Politics

Phoenix Voters Re-Elect Incumbent Thelda Williams, Select Newcomer Daniel Valenzuela

Phoenix Councilwoman Thelda Williams handily wins in District 1.​While they were electing Greg Stanton as their next mayor, Phoenix voters also returned Councilwoman Thelda Williams to her seat in District 1, and chose Daniel Valenzuela over Brenda Sperduti to represent them District 5. Like Phoen ... More >>

Phoenix Election Officials Will Unveil The City's Next Mayor Tonight

​ Many Phoenix voters have already cast a ballot. Some, perhaps even twice. For those of you who haven't, today is the day. Don't forget that Phoenix is now using voting centers, which have replaced the traditional polling places. The Maricopa County Elections Department, which is running ... More >>

Mayor Greg Stanton? Early Results Show Stanton Leads Over Wes Gullett

Greg Stanton wins mayor's race in Phoenix, early results show​More than 74,000 Phoenix voters cast their ballot for Greg Stanton for mayor, giving him about 56 percent of the vote, according to early results.About 132,000 people cast votes, and of those, nearly 58,000 picked Gullett.While it ... More >>

Greg Stanton Wins Keys to Phoenix Mayor's Office, Enjoys Double-Digit Lead Over Wes Gullett

Phoenix mayor-elect Greg Stanton​Phoenix mayoral candidate Wes Gullett conceded the Phoenix mayor's race to Greg Stanton, who ended the night with 56 percent of the vote -- a 13-point lead over his opponent.Stanton, caught up in a frenzy of hugs, handshakes and media interviews, missed the c ... More >>

Prediction: State Senator Russell Pearce Will Be Kissing His Political Career Goodbye on November 8

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman's Still Boycotting Arizona. Yay or Nay?

Coed MagazineJoe Arpaio is NOT one of them.​Michael Coleman, the mayor of Columbus, Ohio, is still boycotting Arizona because of SB 1070, Arizona's controversial immigration law -- according to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, that is (we've got a call into to Coleman's office to verify -- stay ... More >>

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Removes Redistricting Chair, Calls Special Session

Our near-illiterate governor, Chuck Coughlin's water-bearer, with her right paw on the state constitution Governor Jan Brewer, no doubt under direct orders from her puppetmaster consultant Chuck Coughlin, has removed Colleen Mathis as chair of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, ... More >>

Poll: Barack Obama Leads All Republican Presidential Candidates in Arizona

www.punditkitchen.com​If next year's presidential election were held today, President Barack Obama would carry Republican-leaning Arizona, according to a recent poll.According to a Rocky Mountain poll released yesterday, Obama leads all possible Republican candidates in Arizona by at least a five- ... More >>

Phoenix Mayoral Candidate Wes Gullett's Story Is More Complicated Than It Looks

Occupy Phoenix Folks, Tea Partiers Earn Phoenix "Angriest Cities" (Gulp) Honors

James King​Regardless of political affiliation, people across the country are pissed off about one thing or another, but there's only a few cities that -- as a whole -- are more pissed off than Phoenix, according to a recent ranking of pissed off cities.The Daily Beast website recently ranked Phoe ... More >>

Herman Cain Coming to Phoenix to Pucker Up For Joe Arpaio

www.sodahead.comGodfather's Pizza CEO/Gop presidential candidate Herman Cain.​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio met with leaders from the Methodist Border Mission Network at his Phoenix office this afternoon to discuss -- amongst other things -- some issues the group has with the sheriff's polici ... More >>

"Dream Act" Signed by California Governor Jerry Brown. KPHO Suggests the "Dream" Could Be Coming to Arizona. Ha!

​The "Dream" came true for illegal immigrants in California over the weekend -- Governor Jerry Brown signed a version of the controversial Dream Act into California law Saturday. Now, local TV news station KPHO is suggesting the "Dream" may be coming to Arizona (insert Wayne Campbell's "Shyeah...a ... More >>

Rick Perry's Texas Is a Fantasy Land

A Court Hearing Reveals Olivia Cortes as a Bumbling Idiot

Russell Pearce's Pal Constantin Querard's New Signs and Web Site

Butter wouldn't melt in Constantin Querard's mouth. Querard's one of the sleazy backers of state Senate President Russell Pearce, and as you all now know, he's suspected of being the "brains" behind the sham candidacy of recall queen-for-a-day Olivia Cortes. He also has a history in Arizona pol ... More >>

Mayor Gordon May Be Remembered Most for Compromising His Ethics for the Woman He Loved

Phoenix Efficiency Committee Saves Taxpayers Another $5 Million, Continues Searching for Spending Cuts

​There's been much squawking in Phoenix about the need to outsource, to privatize and to slash government costs -- and it was a pledge that many of the six mayoral candidates made as they ran in the first leg of the Phoenix election.Now that the field of candidates in the mayor's race has been nar ... More >>

Joe Arpaio to Barack Obama: Look at Me, Look at Me!

​President Barack Obama today told a representative of a national Latino group that Arizona's is not the model the rest of the country should mirror when it comes to handling illegal immigration.Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio responded by issuing a press release saying that not only are his me ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Olivia Cortes Fiasco: Complaint Shot Down by SOS, Lawsuit Will Be Filed Soon

Olivia Cortes: You've got to wonder if she expected this level of scrutiny The complaint filed by Democratic precinct committeeman and former candidate for state Senate in Legislative District 18 Robert McDonald in the ever-widening Russell Pearce/Olivia Cortes scandal has just been shot down by the ... More >>

Scott Bundgaard Files Ethics Complaint Against Ethics Committee Members

Jeez, hurry up and resign already...State Senator Scott Bundgaard, facing an ethics complaint and possible expulsion from the Senate for his roadside fracas with his now former girlfriend and his invocation of legislative immunity,  has filed an ethics complaint against three members of the sta ... