge Gary Donahoe for hindering prosecution, obstruction of justice and bribery. The counts involve the alleged obstruction of a criminal inquiry into the new Court Tower involving the Superior Court, the Board of Supervisors, and their shared law firm, along with other acts.

Judge Donahoe had scheduled a hearing today on the Board of Supervisors’ unprecedented request that the County Attorney be barred from prosecuting them or other county employees for any crime. Such a hearing, which the County Attorney’s Office regards as illegal, has apparently never before been held in Arizona history. It would have allowed, and all but ensured, that ongoing grand-jury matters, which are confidential by state statute, be aired in front of criminal defendants and suspects. Judge Donahoe now has vacated the hearing.

Thomas stated, “When persons who are charged with enforcing the law willfully misuse that authority to protect themselves or their benefactors from investigation or prosecution for possible crimes, that conduct will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

Arpaio stated, “I have many officers working in the court system who have an ongoing relationship with the judiciary. Today’s events pertaining to Judge Donahoe are unfortunate and difficult. But it is our joint duty to uphold the law. When one fails to do so, one must be held accountable.”

Stapley, Wilcox Indicted

2009-12-15T10:11:00.002-07:00

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Other Investigations Continue

Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced today that the Maricopa County grand jury has indicted Supervisors Donald T. Stapley Jr. and Mary Rose Wilcox.
Stapley has been indicted on 2 counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, 19 counts of theft, and 2 counts each of perjury, forgery and false swearing. The first count of fraudulent schemes involves obtaining mortgage loans under fraudulent pretenses. The second fraudulent scheme and theft counts relate to Stapley’s alleged solicitation and use of NACo campaign funds for personal aggrandizement.

Stapley allegedly spent $6000 of these funds at Bang and Olufson electronics, along with $1300 for hair implants, $400 for candle holders and $10,000 for furniture for his home. He also spent these funds, solicited as campaign money, to buy tickets to Broadway plays and movie theatres, flowers, grocery store bills, massages, department stores and trips for his family to Sundance, Utah to ski, a trip for his son and friends to Florida and a three-week vacation in Hawaii for his entire family at a beach house costing approximately $11,000.

Wilcox was indicted for 12 counts of conflict of interest and 8 counts each of perjury, forgery and false swearing. Wilcox obtained five known loans from Chicanos Por La Causa, an organization devoted to assisting the disadvantaged, through its lending arm, Prestamos. While she had a $7500 loan outstanding in 2002 and into 2003, she allegedly voted on numerous contracts or grants involving that agency as a member of the Board of Supervisors. She never filed any type of conflict notice with the Clerk of the Board as required by law. She continued to vote to give Chicanos Por La Causa funds in 2004-2005 then obtained an additional loan of $50,000 in 2005. While that loan was outstanding, she voted in 2005-2006 to give the same organization contracts or grants. In 2008, she received three loans, one personal loan for $120,000 and two business loans totalling $240,000.

In an effort to mediate differences with the Board of Supervisors, Thomas transferred the first Stapley case and other criminal investigations to the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office. After sheriff’s deputies arrested Stapley on new charges earlier this year, and following the failure of these efforts at reconciliation, Yavapai County returned ongoing matters to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and Thomas appointed special prosecutors to investigate them. However, in an unprecedented act, the Board refused to approve their appointment. As a result of these and related factors, including an attempt to save taxpayer dollars, Thomas’ office has opted to prosecute these matters itself.

Thomas stated the law is clear there is no conflict of interest for his office to prosecute county officers or employees for crimes, and these defendants will be treated the same as any others. Even retired Judge Kenneth Fields, whom Arpaio and Thomas sued in a federal racketeering lawsuit last week, found there was no conflict of interest in the County Attorney’s Office’s first indictment and prosecution of Stapley.

The Arizona Court of Appeals has held specifically that the Maricopa County Attorney can prosecute a Maricopa County elected official for crimes in office without a conflict of interest (State v. Brooks). The Arizona Supreme Court likewise found no conflict of interest in the Attorney General’s prosecution of Governor Evan Mecham.

All of the defendants named in the federal racketeering lawsuit filed last week by Arpaio and Thomas are under active criminal investigation for hindering prosecution and other offenses. Sheriff’s deputies have formally requested voluntary interviews from the four Superior Court Judges named in the lawsuit.

Thomas stated that any person, and particularly government employee or taxpayer-funded individual, who takes any public or private action to obstruct or intimidate investigation or prosecution of county officials or employees will be dealt with appropriately. Sheriff Arpaio stated, “The allegations against these elected officials reflect a pattern of their using their offices to benefit themselves.” “Nobody is above the law,” said Thomas. “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute whitecollar, fraud and public-corruption cases.”

Sheriff Arpaio: JUDGE’S RECORD SHOWS BIAS IN JAILING OF SHERIFF’S DETENTION OFFICER

2009-12-07T16:17:00.002-07:00

MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF PRESS RELEASE

Officer’s Judgment Right or Wrong; Jail Time Unacceptable

(Maricopa County, Arizona) An examination of Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Gary
Donahoe’s record over the past 18 months shows that defendants who have committed crimes such as child abuse, drug possession, and aggravated assault, often walk away without serving any jail time. Yet, this week, when a young Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detention officer who acted in good faith attempting to maintain the safety and security of courtroom staff and the public, was ordered to serve jail time by Judge Donahoe as a way to fire a political shot and to send a message to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Some examples of Judge Donahoe’s past rulings are as follows:

Tommy Hammond Reckless Child Abuse No Jail Time
CR2004-018462-001 Class 3 Felony Probation Only
(Presentence report states the child suffered “serious physical injury”)

Zachary James Alosi Theft of Means of Transportation No Jail Time
CR2007-174674-003 Class 3 Felony Probation Only

David Earl Sharp Theft of Credit Card or Obtaining No Jail Time
CR2007-169111-001 a Credit Card by Fraudulent Means Probation Only
Class 5 Felony

Christopher Sandoval Possession or Use of Narcotic No Jail Time
CR2007-112755-001 Drugs Probation Only
Class 4 Felony

Steve Elliott Eilers Solicitation of Perjury No Jail Time
CR2008-006933-001 Class 6 Felony Probation Only

Jerome Henley Possession or Use of No Jail Time
CR2007-153604-001 Marijuana Probation Only
Class 1 Misdemeanor

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and members of the law enforcement community have
expressed shock and disappointment in the fact that Detention Officer Adam Stoddard was jailed this week for civil contempt.

The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) stated, “Punitive actions issued from the bench for apparent political purposes against a law enforcement officer acting in good faith were
completely unnecessary in this situation.”

Officer Stoddard was working as the security officer in Judge Lisa Flores’ courtroom when a
criminal hearing was held on October 19, 2009 for known Mexican Mafia associate, Defendant
Antonio Lozano. During that hearing, Officer Stoddard’s training and education caused him to
detect that Mexican Mafia activity may have been afoot between the defendant and what he believed to be out of custody gang members in the courtroom who could potentially jeopardize the safety and security of the courtroom.

While addressing the security concern, Officer Stoddard noticed a document written in pencil, which led him to believe was written by the defendant in plain view, that he had not previously checked for contraband. Upon quick review of the document, Stoddard determined that certain words further heightened his security concerns. In a split second decision, Officer Stoddard took the document in plain view of the judge and security cameras that he was aware would be captured on tape, and handed it over to another officer for copying to preserve the evidence for security purposes.

Judge Donahoe took several days to determine that the contents of this document posed no seriousthreat to security of the courtroom. Perhaps if Officer Stoddard had the luxury of thinking about his decision for several days he may have acted differently. Officer Stoddard instead had little time to make a decision because of the threat that he perceived.

The document was part of the defense counsel’s case file. The document was subsequently shared with the judge but, importantly, was never shared with the prosecutor. To date the contents of this document have been sealed by the court.

Judge Donahoe originally ordered Officer Stoddard to hold a press conference in front of the court
building to publicly apologize to defense counsel or go to jail. Judge Donahoe further ordered that
the defense attorney be satisfied with Stoddard’s apology or risk going to jail upon her decision.

The Sheriff’s Office stands behind Officer Stoddard because the security threat he perceived was
very real and Officer Stoddard was doing his best to protect the judge, attorneys, and everyone in the courtroom. Sheriff Arpaio stated, “If this judge wants to take a politically motivated shot at my office, he should take it at me, not a young hard-working detention officer trying to do his job.”

Judge Donahoe’s treatment of Officer Stoddard is unconscionable and unprecedented. Officer
Stoddard – a hardworking detention officer who was acting in good faith to protect the judge and her courtroom, and who has not been convicted of a crime – must be freed immediately!

Why is AZ Republic reporter Yvonne Wingett covering criminal issues when she has 5 Failures to Appear?

2009-12-04T09:49:00.007-07:00

Why does Arizona Republic reporter Yvonne Wingett support the criminal activities of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors? Maybe is because her track record with the law isn't so clean either. Yvonne Wingett is the Arizona Republic reporter assigned to cover the county and criminal issues. Her articles appear to be nothing more than press releases for the County Supervisors, regularly attacking law enforcement. We have discovered the reason for this. She has five Failures to Appear in court. WHY ISN'T SHE IN JAIL???? Anyone else would be. She flaunts the law. What is this woman, who clearly has no respect for the law, doing assigned to cover criminal issues? It is unclear from the case numbers what kind of offenses these were, probably some kind of traffic offense. At any rate, it is inappropriate for someone who repeatedly puts others lives at danger on the road then is held unaccountable, to be covering criminal issues involving county law enforcement and the Superior Court. She needs to be removed from covering these kinds of issues, as we have seen in her coverage of Sheriff Arpaio and County Attorney Thomas's prosecution of the supervisors, she will not provide fair coverage.

(To look up Yvonne Wingett's Failures to Appear, click here and search on her name)

M-0741-3199941	YVONNE MARIE WINGETT	DEFENDANT		TEMPE, AZ 852831401	Phoenix Municipal
M-0741-3197315	YVONNE MARIE WINGETT	DEFENDANT		TEMPE, AZ 852831401	Phoenix Municipal
M-0741-3212007	YVONNE MARIE WINGETT	DEFENDANT		TEMPE, AZ 852831401	Phoenix Municipal
M-0741-3196250	YVONNE MARIE WINGETT	DEFENDANT		TEMPE, AZ 852831401	Phoenix Municipal
M-0741-3173776	YVONNE MARIE WINGETT	DEFENDANT		TEMPE, AZ 852831401	Phoenix Municipal
M-0741-3325511	YVONNE MARIE WINGETT	DEFENDANT	1978	PHOENIX, AZ	Phoenix Municipal
M-0741-3790943	YVONNE MARIE WINGETT	DEFENDANT		TEMPE, AZ 852831401	Phoenix Municipal

Silly Arizona Republic editorial glosses over criminal issues in racketeering complaint

2009-12-03T16:21:00.004-07:00

The Arizona Republic wrote an editorial yesterday entitled, "Dear Judge, Toss aside case from Arpaio, Thomas." Besides the obvious fact it is inappropriate for a newspaper to tell a judge how to handle a case, especially a high-profile criminal case, it is pretty clear from the editorial that no one bothered to even read the racketeering complaint. No wonder the Republic's circulation keeps tanking, in Journalism 101 they teach you to read about the subject you're going to write on. Instead, it's quite clear they knew what they were going to write before they ever read the facts. It has become painfully obvious that the Republic's editorial board and reporter Yvonne Wingett are essentially writing press releases for the Supervisors, there is no objectivity in their articles.

If the editorial board had actually read the complaint, they might have expressed a little concern over what's really happening: the Board of Supervisors is stonewalling Arpaio's and Thomas's efforts to prosecute two of their own for felonies, and they are protecting them by buying off the Superior Court through promising them a $341 million brand-new court tower with penthouse quarters for judges. Their attorney, Tom Irvine, is also the attorney for the Superior Court, a blatant conflict of interest that any 1st year law student could spot. And they're using our tax dollars to do all of this. Our tax dollars are funding their stonewalling efforts, Tom Irvine, and their new Shadow County Attorney's Office they've set up.

What would the Republic's editorial board like to happen instead? Dismiss the criminal complaints against Supervisors Stapley and Wilcox and let them walk around without ever being held accountable? Without laws and the enforcement of laws in society, we have chaos. Now we hear that Stapley is going to be promoted to chairman of the Board of Supervisors! Enough is enough. Irvine should have his bar license removed and should be required to reimburse the taxpayers for the millions of dollars he's taken in within the past couple of years from the Supervisors and the Superior Court.

Racketeering complaint against Supervisors, Superior Court, and their unethically shared attorney

2009-12-03T14:50:00.019-07:00

Another classic example of yellow journalism, full of lies by Yvonne Wingett

2009-11-23T18:45:00.012-07:00

submitted by a reader

Yvonne Wingett, the Arizona Republic hack reporter assigned to cover Maricopa County government, developed a pattern of playing fast and loose with the facts. In the absence of any real news, she makes up her own. Her close relationship with the County Supervisors, colors her coverage of all county affairs. She turns a blind eye to the Supervisors' illegal acts and gives their attempts to take over other county agencies a free pass. She is complicit in assisting the Supervisors smear other county agencies and is often seen cozying up to the County PIO, Richard de Uriarte. Take the article she wrote in Saturday's Arizona Republic about an audit of the County Treasurer's Office, entitled “Audit Cites Treasurer's Office Slip-ups.” Did she even bother to read it first (the entire audit is pasted below)? (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/11/21/20091121treasureraudit1121.html )

The Supervisors ordered an audit of the County Treasurer's Office for no reason other than to harass the office, which had not been acceding to its demands. Wingett ignores the overall positive report, and instead accuses the office of mishandling procurement and the hiring of contractors. She asserts that “the office failed to follow county procurement policies on tens of thousands of dollars of contracts.” This sounds terrible, but in reality, it involved two contracts for computer services. One of them was arranged by the County's OET division, not the Treasurer's Office. So the County Supervisors should have been dinged for failing to follow procurement policies, not the Treasurer's Office.

As for Wingett's other accusation, she says the office did not properly formalize agreements before hiring two contract employees. She left out the fact that both the hiring and the payments took place during the prior administration. The exact quote from the report on the issue is,

“The payments to Help Desk Technology and Teri Johnson occurred before November 13, 2007 and were authorized by the previous Treasurer.”

She also ignores the main audit finding:

“For the period reviewed, we found that TIF expenditures were in compliance with ARS §11-495. In addition, we found that TIF revenues were collected and recorded in compliance with this statute.”

Why would she do this? Simple, it's more helpful to the Supervisors to smear their enemy’s current County Treasurer.

This kind of reporting demonstrates that Wingett cannot be trusted to be a fair and impartial reporter. She is the very model of the worst kind of reporter. Her biases come through, and it is reporting like hers that is the reason why people are increasingly deserting the Arizona Republic as a legitimate news source. She is a discredit to all real reporters and an embarrassment to the Arizona Republic, and that’s hard to do.

County Manager David Smith tries to silence conservative blogs by filing bar complaints

2009-11-18T07:35:00.007-07:00

MEMO TO: DAVID SMITH
FROM: CACTUS ALLIANCE

Sonoran Alliance, this blog, and twitter.com/corruptAZSupes are not run by government employees or attorneys. Filing complaints with the Arizona State Bar about county employees, in which you falsely claim that the publicly available information posted on these sites violates attorney-client privilege is not going to trample on the free speech rights of these blogs.

Look who's in bed together!

2009-11-16T17:20:00.006-07:00

submitted by a reader

Phoenix New Times has the story connecting Chuck Coughlin from High Ground - the consulting firm exposed by Sonoran Alliance for getting the Republican Party to push an 18% sales tax increase - to indicted County Supervisor Don Stapley in order to find someone to send a threatening letter to the County Attorney about his hiring of special prosecutors to prosecute Stapley. According to the article, Coughlin has it out for the County Attorney ever since he was prosecuted for campaign finance violations when he ran the Prop. 400 campaign to raise taxes (which passed, now we have light rail). Between the two, they got their friend Pat Gilbert, who runs the Marc Center which Coughlin and Stapley and Stapley's former business partner and convicted felon Conley Wolfswinkel have long supported, to submit a public records request to the County Attorney for information relating to the outside prosecutors they hired to prosecute Stapley.

Sounds highly unethical.

Shadow county attorneys office larger than we thought

2009-11-10T07:27:00.002-07:00

This was posted in a comment on the Sonoran Alliance, explaining that there are more attorneys under Swanson and Stewart than previously thought -

Article didn’t get the Smith’s hatchman correctly…its Wade Swanson. He has at least 11 attorneys under him, 5 paralegals, and 9 more support staff. Richard Stewart now has a staff of 10.

State Bar of AZ adds 5 new diversity committees - already has 8

2009-11-09T11:27:00.005-07:00

(submitted by a reader)

Not satisfied with having the most diversity bar subgroups in the country, the Arizona State Bar has decided to add 5 more. Currently, the Bar has:

EXISTING DIVERSITY GROUPS
Sexual Orientation and Gender committee
Minorities and Women in the Law committee
Arizona Women's Lawyers Association
Black Women Lawyer's Association
Native American Bar Association
Arizona Black Bar
Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association
Arizona Asian-American Bar Association

NEW DIVERSITY GROUPS
Kenyan-African-Americans, Luo tribe (Obama)
Kenyan-African-Americans, Kikuyus tribe
Potswama Native American tribe
Transgendered attorneys
Transsexual attorneys

Evinto Podhopper, the Diversity Director for the State Bar, had this to say about the expansion,

"We felt that it was necessary to add a minority group for Kenyans, considering Obama is now our president. But because his wealthy Kenyan tribe is currently warring with the other dominant tribe in Kenya, we thought it was best to keep the two separate from one another. Although we don't know of any real Kenyans in Arizona practicing law, we figure by creating a group just for them, some of them will step forward and identify themselves."

"We've added a subgroup for the Native American Potswama tribe which has just been recognized by the federal government as a tribe. Because they were only just now recognized, they feel like their interests aren't the same as tribes that have already been recognized for awhile, and would feel more comfortable with their own representation."

"There was some feuding going on in the Sexual Orientation and Gender committee between the gays, lesbians and bisexuals on one side, and the transgendered and transsexuals on the other side. In order to make everyone happy, we thought we would separate out the transgendered and transsexuals who were suffering the most oppression and discrimination. I think I should receive an award for coming up with this plan for peace."

A member of the Arizona Board of Governors, who spoke to us only on condition of anonymity, said, "Great, now instead of sitting through 8 boring reports while our eyes glaze over, we're going to have to sit through 13. I am part Potswama but I am not going to admit it and have people look at me and blame me for another boring report. What does being Potswama have to do with the law anyway? Attorneys are required to pay mandatory dues that pay for this kind of stuff. I don't think that's right."

Supervisors' Shadow County Attorney's Office growing larger than County Attorney's litigation dept.

2009-11-06T11:39:00.007-07:00

We've been told that the Supervisors' new Shadow County Attorney's Office is expanding and paying its newly hired attorneys huge salaries - WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS. They started their own litigation department last spring under Wade Stewart, the 35-year old attorney they hired who they're paying $175,000/yr (higher than any attorney at the entire County Attorney's Office, even senior 25-year prosecutors who prosecuted the Serial Shooters case). Wade is a green attorney who issued an embarassingly incorrect legal opinion a couple of weeks ago based on an Attorney General's opinion that had been reversed. We're told his new litigation department is now up to 10 attorneys and growing - that's 3 more attorneys than the County Attorney's litigation section has ever had! The Supervisors have also started a second section of attorneys under Richard Stewart, a former litigator for the County Attorney's Office.

After the Supervisors gutted the budget for the County Attorney's Civil Division in order to steal the division and put it underneath them, they lured many of the employees away with gigantic pay increases. One litigator was given a $27,000/yr pay increase! Yes that's right. County Attorney employees haven't received raises for two or three years due to the recession, and their jobs have become harder due to the hiring freeze and the Supervisors forcing the law enforcement office to cut 15%, yet the Board of Supervisors is hiring new attorneys like it's going out of style and giving them ridiculous pay increases.

This new Shadow County Attorney's Office is so shadowy, it's not even listed on the Supervisors' org chart. Although the diversity manager is. The Supervisors seem to have forgotten that the people elected Andrew Thomas to head the County Attorney's Office, not them. A Rasmussen poll last month found that Thomas's approval rating is currently at 64% among voters with an opinion, considered a high approval rating. Most of the County Supervisors got elected to their positions because those undesirable offices fly under the radar and attract few candidates. The voters of Maricopa County don't want the unpopular Supervisors stealing away the County Attorney's Office from under Thomas. What this comes down to is this: The Supervisors are trying to stop Thomas from prosecuting two of their own for numerous alleged felonies, by taking away funding for his office to decimate it.

The legitimacy of the Shadow County Attorney's Office is currently being litigated in the Court of Appeals.

Why is Senate president Bob Burns writing "Conservative calls for sales-tax hike?"

2009-11-05T11:01:00.005-07:00

AZ Senate President Bob Burns (R) has an article in the Republic defending a referral to the ballot of an 18% sales tax increase. Why is the leading Republican in the Senate publicly calling for a tax increase referral? Shouldn't this be coming from the Democrat Party?

Instead of criticizing Republican Governor Brewer for line-item vetoing the spending cuts the legislature had included in the budget in order to balance the budget, Burns attacks everyone else. He criticizes budget gimmicks but doesn't criticize the governor's budget gimmick of using the line-item veto to increase the budget! Governor Brewer is equally at fault, especially since she has been the main Republican advocating for the sales tax increase. Governor Napolitano got us into this mess, but Governor Brewer is not fixing it by increasing taxes. Raising taxes never improves the economy but merely enables big spenders to continue their bad habits.

I surprised many people when I announced earlier this year my support for putting a 1-cent-per-dollar sales-tax increase on the ballot. Do not misunderstand me. The revenue generated from such a tax increase (less than $900 million in current economic conditions) will not entirely solve the problem. I also recognize the distinct possibility that voters may reject any such proposal. In either case, I will continue to advocate for more reductions in state spending to balance the budget.

And here he sounds as if he is somewhat supportive of voting for the tax increase once it makes it to the ballot!

We have lost enough precious time already. The question needs to be asked: Are you willing to pay, in addition to your current tax burdens, another penny on the dollar in sales tax in order to provide more revenue for your government? There may not be an official declaration that Arizona is in a state of emergency, but in my view, we're in one.

This is real disappointment. Burns should not claim to be a conservative if he is advocating for sales tax increase referral. The article should have been more correctly named, "Republican caves into pressure for 18% sales tax increase and fails to call out Governor."

Supervisors Wilson, Brock and Wilcox vote to hike photo speed camera ticket fees

2009-11-04T14:46:00.002-07:00

Sonoran Alliance covered the story of the Supervisors notifying the public at the last minute (only 24 hours notice in advance) that they would be voting on hiking speed camera ticket fees by $20. Despite their attempt to keep the public uninformed, several people showed up and expressed their opposition to the speed camera ticket hike. Yet the Supervisors ignored them and voted for it anyways (Supervisors Stapley and Kunasek didn't vote). The speed cameras are widely disliked in Arizona and have not been successful at bringing in promised revenues. The Supervisors aren't representing their constituents by voting to increase the fines.

Paper misfired in labeling Arpaio

2009-11-04T14:41:00.002-07:00

Letter to the editor in the Arizona Republic from Barnett Lotstein of the County Attorney's Office

Sunday's editorial ("Elected officials allowed costly fight to rage on") and E.J. Montini's column ("Thomas vs. the supervisors: The dog, the hydrant and us") both hit and missed the mark.

The editorial accurately described the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors' attempt to stymie the appointment of special prosecutors as "foot-dragging designed to protect one of its own - (Don) Stapley."

The Editorial Board misfired in attempting to characterize both Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the board as "wallflowers." That describes the board, not Sheriff Arpaio. It's safe to say that Arpaio doesn't take his marching orders from anybody except voters.

Those of us who work regularly with the sheriff know that Chief Deputy David Hendershott does not set policy. He is a competent, effective second in command.

The Editorial Board hit the bulls' eye in characterizing County Manager David Smith as the board's "generalissimo." His agenda of increasing his power has resulted in a search-and-destroy mission against elected officials, including the county attorney, sheriff and treasurer. If anyone needs to be reined in, it is "generalissimo" Smith.

In a more light-hearted vain, while the editorial writer has chosen to compare me to Othello's Iago, I would suggest I am more like Tonto to the Lone Ranger.

As to Montini, I suggest that the only dog in his rhetorical inquiry is the Board of Supervisors and that the public is the hydrant. I will not describe what the dog is doing so as not offend his sensibilities and to ensure that my comments are fit for inclusion in a family newspaper.

- Barnett Lotstein,Phoenix

The writer is a special assistant county attorney.

MCAO Responds to County Manager Smith's Bizarre Request

2009-10-27T14:40:00.006-07:00

From the MCAO:

Good afternoon

County Manager David Smith is demanding disclosure of any communication between several employees at the County Attorney’s Office and a number of media outlets including , The Arizona Republic, the East Valley Tribune, The New Times, several conservative web sites “or any other internet site or address.” A letter sent to a number of County Attorney employees also demands details of communications that happened during non work hours using personal computers. A copy of the letter is attached (above).

The move comes days after the Board of Supervisors stalled a criminal probe of county government by refusing to hire outside prosecutors while at the same time demanding that the County Attorney ’s Office not prosecute potential cases.

Among those receiving the letter is the Public Information Officer for the County Attorney ’s Office, whose job it is to communicate with the media.
Mike Scerbo and Barnett Lotstein are available for comment

Also available for comment are two conservative bloggers targeted by county management.

Shane Wikfors, SonoranAlliance.com
480.332.3440

David Roney, CactusAlliance.com
480.443.8500 x101
Michael Anthony Scerbo
MCAO PIO
Office 602-506-3170
Cell 602-489-6913

Time to fire Supervisors' attorney Wade Swanson - County Attorney explains Swanson's erroneous legal opinion

2009-10-23T16:21:00.008-07:00

click to enlarge

Tom Horne's new video for Attorney General

2009-10-23T08:23:00.003-07:00

Well, it says it was posted by "ADE" so it looks like it was probably created with taxpayer dollars for the AZ Dept. of Education. But ADE is never mentioned in the video, and since Horne is leaving ADE to run for Attorney General, you decide if this is really a taxpayer-funded campaign commercial.

County Supervisors' new Shadow County Attorney issues reversed legal advice - can anyone say bar complaint?

2009-10-22T13:46:00.004-07:00

We have been astounded watching what the County Supervisors will pull - using your tax dollars - to stop Sheriff Arpaio and the County Attorney from criminally prosecuting two of their own, Stapley and Wilcox. One of the ways they have been sabotaging the prosecutions is by setting up their own Shadow County Attorney's Office, headed by a young green attorney with only a few years of legal experience in mostly nonrelevant areas, Wade Swanson, at a salary of $175,000/yr (a higher salary than every single one of the 300 attorneys who work for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, some who have 25+ years of experience under their belt and prosecute the most serious homicides). The Supervisors then use this shadow office to attack the Sheriff and the County Attorney legally and accuse them of all kinds of things.

This week, the County Supervisors refused to sign off on the Special Prosecutors the County Attorney appointed to prosecute Stapley. The reason the County Attorney appointed Special Prosecutors in the first place was because the Supervisors had complained it was a conflict for the County Attorney's Office to prosecute Stapley. There is nothing legally wrong with the County Attorney's Office prosecuting Stapley, but as a courtesy, the County Attorney decided to outsource the prosecution, sending the first Stapley charges to Yavapai County to prosecute, and the second Stapley charges to Special Prosecutors.

In a memo issued on October 20 by the overpaid, big spending liberal County Manager David Smith, the Supervisors said they refused to approve the Special Prosecutors because they didn't reside in Maricopa County. Shadow County Attorney Wade Swanson provided an Attorney General opinion which said that Deputy County Attorneys must reside in the county. But he was embarrassingly wrong. He failed to mention a later 1988 Attorney General opinion (I88-052) by AG Bob Corbin which reversed that opinion:

This is to inform you that Ariz.Atty.Gen.Op. I88-052 dated April 26, 1988 has been withdrawn. That opinion erroneously relied upon two earlier Attorney General opinions, Ariz.Atty.Gen.Ops. I79–186 and I78–55, which had incorrectly interpreted art. VII, § 15 of the Arizona Constitution.

You had initially asked whether, pursuant to A.R.S. § 15–253(B) [FN1] the Attorney General would review a school opinion written by a private attorney who was not a resident of the county (non-qualified elector), but who was nevertheless representing the district with the consent of the county attorney.

The Arizona Constitution, was amended in 1972 to remove the requirement that a “person elected or appointed to any office of trust or profit” must be a qualified elector of the political division he serves. Art. VII, § 15 now limits this requirement to only those holding elective office, providing as follows:
Every person elected or appointed to any elective office of trust or profit under the authority of the State, or any political division or any municipality thereof, shall be a qualified elector of the political division or municipality in which such person shall be elected.
(Emphasis added.) See Laws 1971 (1st Reg.Sess.) Senate Concurrent Resolution 9. [FN2]

Because an attorney hired by a school district with the consent of the County Attorney does not hold an elective office, legal representation by a non-resident attorney of a local school district governing board is permitted. Therefore, the opinions of that attorney may be reviewed by the Attorney General, pursuant to A.R.S. § 15–253(B).

Incidentally, the Supervisors never protested when the Yavapai County Attorney hired Mel Bowers to handle the first Stapley prosecution. Bowers is a resident of Maricopa County, not Yavapai County, so he is practicing law for the Yavapai County Attorney's Office as a nonresident. And there are many Deputy County Attorneys who work for various County Attorney's Offices around the state who do not reside in the county of the office they work in. This is a discredited and reversed argument that the Supervisors have put forth and by ignoring the AG opinion reversing the erroneous legal grounds they rely upon, Wade Swanson should be expecting a bar complaint for malpractice. It is outrageous that someone with that little experience is paid $175,000/yr by the taxpayers to issue incorrect legal advice. Any first year law student knows to look up a law to see if it had been reversed.

What this comes down to is the Supervisors want immunity for Stapley, they want to be able to choose who prosecutes him. They are manipulating the legal system to thwart criminal prosecution of one of their own, which gets into a whole host of ethical and criminal issues.

SEN. JOHN McCAIN'S TOWN HALL MEETINGS - FRI 10/30 - 2:00PM & SAT 10/31 10:00AM

2009-10-22T06:45:00.002-07:00

Come join Senator JOHN McCAIN in two Town Hall Meetings:

Friday, October 30th, 2009
2:00 p.m. East Valley Town Hall with Senator John McCain
Central Christian Church
933 N. Lindsay Road – Mesa, Arizona
CLICK HERE FOR MAP & DIRECTIONS

Saturday, October 31st, 2009
10:00 a.m. West Valley Town Hall with Senator John McCain
Skyway Church of the West Valley
14900 W. Van Buren – Goodyear, Arizona
CLICK HERE FOR MAP & DIRECTIONS

Senator McCain will discuss the topics of the day, Health Care, the Economy, and many other critical issues of interest!

Maricopa County throws fancy environmentalist conference featuring radical environmentalists and swag bags - even though county is broke!

2009-10-21T14:52:00.012-07:00

400-450 swag bags handed out at conference, estimated value $25 each?

submitted by a reader

Although the Maricopa County supervisors have forced all of the other county agencies to cut 15% from their budgets, including law enforcement agencies, they continue to brazenly spend taxpayers' money on their Taj Mahal tower, their new civil attorneys division, growing their IT department, and various pricey junkets. I am in the private sector and am aghast at the tax dollars I have seen spent by this county. Their latest splurge was a fancy environmentalist conference put on yesterday at the luxurious Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center by their Air Quality Department. Attendees were provided with large bags of goodies, which included a windmill toy with batteries, a tire gauge, a nice pen, a day planner/calendar/notebook, another notebook, a CD and handout from SRP, and a fancy program.

The premise of the conference was that everyone needs to become environmentalists and reduce the amount of CO2 they release into the air because it is causing global warming. There was no discussion of how manmade CO2 causes global warming, apparently the liberal Republican supervisors don't consider it open to debate, even though their own party disagrees. The EPA has dinged Maricopa County in the past for air pollution, but with the lone exception of Rep. Ray Barnes expressing skepticism about the EPA, the Supervisors stifled all criticism of the EPA instead of standing up to their draconian regulations. Wouldn't it be nice to have a county that stands up to the most liberal, overreaching, overregulating federal agency in Washington? Don't expect the liberal Republicans on the Board of Supervisors to, they are right there with the EPA denouncing cow farting (see below).

Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock opened the conference, saying "we are making progress, the good news is we are almost to the level of regulation that California has where it is a crime to take your leaf-blower out into your own yard." Considering later in the conference it was revealed that leaf blowers only account for 1% of the emissions in the county, that seemed rather draconian, like something Al Gore or Michael Moore would say. Supervisor Don Stapley bragged that the county is moving to environmentally-friendly cars quickly and is a leader in this area. This is disturbing considering the county is broke.

The keynote speaker was Denis Hayes, an environmentalist radical who founded Earth Day. Hayes is a proponent of ZERO population growth, a view he shares with China, which limits its people to two children per family, aborting many babies that go over this limit. Hayes is also a global warming true believer, and told the crowd that it doesn't matter if countries like China aren't reducing their emissions, we must reduce ours anyways because it all contributes to global warming no matter where it's emitted (he didn't address the problem that arises then of jobs going overseas to China where it's cheaper without all of the environmental regulations). He made some far out wild claims that would never hold up to reputable scientific scrutiny: He claimed that 100 species a day are going extinct, due to being squeezed out by humans (I am not making this up). He claimed that the great apes are on their way to extinction. The orangutangs will be extinct by 2025 and as early as 2020 due to oil palm plantations in Indonesia. There are more tigers in zoos now than in the wild. The growing population of humans is invading the sanctuary of nonhumans.

Perhaps the most ridiculous part of the conference was the lengthy serious discussion devoted to the alleged worst pollution in the state - Pinal County due to its 400,000 farting cows. I am not making this up. One of the panelists produced a chart which showed that Pinal County is now considered by Obama's EPA to be one of the worst counties in the nation for CO2 emissions due to its cows farting.

The vast majority of panelists repeated bland environmentalist cliches, saying things like "we need to expand public transit in the Valley."

Allen Wachter of the Maricopa Asthma Coalition said people need to stop using their fireplaces in the winter when it's 70 degrees. There seemed to be a lot of comments like this, which went way overboard into speculation of dubious value.

Seven people or organizations were given awards at the end of the conference for their environmental efforts. Considering it is doubtful that global warming is manmade, most of these efforts will do nothing except increase costs for consumers and businesses in Arizona to operate.

At the end of the conference, door prizes were handed out that included an electric mower, push mowers, rakes and brooms. Wonder how much they all cost, the electric mower alone must have been a few hundred. Were they really necessary? No. No one even knew about the door prizes; the same number of people were going to show up anyways. It was unfortunate to see taxpayers' money being spent by so-called mostly "Republican" supervisors on a politically correct cause that will end up hurting Arizonans costwise.

Goldwater Institute releases investigative report on Supervisor Wilcox's corrupt airport deal

2009-10-15T16:33:00.001-07:00

High Fliers: How Political Insiders Gained an Edge in Sky Harbor Concessions
Mark Flatten
Goldwater Institute Policy Report
October 13, 2009

Mary Rose Wilcox eked out a small profit from a Mexican restaurant she owned in south Phoenix before she used her race and status as the owner of a “disadvantaged” business to land a lucrative concession deal at Sky Harbor International Airport.

The long-entrenched Democrat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors reported $10,000 in profits from her El Portal restaurant in an August 2003 financial statement. In December 2004, Wilcox was brought into a joint venture to co-own a Chili’s franchise, the only full-service bar and restaurant in the main lobby of Terminal 4.

Seven months later, Wilcox reported profits of $113,000 from the Chili’s deal alone.
Wilcox did not have to bring any money into the deal. Host International Inc., which holds the master concession contract with the City of Phoenix for all food and beverage sales in Terminal 4, fronted her company a loan for her initial capital contribution of $450,000. The loan was to be repaid through profits from the restaurant, and was made in violation of city policy.
In violation of federal rules, Wilcox did not have a role in the day-to-day operations of the franchise. That was the exclusive job of Host, according to the joint venture agreement she signed with the international mega-concession company.

Wilcox was not even required to spend any more time on the restaurant business than she deemed appropriate.

One inviolable rule for Wilcox, who is Hispanic, was that she had to maintain her status as the owner of an Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE or DBE), a creation of federal law and regulations that give preferences in airport concession contracting to firms owned by minorities and women.

The DBE program is supposed to remedy current and past discrimination, and create a “level playing field” in the awarding of airport concession contracts. The DBE owner is required to take an active role in running the company, according to federal rules.

Read High Fliers here
Sidebar: Courts Curb Airport Preferences
Sidebar: Who Owns What at Sky Harbor? Who Knows?
Analysis: Recommendations for Giving Regular Small Businesses Access to Airport Contracts
Contact Mark Flatten at (602) 462-5000 x223 or mflatten@goldwaterinstitute.org

Mayor Vernon Parker - Obama Failures Not Enough for AZ GOP

2009-10-09T10:42:00.001-07:00

A New Way Forward for Arizona & the State GOP
President Obama’s Struggles are Not Enough for Arizona Republicans
By Vernon B. Parker
Mayor of Paradise Valley, Arizona2010 Candidate for Governor, Exploratory Committee. http://www.parker2010.com/

NOTE: Mayor Parker is a former White House Counselor for President George H.W. Bush, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and a former pastor.

A year ago many were writing obituaries for the Republican Party.

Today, Republicans look poised to make major gains in the 2010 congressional elections.

But is the potential success the result of resilient introspection, or the misguided policies of the current administration and congressional majority in Washington? Unfortunately, I believe it’s the latter. And that’s just not going to cut it in Arizona.

Republicans have taken a few body blows dealing with the spending hangover left by Janet Napolitano. In 2010, our party will also face theperennial candidate for governor, current Attorney General Terry Goddard.

That’s why it is imperative that our party turn to a fresh face and new voice with an innovative agenda to overcome the obstacles we currently face.

We are not going to beat a career politician like Terry Goddard with a career politician of our own. Nor will we beat him with an incumbent.

No, it is going to take a bold, new message and a different kind of messenger. That’s why I ask my fellow Arizonans to consider the following:

*Arizona faces some tough odds right now. To overcome them, it helps to have someone who has done it before. I have overcome many obstacles in my own life. I am numb to the words…”you can’t”. I have seen things a child that no child should see, or for that matter, no adult. My neighborhood was littered with drugs, violence and a culture of governmental dependence. But through the love of a wise grandmother, a loving mother, many caring aunts, and a public education system that didn’t allow me to fall through the cracks, I now serve the people of Paradise Valley as their mayor. No odds seem too great, even those facing Arizona, after that journey.

*The State of Arizona has become the state of confusion. But if we work together, we can make it the State of Opportunity, for all of our people. How do we resurrect our state?

*First, we must reject the Brewer tax increase. Republicans used to be the party of less government, with an eye on shrinking government. Oddly, some now seem afraid to do so. I am not.

*Second, we can’t just play around the margins anymore when it comes to job creation. I want to phase out the corporate tax in Arizona. Why? Because I want to roll out the red carpet to businesses in California who are looking for a new home because they are suffocating under heavy taxes and regulation. I want to tell them, “come on over…Arizona is a place to do business.” I want to send a true reform message to national and international markets that there is no better place to do business than right here in Arizona. If we do this, jobs will flock to Arizona, and we will get back on our feet. Let’s grow the pie of prosperity, rather than drown our businesses with higher taxes.

*Third, the transformation from a State of Confusion to a State of Opportunity means major reform to our higher education system. We need to explore the option of allowing community colleges to grant four-year degrees throughout Arizona. Let our community colleges, especially in the rural areas, educate their best and brightest at home rather than send them off to the big city. More access for lower and middle income families to higher education is a winning formula for Arizona. If we are going to attract new industries to Arizona, we must have an educated pool of potential workers from which to draw.

*And fourth, if Arizona K-12 schools aren't living up to our expectations, let's look to innovative programs such as Teach for America. Empower principals with tools to place qualified professionals, retired educators, and community leaders in classrooms so our students have every opportunity to succeed. We can no longer embrace a system that does not reward performance, but rewards seniority.

These are just a few of the ideas I’ll be introducing to help craft a next generation Republican agenda. With such a platform, I believe that the best days for Arizona are ahead.

Paid for By Parker Exploratory Committee

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman to Chair Vernon Parker Exploratory Committee for Governor

2009-10-07T16:01:00.000-07:00

Hugh Hallman, the well-known and well-regarded Republican Mayor of Tempe, has taken on another leadership position: Chairman of Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker’s Exploratory Campaign for Governor.

The two recently joined Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane in a guest column opposing a $100 million sales tax subsidy for a north Phoenix shopping center.

“Vernon Parker is the fresh new voice our party and state needs right now,” said Hallman. “He has an innovative agenda and the right temperament to lead Arizona. Every now and then you get particularly excited about someone running for office. That’s the way I feel about Mayor Parker, should he choose to run,” Hallman said.

Now in his second term as Mayor of Tempe, Hallman is viewed by many to be a formidable future candidate for federal or statewide office. Known for being whip smart and a tenacious advocate, Hallman’s organization would be a real boost for Parker. Hallman recently took over as Headmaster at Tempe Prep, one of the best charter schools in the state.

“Hugh is one of the most thoughtful and brightest individuals I have ever met, and I am humbled that he believes in me enough to chair my campaign. I know his support will give me every chance to win. Mayor Hallman has fought for effective change in Tempe. And I look forward to his counsel for doing the same on a statewide level,” said Parker.

Parker, 49, is the current mayor of Paradise Valley, Arizona. He has previously served the administrations of George H.W. Bush, George Bush, as an Assistant Secretary for the $90 billion United States Department of Agriculture, small businessman, and as a pastor for two years at a small non-denominational church in Paradise Valley.

Parker has the most compelling life story of any candidate emerging for Governor. Raised by his grandmother in a severely underprivileged neighborhood in Long Beach, California, Parker was able to escape the drugs and violence through love, education and the commitment of family. Noted rap star Snoop Dogg was one of Parker’s neighbors.

“I truly believe it’s going to take someone who has defied the odds to help Arizona overcome the odds now facing it,” Parker said.

For more information contact Jason Rose or go to www.Parker2010.com.

AZ Republic interview with gubernatorial candidate Vernon Parker

2009-10-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

Parker: Our next governor must defy the odds
by Vernon Parker

Vernon Parker is exploring a run for governor.

1. Why stop just short of saying you are declaring your candidacy for governor?
I want to know what the voters think about my potential candidacy. If they prove to be interested in a fresh voice and a new face for Arizona and the GOP, I will run. If not, I will thoroughly enjoy continuing my service as mayor of Paradise Valley.

2. What do you think voters are looking for in selecting our next governor?
New, bold and innovative ideas. Someone who has defied odds all their life who wants to help Arizona defy the odds it now faces. Someone who can bring people together as opposed to tearing them apart. And definitely someone who is not a career politician.

3. How would you address the $3 billion gap between state revenues and expenditures?
I would start by leading by example. If cuts are necessary in state agencies, then Gov. Parker's office would make similar-sized cuts. One of my top priorities as governor will be to phase out the corporate income tax and recruit new industries to Arizona. After irresponsible spending increases in the past, some are afraid to shrink government now. I am not.

4. You say a weak border is a threat to Arizona. What can the governor do about gaining control of the border?
A governor can coordinate state agencies to make sure all our resources are brought to bear effectively. A governor can lead the effort to end the policies of sanctuary cities.

5. What do you think of the job Gov. Jan Brewer has done in her first nine months?
She inherited a mess. We spent billions more than we had during the boom times. Now, those bills are coming due, and we don't have the money to pay them. I am opposed to the idea of raising taxes like the current governor has proposed. We need economic growth and history has proven that raising taxes stifles economic growth.

6. What would be the first thing you'd do as governor?
Pray that I would not fall into the trap of wanting to please the Establishment. Pray that I would always be true to the people of the state of Arizona.

from http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2009/10/05/20091005aztalk-newsmaker05.html

Another county supervisor with ties to NACo-Gate (Stapley's transfer of political funds)

2009-09-29T09:51:00.003-07:00

Looks like Don Stapley isn't the only county supervisor in trouble for transferring money between his personal political campaign account and his NACo account. A county supervisor Stapley worked with at NACo, Lou Maguzzo from New Jersey, has also been caught doing the same thing. Maguzzo loaned himself money from the local Democrat Party, then transferred that money to his NACo account. According to this piece in PolitickerNJ, Stapley and Maguzzo are closely connected. From the article -

Lou Magazzu during his campaign for second vice president of NACo was proud of his close working relationship with Stapley of Arizona proclaiming in his candidate profile which is still on NACo's website, "I have also served on President Don Stapley's Task Force on Governance."

"Don Stapley and Lou Magazzu worked together on a NACo task force and both have transferred money from a political account to a NACo account. It just appears a little too coincidental that two guys who have worked with each other have a similar problem revolving around their NACo accounts," Cumberland County GOP Chairman Bob Greco said. "Now I have to wonder if it's possible Magazzu discussed how to transfer funds to a NACo account with Stapley."

Maguzzo has since taken off that reference to Stapley from his website, no doubt due to the criminal investigations into Stapley.

Arizonans in Action: MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISORS ARE MAGICIANS

2009-09-25T15:09:00.001-07:00

MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISORS ARE MAGICIANS

Millions of Wasted Dollars Hidden by Supervisors' Creation of Special Taxing Districts

Part One

Friends,

We at Arizonans In Action wanted to let you know about a little bit of research we have been conducting over the past few weeks in Maricopa County that we thought you might be interested in knowing since the County Supervisors won't let you in on this hidden gem.

One of the biggest secrets the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors do not want you to know is how they farm off parts of county government that chronically lose money into separate "special taxing districts" where financial losses are all but hidden from the public.

Instead of making these sinkhole areas of county government financially responsible, the Supervisors hide them where taxpayers don't hear about their losses, allowing them to freely continue their irresponsible spending unaccountable to anyone.

Sure, the County Supervisors brag that they never directly raise your property taxes because they shift responsibility to the special districts to raise your property taxes.

Take for example this little nugget that did not get much attention. Recently, the Special Healthcare District in June voted to raise your property taxes. Did you hear about it? Did you know about it? No because the county's special taxing districts fly under the radar of the taxpayers and largely aren't covered by the media.

Over the next few installments, we will examine some of these districts and the millions of taxpayer dollars that are going down the drain.

Maricopa County Special Healthcare District

The Maricopa County Special Healthcare District (MIHS) was created a few years ago by a ballot proposition and consists of a healthcare insurance plan and a couple of hospitals. However, MIHS was largely created because it continues to lose huge amounts of money. The debt was siphoned off into a different district where its losses would go undetected and would not count against the county budget. Once separated, it could have its own property tax separate from the general county budget. This property tax could increase as much as its board deemed necessary because it was no longer accountable to the county.

Let's take a closer look at the continual losses that MIHS posts, particularly the specialty clinics:

Please click here to continue reading about the Maricopa County Healthcare District

Inappropriate criticism of gubernatorial candidate Vernon Parker smacks of racism

2009-09-24T16:05:00.002-07:00

We were appalled to see the article, "Republican Imposter Vernon Parker Runs for Governor of AZ" appear on the respected website Red State. The anonymous author cites Parker's acceptance of a minority bid contract as evidence that he is not a Republican, then proceeds to bash Republicans who support candidates because they're black. The author offers no further evidence that Parker lacks Republican credentials. Yet he (or she) jumps into a tirade that Republicans need to quit supporting black candidates because they're black.

Just because Parker accepted a government contract due to minority status does not discredit him as a Republican. It doesn't mean he agrees philosophically with the concept and would promote it. It isn't much different than accepting tax credits and deductions even though you philosophically disagree with the income tax.

For those who don't know him, Parker is a solid conservative. He is running on a platform challenging Governor Brewer's tax increase, and says his first goal when he enters office is to eliminate the corporate income tax. A devout Christian, he served as pastor of his church for two years when there was a need.

Parker is attractive and charismatic, and in addition to his experience (he is Mayor of Paradise Valley - he has more executive experience than Obama), people are drawn to him also because of that. Some n'er-do-wells may try and confuse this kind of attraction with liking him because of his race, which, ironically, creates a real disadvantage for minorities.

This article is disturbing. Republicans are never going to get rid of the stereotype that there are racists in the party when there are poorly disguised racist articles like this carried by major conservative publications.

Obama Hero Worship Not in Arizona Schools

2009-09-23T09:17:00.003-07:00

Tom Horne to Federal Judges – Stop Judicial Activism
On behalf of the taxpayers of Arizona, Tom Horne won a U.S. Supreme Court case stopping federal judges from micromanaging how your tax dollars are spent. (Horne v. Flores)

Tom Horne Pushes Legislation to Prohibit Ethnic Studies
Tom Horne recently authored legislation to stop school districts from teaching Latino students that they live in occupied Mexico.

“I have tried for two years to put a stop to this dysfunctional program. They have refused and that is why I introduced this legislation.” - Tom Horne

Learn More About Republican Tom Horne
Arizona Republican Tom Horne has created an Attorney General Exploratory Committee and invites you to learn more about his experience and leadership by visiting his web site at
www.TomHorneExploratory.com

You can also become a Friend of Tom Horne
by visiting his Facebook Page

Paid for by the Tom Horne AG Exploratory Committee

What's wrong with beautiful Mormon temples in your neighborhood?

2009-09-22T13:16:00.005-07:00

Photos of the Mormon temple in Mesa

T'he recent article in the Republic about residents opposing a Mormon temple being built in their neighborhood is odd. For one, Mormon temples, like Catholic cathedrals, are beautiful. Secondly, it's not like putting a tattoo parlor or strip club in your neighborhood. The kind of people it is going to attract are probably going to be people you would feel safe around. The arguments against it - that it would stand out, that its lights at night would be too bright - are straw man arguments. Let's hope they're not really a front for religious discrimination.

Breaking news - Supervisor Don Stapley arrested again

2009-09-21T11:25:00.005-07:00

We wonder if there is any additional cause, or if this is related to prosecutors bringing the 118 counts against him again that were dropped.
Were hearing there are new counts including 93 felonies! The last time he was arrested, he was charged with about30 less felonies. ABC-15 has the full story.

Who is looking into the paid ACORN protesters outside Sheriff Arpaio's office?

2009-09-21T09:38:00.003-07:00

Now that the true depths of ACORN's corruption has come to light, from voter registration to funding child prostitution, has anyone thought to investigate the paid ACORN protesters outside Sheriff Arpaio's office? They get a lot of media attention and cause a lot of irritation for people working in the area, and have accomplished nothing other than wasting taxpayer dollars which are funneled to ACORN. Arpaio is already investigating ACORN. Let's hope he follows the money to see where our tax dollars are going to fund these paid protesters.

Vernon Parker, Paradise Valley mayor and possible gubernatorial candidate, sues feds to clear his name

2009-09-21T09:01:00.005-07:00

We're glad to see Vernon Parker has filed a lawsuit against the federal government for making false claims about him. If you've ever met Parker, you know he's a straight-shooter and above board. He is a former attorney for George W. Bush and has been pastor of his church. There are powerful forces at work that realize he has the potential to rise to higher office - even the Presidency - and those unscrupulous kinds of people will stop at nothing to prevent that from happening. Democrats are afraid that Republicans will nominate a charismatic, socially conservative African-American candidate for President.

Here are some excerpts from the Republic article -

Parker's lawyers allege in their claim that Parker was the victim of a politically charged 2008 investigation by the U.S. Small Business Association, which the lawyers assert manufactured false allegations against him.

The claim also asserts that the administration systematically engaged in a course of conduct to undermine Parker's career and standing in the community.

Parker, who heads his private consulting firm, VBP Group LLC, was accused of using his political influence to obtain an SBA contract, the claim states.
The SBA's Office of the Inspector General soon began an investigation into the contract. It later published a report on the agency's Web site that says Parker was a federal employee with the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the time of the contract application, and that federal employees are prohibited by law from competing for government contracts.
Parker also was accused of submitting falsified invoices in support of his contract performance.
"(They) accused my client of inaccurate financial statements and an untruthful application for certification. All of those allegations, save one, have been thrown out," attorney Paul Charlton said. The report remains on the Web site despite requests for its removal, the claim states.

Vernon will be speaking at Politics on the Rocks Sept. 23rd where he is expected to make an announcement about the governor's race.

Supervisors bragging about Court Tower construction beginning

2009-09-18T09:19:00.002-07:00

This photo of the court tower construction is being circulated by the County Supervisors. They are gloating over the fact that taxpayers have been unable to stop construction of this mammoth tower during a recession.

Tom Horne Launches Exploratory Committee Website

2009-09-15T07:51:00.003-07:00

State Superintendent of Education, Tom Horne, has launched his official exploratory committee website for Attorney General.

The site is basically one page and allows individuals to make donations to the campaign. Horne will be running traditional based on his website’s fundraising information.

There are currently four candidates running for Arizona Attorney General including Democrat, David Lujan and Republicans, Sam Crump and Andrew Peyton Thomas.

UA Alumni magazine full of leftist propaganda

2009-09-13T13:48:00.002-07:00

Some clear proof ASU is a better school than UA. We got ahold of a University of Arizona Alumnus magazine from Fall 2009. It was so full of typical left wing articles that it wasn't worth reading - why not just pick up a copy of Mother Jones or The Nation if you want a magazine about left wing causes. Here is what was in the magazine, other than a couple of token sports stories:

--In the Letters to the Editor section, an Editor's Response on the magazine's policy of printing pictures of same-sex couples announcing their marriages. p. 7

--An article on how three UA professors are trying to ban smoking worldwide. p. 9

--An article about Hispanics and college degrees (we don't have a problem with covering Hispanic news, but when it's done to the exclusion of all other races except politically correct races we see some bias and unfairness). p. 10

--An article about budget cuts and how plans to merge the ethnic programs into one program brought out protests from radical Hispanics, so the University president met with them and assured them that the plan wasn't finalized. p. 16

--An article called Sustaining Planet Earth, and Us, Too on promoting environmentalism. One faculty member, Diana Liverman, is featured in an article entitled Speaking of Caps and Trades, where her left wing environmental activism on behalf of the biased United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report is praised. There is a special article about the UA's latest two (not just one) environmentalist departments focusing on climate change, the Sechool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and the School of Sustainable Engineered Systems. p. 19-25

--Finding a Place, an article about Hispanics at the UA. Again, we have no problem with articles about Hispanics, but what about all the other groups at the UA? Christian organizations. Exchange students from other countries. Gifted kids who skip their last year or two of high school and go straight into college. Irish kids who came to the UA from Ireland to attend school here. We'll never see any of them featured. p. 26-28

--A profile of a guy named Lionel Lee Rombach who "lived the green life long before it became trendy." His profile is used to market the UA Foundation. Huh? That kind of an ad will just scare away half the grads who don't buy into the manmade global warming scare. p. 29

--A story about the film Laramie Inside Out, which exposes the God Hates Fags guy Rev. Fred Phelps. While that's nice to expose the guy, who pretty everyone agrees is a jerk, don't expect this magazine to ever run something exposing a fringe left wing radical like the Unabomber. p. 30-35

--Info and pictures of Intuit Art currently on display. Nice, but again, this is more promotion of politically correct ethnicities. I'm sure there are displays of Irish and English art that would never get a mention in this magazine. They may as well not even exist. p. 39

--A Visionary Leader and Consumer Advocate award given to a woman named Helen Niederehe Goetz. She was actively involved in the League of Women Voters, a left wing feminist organization. Don't think if her resume had said "Concerned Women for America" instead that she would have gotten this award. p. 57

If you find this disproportionate coverage of left wing causes offensive, feel free to send them an email at alumninews@al.arizona.edu. Especially if you are a UA alum. And don't give them a dime until they cut out the bias and give alums a fair and balanced magazine.

We paid $2.5 million for this art, as employees were laid off?

2009-09-13T09:44:00.005-07:00

Remember the $2.5 million "cactus flower" the City of Phoenix paid $2.5 million of your tax dollars for, as the country was entering a recession? At least 10 employees lost their jobs, and 1000 more were eliminated (probably a good thing to decrease the size of government, but when the economy picks up, the Democrats who run Phoenix will just hire them back, causing undue stress and wasted training). We took a look at it yesterday, and surprise surprise, it looks nothing like the picture on the City of Phoenix website. You be the judge, which picture did we take, and which is the fake amplified version? Seeing how mediocre it turned out, the cost is even less justified. Thanks, big-spender Democrat Mayor Phil Gordon. (click on the real photograph to see it close up - it's really that bad)

Compiled list of County Supervisors' wasteful spending, power grabs, and criminal investigations

2009-09-10T15:28:00.043-07:00

"Maricopa County has become the new Chicago when it comes to corruption in politics"

One of our readers has compiled a list of the wasteful pork spending by the Maricopa County Supervisors, their power grabs with other county officials, and the current criminal investigations into them. We are happy to post it on our site and will update it as we receive new info. They must be held accountable and the public has a right to know what their money is being spent on and the way they are treating other county officials and agencies. When it comes time for elections, this list will be available so voters can make an informed decision as to whether they want these Chicago-style politicians reelected or not.

Look who's in bed together!

Supervisors sue County Attorney to block criminal investigations

Supervisors' shadow County Attorney's Office growing larger than County Attorney's litigation department

Thomas: Put Stapley prosecutor on agenda

Supervisors Wilson, Brock and Wilcox vote to hike speed camera fees

Paper misfired in labeling Arpaio

Supervisors considering increasing photo speed camera fees today

County's latest tussle with Thomas could backfire

Maricopa County Manager David Smith is all Blogged up

Maricopa County Going After Bloggers?

AZ County GOP Pols Squash First Amendment Rights

"Big Tent" Plague: AZ GOP Tool David Smith goes after Bloggers

Conflicts of interest vs. free speech

Clueless Arizona GOP heavies demonizing bloggers?

Even the GOP are getting into the stifling of the First Amendment

GOP run amok in Arizona

David Smith and 1st Amendment Violations in Maricopa County

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Attack Free Speech

GOP shows true colors in Maricopa County violation of 1st Amendment rights

Maricopa County Manager takes aim at MCAO, conservative bloggers

David Smith's private twilight zone

Critics say County Manager overstepped bounds with letter

County chief riles Thomas in hunt for news leaks

Supervisors seek Thomas officials' blog history

Time to fire Supervisors' attorney Wade Swanson - County Attorney explains Swanson's erroneous legal opinions

County Attorney responds to embarassing reversed legal opinion from Supervisors

Goldwater Institute releases investigative report on Supervisor Wilcox's corrupt airport deal

High-profile lawyer hired to prosecute Stapley

Another county supervisor with ties to NACo-Gate (Stapley's transfer of political funds)

Millions of Wasted Dollars Hidden by Supervisors' Creation of Special Taxing Districts

Maricopa Sheriff investigating Supervisor Wilcox's airport restaurant financing, minority business status

Cactus Alliance looking for contributors

2009-09-08T17:25:00.002-07:00

Cactus Alliance is grateful for the posts being submitted to us and would like to expand our coverage. If you have anything to contribute, anonymously or otherwise, about other areas of government and politics that are not being covered yet such as City Council, Corporation Commission, candidate races, and ballot initiatives, please email us at cactusallianceATgmail.com.

Supervisors want deputy county attorneys to swear a loyalty oath to unelected DAVID SMITH?

2009-09-08T16:03:00.006-07:00

submitted by a reader

This is unbelievable. The County Supervisors continue to spiral out of control, trying to take over the offices of other county officials in power grabs, and are overspending their budgets by millions of dollars while forcing 15% cuts to law enforcement and other county agencies. Now, they are telling deputy county attorneys - who work for and report to the County Attorney, not the Supervisors - to take a loyalty oath to their unelected county manager, David Smith. Smith is currently under investigation by the Sheriff's Office. The loyalty oaths would require the deputy attorneys to consult with Smith instead of their bosses in the County Attorney's Office regarding legal issues! Even our SOLDIERS serving the country aren't required to take a loyalty oath to the president. This is bizarre because the Supervisors and their manager Smith are not the bosses of these employees, they are in a separate county agency, the County Attorney's Office.

County Attorney Andrew Thomas filed an objection in court, saying, "It was an obvious attempt to continue carving up the civil division and to amass power at the expense of the taxpayers," Thomas said. "And so far, they have gotten away with it."

In another recent power grab, the Supervisors set up their own "shadow county attorney's office," slashing the budget of the County Attorney's civil division by 1/3 and hiring away some of their employees. They hired a 35-year old green attorney to run their shadow county attorney office and are paying him around $175,000/yr - a lot more than even the County Attorney makes. It is obvious that the Supervisors are trying to dismantle the County Attorney's Office and put that office underneath them. But that's not the type of government we have. If the voters want a County Attorney that is appointed by the Supervisors, they can change the system of government. But so far they haven't, and they would prefer to elect the County Attorney, Sheriff, etc.

The question is, who do you want advising the county on civil issues? The County Supervisors (most of them are Republicans but they always side with the Democrats when it comes to spending and social issues like promoting diversity) and their manager David Smith, who have proven time and time again that they are spending out of control, or the County Attorney, who was elected to the position by the people and has a proven record of fiscal responsibility?

Thomas Paine - Now is the Right Time, Join a Tea Party

2009-09-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

SLAM! The sound of the door shutting on Governor Brewer's political career

2009-09-07T09:54:00.007-07:00

submitted by a reader

Or, How the powerful interests failed to bully the legislature into a tax increase

We've been hearing for awhile now that if Republican Governor Brewer didn't get her way - an 18% sales tax increase referendum sent to the ballot by the legislature - then she wouldn't run this next time around in 2010 for governor. Even if she had gotten it rammed through, she would never make it through a Republican primary. Big names like Dean Martin and Vernon Parker have already thrown their names out there, something they never would have done if they didn't have a chance against her. Sources have consistently reported that her campaign consultant, Chuck Coughlin of High Ground, was behind the bizarre GOP insistence on a tax increase, because the money could then be funneled to construction and transportation infrastructure projects to benefit his clients. His clients include AZ Dept. of Transportation, AZ Housing Ass., Maricopa County, and DMB Inc. (frequently in the general construction business for government). Odd, Association of General Contractors is no longer listed on High Ground's site as a client. Wonder if he took it down to hide it because of this post by Sonoran Alliance? Or this one? Coughlin tried to get a sales tax increase on the ballot with Napolitano's backing last year, the TIME initiative, but failed. According to Sonoran Alliance, the sales tax referendum this year was just a sneaky way to get that same sales tax increase for his clients on the ballot.

Coughlin's employee Paul Bentz, of the satire blog Arizona Report, did a lot of the behind the scenes work trolling the blogosphere trying to intimidate bloggers. He commented nonstop on Sonoran Alliance as the fake "Roger," attacking any writers there who criticized the tax increase. He started the website "Fix Arizona" which didn't focus on fixing much of anything except the pockets of High Ground's clients. Even after being outed on Sonoran Alliance, he continued to post under "Roger," claiming to be someone in a different industry in the East Valley - Bentz lives in Goodyear. (this picture of him used to be on the High Ground website up until recently, suddenly it was removed).

Now, Brewer has lost and made a lot of enemies on both the right and the left. A sore loser, she called the Democrats who opposed her tax increase "extremists," and also called some of the most principled Republicans in the legislature "extremists." Stalwart Republican legislators like Pam Gorman, Ron Gould, and Sam Crump held out to the end and refused to vote for the sales tax increase. How is that going to look when they run for political office in the future? "Held out against governor's sales tax referral" vs. "voted for governor's sales tax referral." If you think their position is going to hurt them in future elections, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you. If anything, it will help them sail through future Republican primaries.

Other Republican legislators caved one by one, strong-armed by the AZ Republican Party, which commissioned a push-poll to support Brewer's tax increase. Coughlin got one of his employees hired at the State GOP, Colin Shipley. The GOP refused to release the full results of the poll, because even the ginned-up poll wasn't that supportive. A Rasmussen poll released around the same time found that 65% of Arizona voters opposed the sales tax.

Republican legislators tried to work with Brewer, saying they would vote for her sales tax increase referendum if she would agree to a package of tax cuts and tax credits. Brewer wouldn't commit to any of them, and without some kind of guarantee that they couldn't just be rescinded in the future, which happens in politics about half the time, there was no incentive to take that gamble.

Now, the blogs and newspapers are attacking the few principled legislators who held out against the tax increase referendum. It's no surprise the liberal Republic is attacking them. But other conservative bloggers? Whose pockets are they in? We should be supporting conservative principles. Unless the tax cuts and credits were guaranteed for at least the next three years, it was a foolish gamble for Republicans to vote for the tax increase referendum.

BIGGEST TAXPAYER HEROES of 2009

Why are the Supervisors throwing a political party in the county building for the Mexican consulate?

2009-09-03T11:41:00.005-07:00

This is a bit disturbing. We have heard from insiders that the County Supervisors are throwing a farewell party tonight at 5:30 pm in the lobby of the county administration building for the open-borders Mexican consul general to Phoenix. Carlos Flores Vizcarra is leaving Phoenix this month to become the consulate general in Raleigh, NC. Officials all over the county have been invited to attend the party.

Vizcarra has been an outspoken opponent against enforcing our nation's immigration laws. Why is the county throwing a party for someone who politically opposes the voters of Arizona?

In an attempt to undermine Arizona law Los Angeles lawyer Peter Schey, at the request of Carlos Flores-Vizcarra, Consul General of Mexico, has filed legal motions intended to thwart the prosecution of a "coyote" and 48 illegal immigrant conspirators arrested by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office on March 2, 2006.

Vizcarra has also dismissed the Mexican government's comic book that provides directions for potential illegal immigrants to cross the border into the U.S.

He said the guide appeared to be only the latest attempt by the Mexican government to warn migrants about the dangers of crossing the border without proper documentation. The reality, however, is that many migrants will try to do so anyway, he said. "This is nothing new. It's a way to put it in very simple terms so people will understand the risks," Flores Vizcarra said. "The intention is out of concern for human rights. People are doing it anyway. We cannot ignore that there is a very big migration between our two countries, and people who are coming to work need to understand the risks.

How much is being spent on this party, someone has to pay for the refreshments. Are taxpayers footing the bill? Why does this controversial political opponent get a party, and who gets to decide who gets parties and who doesn't? Us taxpayers pay for the county building, can we decide to have a party for someone like J.D. Hayworth funded by taxpayers in the county building?

Supervisors' attorney Tom Irvine in more trouble

2009-09-03T10:17:00.002-07:00

The Board of Supervisors' overpriced attorney, Tom Irvine, who used to represent the Democrat Party, is now in trouble with another client, the Scottsdale Area Chamber, for allowing campaign finance violations. Following Irvine's advice, the Chamber engaged in express advocacy in favor of the former Democrat Mayor Mary Manross (and others) without registering or filing campaign finance reports. There's a document from Irvine in which he says what the Chamber did was legal. The Tucson City Attorney authored the opinion finding the campaign violations.

Initially, Democrat AG Goddard was investigating, but when it was discovered that he had campaigned for Manross, he was forced to turn the investigation over to the Tucson City Attorney. This wouldn't be the first time Goddard tried to "investigate" a friend in order to get them off the hook. Democrats Goddard has investigated in the past seem to skate. Whereas there is a long list of Republicans Goddard has investigated who have been zealously prosecuted, sometimes to the point of devastating their careers, even when Goddard wasn't able to make any charges stick.

Growing list of Republican victims of Goddard persecution
Sandra Dowling
Doug Martin
David Peterson
David Burnell Smith
Doug Quelland
Kevin Ross
Joel Fox
Constantin Querard
Jeff Dial
Rick Murphy
Colette Rosati


*If you know of more to add, please email us at cactusalliance-at-gmail.com

Liberal Arizona Republic denounces Supervisors' spending on high-priced attorney Irvine

2009-09-02T17:05:00.002-07:00

We were surprised to see the editorial in the Arizona Republic today entitled "Spare the lawyer and the expense" which was highly critical of the Board of Supervisors' excessive payments to high-priced former Democrat Party attorney Tom Irvine. If the liberal Republic finds a problem with government spending, alarm bells should be going off.

Some excerpts -

Paying one of Phoenix's most expensive lawyers to sit through construction-planning meetings for the new county courthouse, however, isn't one of those justified expenses.
The Arizona Republic's Craig Harris reported Monday that supervisors have paid the Polsinelli Shughart law firm at least $267,000 in the past several months to monitor the progress of the county's $340 million court tower on behalf of the county Superior Court.
Even in flush economic times, this would be categorized under "excessive expense."
The meetings in question have little or nothing to do with contractual issues, the usual bailiwick of lawyers.
The Superior Court should find someone more familiar with a hard hat and a tape measure to represent their interests at construction meetings.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio considers run for Governor?

2009-09-02T11:01:00.001-07:00

A m e r i c a n P o s t - G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

Joe Arpaio already has earned a nationwide reputation for being America’s toughest sheriff. In a meeting this past Friday afternoon , the Sheriff discussed the possibility of his running for governor. While it’s too early for an official announcement because of campaign finance laws, Arpaio did suggest the possibility of a run for the highest office in Arizona. The stars are in alignment. He has the funding, support of the conservative base, and the timing is right.

There is no doubt the “toughest sheriff in the world” would bring the same no nonsense, cost effective approach to the governor’s office and budget negotiations. Arpaio would never even consider a tax increase until all the fat was cut from bloated state agencies. He would get every department off their high fat diet, and onto lean, green bologna, just as he has done running his no-fat Sheriff’s department.

The list of wanna be’s for governor increases with the clear scent of Governor Brewer’s political blood in the air. Few genuine contenders exist, and the Sheriff presents a formidable challenge. Stay tuned for updates!

Sheriff investigating County manager

2009-09-01T09:47:00.002-07:00

Thanks to our readers for submitting these articles exposing the financial excesses in county government. Since county government tends to fly under the radar, being not as interesting as statewide politics, we are happy to provide some sunshine into what's going on there.

MCSO investigating Maricopa County Manager David Smith

Arpaio said his office has several criminal and other investigations into parts of county governments, and he did say Smith and his office were part of that.
...
The MCSO is investigating airport restaurant leases held by businesses owned by Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and helped secure 2008 indictments against Supervisor Don Stapley over disclosure of real estate development and business deals.
...
Maricopa County PIO De Uriate said the county is resisting Arpaio’s request citing costs, opting to fight it in court. He also notes Arpaio’s attorneys have said there was an investigation of Maricopa County Superior Court Presiding Judge Barbara Mundell.
...
The MCSO is fighting with the Board of Supervisors and Smith over the Sheriff’s office raid Aug. 12 and takeover of a $25 million criminal justice computer system shared by county legal and law enforcement agencies. The MCSO said county officials were trying to make changes to the system without approval by partner agencies and they cited worries about system security.

Read the rest of the article

Legislature investigating Supervisors' spending at law enforcement unions request

2009-09-01T09:44:00.003-07:00

Finally! The legislature is going to investigate the Board of Supervisors' out-of-control spending, thanks to law enforcement unions requesting it.

The Senate Appropriations Committee chairman wants to hold a public hearing to determine if Maricopa County officials are properly appropriating money.
"We have a fiduciary responsibility to step in," said Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, noting that state government disburses money to the state's 15 counties.
Pearce's concerns were prompted by two groups of public-safety officers - the MaricopaCounty Association of Detention Officers and the Deputies Law Enforcement Association - who allege that the county is misusing $196 million in surplus funds while simultaneously making service cuts to cover a $76 million revenue shortfall.

Read the rest of the article

Judicial Watchs Calls on Goddard to File Lawsuit to Stop Phoenix Police Chief Harris from Receiving Illegal Pension Benefits

2009-08-31T16:41:00.003-07:00

Doubt Goddard will do anything, he only goes after Republicans.

WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwire) -- 08/31/09 -- Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it sent a letter on August 27, 2009 requesting that Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard file a lawsuit against the Phoenix Police Pension Board, its five members, and City of Phoenix Chief of Police Jack F. Harris to enjoin the illegal payment of pension benefits to Chief Harris. Judicial Watch informed Attorney General Goddard that if he fails to act on this request Judicial Watch will file a lawsuit on behalf of Arizona taxpayers and former and current City of Phoenix police officers to seek justice in the matter.

As Judicial Watch notes in its letter, Chief Harris retired from the City of Phoenix Police Department "on or about January 19, 2007," but was subsequently rehired as "Public Safety Manager." However, Chief Harris continued to maintain his former title and position as Chief of Police. In fact, Chief Harris is listed as "Public Safety Manager/Police Chief Jack Harris" on an organizational chart maintained by the Phoenix Police Department.

According to Arizona law, if a retired member of the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System "subsequently becomes employed in the same position by the employer from which the member retired, the system shall not make pension payments to the retired member during the period of reemployment." As Chief Harris continues to take pension payments contrary to law, Judicial Watch is asking the Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard to intervene.

Judicial Watch believes that "there is clear legal authority to seek to enjoin the payment of pension benefits to Chief Harris."

"We expect public officials to follow the rules and we expect the Arizona Attorney General to enforce the law," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "The illegal payment of pension funds to Chief Harris is a waste of taxpayer funds and Attorney General Goddard should put a stop to it. Judicial Watch stands ready to act if the Attorney General fails to remedy the situation."

Visit www.JudicialWatch.org to read Judicial Watch's letter to Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.

Contact:
Judicial Watch
202-646-5188

New AZ poll: Only 18% would vote for Gov. Brewer, and only 23% of Republicans

2009-08-31T16:24:00.002-07:00

We've heard that Governor Brewer is unsure about whether she is going to run for governor for another term, and so this poll will probably dissuade her.

Contact: Jason Rose

Rose & Allyn Public Relations

Work: 480.423.1414

Mobile: 602.791.4488

jrose@roseandallynpr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARDON Poll Likely To Shake up Arizona Political Landscape For 2010 Races, Issues

Statewide Findings Show Pitfalls, Opportunities for Both Parties & Major Candidates

Brewer Re-Election Numbers Low

MESA, ARIZONA. AUGUST 31, 2009. Wow. That may be the conclusion of many after reviewing the findings of a statewide poll commissioned by Wil Cardon, CEO of The Cardon Group, one of Arizona’s most well-known and respected real estate companies.

The well-known businessman and philanthropist has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Governor, State Treasurer and Arizona Republican Party Chairman.

The poll of 602 high-efficacy Arizona voters was fielded August 20^th-25^th by the Phoenix-based Summit Group. It sampled Republicans voting in the last two primary elections, Democrats doing the same and Independents who cast votes in the past two General Elections. Forty percent of those polled were Republicans, 33 percent Democrat and the rest were Independents or unaffiliated voters. The poll has a margin of error of 4.5 percent.

For a copy of the entire poll, please contact Julia Diament at jdiament@roseandallynpr.com, or 602-796-8211.

“Arizona reminds me of a listless ship at sea,” Cardon said. “I thought our state needed new ideas and a new direction. This poll confirms it. The current people and policies are not working. I hope these results can add to the political discussions, and shake it up a little bit.”

Among the poll’s key findings:

*Governor Brewer’s prospects for re-election have dimmed. Only 18% of likely voters would vote for her if the election were held today whereas 46% would vote for someone else. Thirty-six percent were undecided. Among Republicans 23% say they would vote for her re-election while 37% would not.

*However, her proposed one cent sales tax increase is still favored by a 49%-43% margin, with surprising resiliency among voters age 65 and older. Republicans slightly disapprove of the plan, Independents slightly approve whereas as Democrats support it by a 21% margin.

*Sentiment about the direction of Arizona has plummeted, an opinion surely driving down Governor Brewer’s standing. Only 18% agree that the state is headed in the right direction whereas 57% think Arizona is now on the wrong track.

*Approval for the State Legislature’s performance is similarly low with only 20% saying it is doing a good job and 61% disagreeing.

*The disregard for those currently in state government could be a drag not only on Governor Brewer and legislators but also others considering a run for higher office like incumbent State Treasurer Dean Martin and Attorney General Terry Goddard. When asked what type of candidates preferred likely voters signaled those who “run businesses” versus those who “served in state government” by a 70%-30% margin.

*By wide margins the top issues voters would like Arizona leaders to address are K-12 education funding followed by illegal immigration and the state budget deficit. University funding, the environment and transportation were the least of voter’s concerns.

*The feisty mood of voters carried over to possible ballot measures on Arizona’s 2010 ballot with none registering more than 57% support. Successful ballot campaigns typically require at least a 60% level of initial support.

*Most expect Republicans to gain congressional seats across the country in 2010 but here in Arizona the preference for Republicans has not yet gained steam with the GOP preferred by only five percentage points on a congressional ballot test. That’s the same percentage difference between the parties sampled in the poll.

The poll had a margin of error of +/-4% with a 95% confidence rate. Sixty percent of the respondents were fromMaricopa County, 15 percent from Pima County and 25 percent from outside of the Phoenix and Tucson areas. To interview Mr. Cardon or for additional questions, please contact Jason Rose.

ABOUT WIL CARDON

The Cardon Group was started in the 1930’s by Wilford Pratt “Pat” Cardon as a petroleum jobber with full service gasoline stations. In the 1970’s, the company branched out to real estate investment and development and built several million square feet of office, industrial, residential and hotel product. Over the years, the company became a diversified holding company with investments in real estate, wholesale and retail petroleum, lodging, ranching, manufacturing, lending, and other sectors.

In the early 1990’s, the company turned its focus to undeveloped land in the path of growth of major metropolitan areas. Cardon’s strategy included improving the land through entitlements and selling it to residential and commercial developers.

Today, the Cardon Group is led by a third generation Cardon, Wilford R. “Wil” Cardon. The group currently manages and is involved in projects ranging from corner commercial lots to 20,000-acre master planned communities. Since 1999, Cardon together with its partners has invested in over 100 properties consisting of over 100,000 acres with a value in the billions of dollars.

The group retains a firm commitment to the local community and has expanded its investments with partners around the globe. Along with its investments throughout the United States, Cardon has investments in Brazil, Costa Rica andPanama.

With the goal of responsible growth in mind, The Cardon Group operates using its experience, integrity and relationships to bring quality to the projects under its stewardship.

The Cardon Family recently contributed $10 million to Banner Health, for which it is naming its new children’s hospital Cardon Children’s Medical Center. It opens Nov 2, 2009.

Phoenix Magazine interviews Clint Bolick about his attacks on Sheriff Arpaio

2009-08-28T09:39:00.002-07:00

It's a bit of a stretch to try and claim that both Clint Bolick/Goldwater Institute and Sheriff Arpaio are both of the same right wing vein, as Jana Bommersbach does in this interview with Bolick for Phoenix Magazine. Bolick and the Goldwater Institute are libertarian. Sheriff Arpaio is a law and order conservative. So it's not much of a surprise that open borders Bolick is critical of Arpaio's tough on crime stance. Arpaio has done a lot of good for this community and polls highly locally (as well as nationally). If Bolick doesn't like it, he can vote him out, but we doubt that will happen because Arizonans like Arpaio's aggressive approach to enforcing the law. After all, for every crime a criminal gets caught for, there are around 10 more he never gets caught for.

Supervisors successfully control court decisions they're involved in by giving court its $340 million new tower

2009-08-28T08:37:00.004-07:00

You have to give them credit for savviness. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has bought off the judges by giving them a state-of-the-art new $340 million court tower in the midst of a recession, while other county agencies including law enforcement are forced by the Supervisors to cut their budgets by 15%. Judges will receive penthouse offices in this Taj Mahal. This deal has made the Supervisors virtually untouchable in the courts - lawsuits against them by other county officials, including criminal prosecutions, go nowhere. When Supervisor Don Stapley was indicted by the County Attorney's office on 118 counts of financial fraud, Presiding Judge Barbara Mundell called a judge out of retirement who despises the County Attorney's Office to handle the prosecution! That judge, Kenneth Fields, a Democrat predictably dismissed 51 of the 118 counts earlier this week.

And just yesterday, another judge Mundell pulled out of retirement for favors, Donald Daughton, a Democrat of course, upheld the Supervisors' power grab to fire the County Attorney from representing them in civil cases and hire their own group of civil attorneys.

What is also working to the Supervisors' advantage is years of judicial appointments by liberal Democrat governor Janet Napolitano. The judiciary is now dominated by left-leaning judges who despise the likes of conservative county officials like Arpaio, Thomas, and Hoskins (we'd mention the county superintendent and assessor but they were already chased out of office by the Supervisors and have since been replaced). Wonder if Sheriff Arpaio regrets endorsing Janet Napolitano for governor back in 2002? His endorsement no doubt put her over the top. Now her liberal judges rule against him time and time again.

Our tax dollars are paying for this court tower and these judges to defend the Supervisors. Every day there is another story in the newspaper about the Supervisors' scandals. They are at war with almost every other elected county official. Notably, the other county officials aren't at war with each other, only the Supervisors. It is clear who is causing the problems and it needs to stop. Fortunately, we have heard that there will be some real challengers running against these crooks next election.

AZ Bar Association awards go to LEFTISTS

2009-08-27T13:37:00.015-07:00

Another reason why the AZ Bar Association, which all attorneys are required to be a member of in order to practice law in Arizona, needs to be reformed. Not only is the Bar run by the far left and criminal defense attorneys (which tend to be synonymous), but members' dues go for left wing political causes and as you can see here, to promote and recognize left wing activists. Virtually all of the Bar's annual awards go to left wing Democrats, and many of the awards are for politically correct causes. Arizona is a right to work state. It is absurd that attorneys are required to pay dues to this left wing union which so brazenly uses its members' dues to promote the left wing agenda.

Member of the Year Award - Daniel McAuliffe
A classic case of the Bar giving its own leadership awards. McAuliffe is a former Bar president and left wing Democrat who oversaw the ginning up of 13 complaints against County Attorney Andrew Thomas, which were all eventually dismissed as groundless. McAuliffe attacked Thomas viciously numerous times in the press, during the investigations, arguably violating numerous ethics rules.

James A. Walsh Outstanding Jurist Award - Hon. Ruth McGregor
McGregor is a former Democrat Chief Justice of the AZ Supreme Court.

Sharon A. Fullmer Legal Aid Attorney of the Year Award - Rachel Wilson
The title of the award says it all - Legal Aid is a radical leftist group that receives funding from the AZ State Bar to provide free legal representation for criminals and politically correct causes. Ms. Wilson's website reveals that she is one of the most far left attorneys out there - a public defender championing immigration representation.

Tom Karas Criminal Justice Award - Bruce S. Griffen
The criminal defense attorneys who control the bar set up their own award for themselves. Griffen is a left wing criminal defense attorney in Flagstaff.

Michael C. Cudahy Criminal Justice Award - Barbara La Wall
In a pretense not to look biased, this award goes to a prosecutor. But not to a prosecutor who is really tough on crime or a Republican. This one goes to Pima County Attorney Barbara La Wall, a Democrat feminist with a reputation for being soft on crime.

Judicial Award of Excellence - Hon. Wendy S. Morton
Although this Scottsdale City Court judge is registered as an Independent, you can bet she is liberal, due to her history of prosecuting sex crimes and serving on the board of the AZ Bar's left wing AZ Foundation for Legal Services & Education, an arm of the Bar that exists to dole out members' dues to left wing organizations.

Award of Special Merit - John W. Rogers
This guy just won the Bar's President's Award last year, which is awarded to someone the State Bar president picks. Last year the Bar president was left wing criminal defense attorney Ed Novak. Obviously this Rogers guy is really greased in with the bar and criminal defense attorneys who control it in order to get yet another award a year later. He works for Perkins Coie in litigation, nothing that jumps out as awardworthy. He's most likely a Democrat but we're unable to confirm.

Outstanding Young Lawyer Award - Victoria Tandy
She's not that outstanding of a lawyer if she doesn't bother to vote. She's not registered to vote. It's obvious why she got the award, she was a translator for the left wing Arizona Justice Project, which opposes the death penalty. She used to work for the large left wing firm Quarles Brady and is a member of the International Law group of the Bar, which is generally a left wing group.

Distinguished Public Lawyer Award - Chris Straub
Probably a Republican, but known for following the dictates of his liberal feminist boss Barbara LaWall.

Career Achievement Award - Public Lawyer - Nancy E. Logan
Not content to just have one award for government lawyers at the public trough, the Bar has a second redundant award. It would be one thing if this award went to a prosecutor, which is a necessary function of government. But no, of course these awards are reserved for civil government attorneys, who are usually Democrats. Logan is a Democrat who is now practicing disability law.

President's Award - Jessica Funkhouser
Known for her work for Democrats and turncoat Republican politicians, it is no surprise that she is a buddy of the last Bar president.

President's Award - Patrick J. McGroder III
His bio says he works at Gallagher & Kennedy, one of the largest left wing law firms in AZ. His activities include politically correct causes like domestic violence activism.

President's Award - Pamela A. Treadwell-Rubin
Another Democrat and past bar president. And another example of the Bar giving its own staff awards.

Hon. John R. Sticht Excellence in Disabilities Accessibility Award - Mesch, Clark & Rothschild

Hon. John R. Sticht Excellence in Disabilities Accessibility Award - Quarles & Brady
One of the most left-leaning, powerful, large law firms in the state

Award of Appreciation (non-lawyer) - Bennie R. Click
Former AZ Bar board member. Yet another example of the Bar giving awards to its own staff.

Hal Israel Community Service Award - Linda Dayish Benally
This Democrat obviously got the award because of her activism promoting diversity. She is on the Bar's Diversity Task Force.

Continuing Legal Education Award - Robert B. Van Wyck
Another case of the Bar giving its own staff awards. Van Wyck, a Democrat, is the Bar's past Chief Counsel, known for his witchhunt against County Attorney Andrew Thomas last year over 13 complaints that were all eventually dismissed.

Committee on Minorities and Women in the Law Award - Shelli Soto
This left wing award given to this Democrat needs no explanation. Where is the equivalent award on the right, like the Committee on Individual Rights Award?

Rep. Crump's angry letter to RNC Chair Michael Steele about Pullen & his support for a tax increase

2009-08-27T09:58:00.001-07:00

From: Sam Crump
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 9:12 AM
To: 'Chairman@gop.com'
Subject: Msg from Arizona State Rep. Sam Crump regarding Randy Pullen.

Good morning-

This is a message from Arizona State Rep. Sam Crump to Republican National Chairman Michael Steele.

Chairman Steele, you and I met a couple years ago here in Arizona. I am writing to you because I want you to be aware of recent unacceptable conduct by Arizona Republican Chairman and National Republican Treasurer Randy Pullen.

At last Monday's meeting of my District's Republican Committee, Mr. Pullen showed up and gave a speech which completely maligned me and my State Senator, Pamela Gorman. Apparently, Mr. Pullen did not like our opposition votes on the recent State budget. Regardless of his personal views, I find it outrageous that a State Chairman (and a National Treasurer) would appear in a legislator's own district and berate them in front of their own precinct committeemen.

I also want you to know that I was not previously an enemy of Mr. Pullen. In fact, I endorsed him and voted for him in his contentious race for State Chairman. But I will not remain silent in light of Mr. Pullen's recent attacks. I believe his conduct is outside his proper role as State Chairman and brings discredit upon the office and the party.

If you would like to see a blog account of what happened, please visithttp://www.seeingredaz.com/ which has an accurate report of what happened.

I welcome your response.

Sincerely,

Representative Sam Crump

District 6

AZ House of Representatives

------------------

Cactus Alliance

Quayle's Silver Lining Around IRC Cloud

State GOP Chair Tom Morrissey endorses Pearce for 1st Vice-Chair

SB 1070 rally at the State Capitol Monday

Need a show of support for SB 1070

Sen. Gallardo will be holding a press conference to announce his bill to repeal SB 1070

﻿﻿

SHOWTIME: TOM HORNE GIVES AID AND COMFORT TO THE ENEMY

Explosive new evidence AZ judge ruling is illegal

Anthony Martin

Anthony Martin

Anthony Martin

Barry Young is not our friend

Boycott beginning of Barry Young Show advertisers

No longer a good fit for a conservative talk radio station

﻿﻿

Stapley will use tax increase as litmus test to appoint legislators

Who is Chris Salvino for Congress in CD-5?

JD or not JD? – That is the question

The sheriff vs the feds and illegals

Politicians worse than payday lenders

Criminal Complaint Filed against Presiding Criminal Judge

Stapley, Wilcox Indicted

Sheriff Arpaio: JUDGE’S RECORD SHOWS BIAS IN JAILING OF SHERIFF’S DETENTION OFFICER

Why is AZ Republic reporter Yvonne Wingett covering criminal issues when she has 5 Failures to Appear?

Silly Arizona Republic editorial glosses over criminal issues in racketeering complaint

Racketeering complaint against Supervisors, Superior Court, and their unethically shared attorney

Another classic example of yellow journalism, full of lies by Yvonne Wingett

County Manager David Smith tries to silence conservative blogs by filing bar complaints

Look who's in bed together!

Shadow county attorneys office larger than we thought

State Bar of AZ adds 5 new diversity committees - already has 8

Supervisors' Shadow County Attorney's Office growing larger than County Attorney's litigation dept.

Why is Senate president Bob Burns writing "Conservative calls for sales-tax hike?"

Supervisors Wilson, Brock and Wilcox vote to hike photo speed camera ticket fees

Paper misfired in labeling Arpaio

MCAO Responds to County Manager Smith's Bizarre Request

Time to fire Supervisors' attorney Wade Swanson - County Attorney explains Swanson's erroneous legal opinion

Tom Horne's new video for Attorney General

County Supervisors' new Shadow County Attorney issues reversed legal advice - can anyone say bar complaint?

SEN. JOHN McCAIN'S TOWN HALL MEETINGS - FRI 10/30 - 2:00PM & SAT 10/31 10:00AM

Maricopa County throws fancy environmentalist conference featuring radical environmentalists and swag bags - even though county is broke!

Goldwater Institute releases investigative report on Supervisor Wilcox's corrupt airport deal

Mayor Vernon Parker - Obama Failures Not Enough for AZ GOP

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman to Chair Vernon Parker Exploratory Committee for Governor

AZ Republic interview with gubernatorial candidate Vernon Parker

Another county supervisor with ties to NACo-Gate (Stapley's transfer of political funds)

Arizonans in Action: MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISORS ARE MAGICIANS

Inappropriate criticism of gubernatorial candidate Vernon Parker smacks of racism

Obama Hero Worship Not in Arizona Schools

What's wrong with beautiful Mormon temples in your neighborhood?

Breaking news - Supervisor Don Stapley arrested again

Who is looking into the paid ACORN protesters outside Sheriff Arpaio's office?

Vernon Parker, Paradise Valley mayor and possible gubernatorial candidate, sues feds to clear his name

Supervisors bragging about Court Tower construction beginning

Tom Horne Launches Exploratory Committee Website

UA Alumni magazine full of leftist propaganda

We paid $2.5 million for this art, as employees were laid off?

Compiled list of County Supervisors' wasteful spending, power grabs, and criminal investigations

Cactus Alliance looking for contributors

Supervisors want deputy county attorneys to swear a loyalty oath to unelected DAVID SMITH?

Thomas Paine - Now is the Right Time, Join a Tea Party

SLAM! The sound of the door shutting on Governor Brewer's political career

Why are the Supervisors throwing a political party in the county building for the Mexican consulate?

Supervisors' attorney Tom Irvine in more trouble

Liberal Arizona Republic denounces Supervisors' spending on high-priced attorney Irvine

Sheriff Joe Arpaio considers run for Governor?

Sheriff investigating County manager

MCSO investigating Maricopa County Manager David Smith

Legislature investigating Supervisors' spending at law enforcement unions request

Judicial Watchs Calls on Goddard to File Lawsuit to Stop Phoenix Police Chief Harris from Receiving Illegal Pension Benefits

New AZ poll: Only 18% would vote for Gov. Brewer, and only 23% of Republicans

Phoenix Magazine interviews Clint Bolick about his attacks on Sheriff Arpaio

Supervisors successfully control court decisions they're involved in by giving court its $340 million new tower

AZ Bar Association awards go to LEFTISTS

Rep. Crump's angry letter to RNC Chair Michael Steele about Pullen & his support for a tax increase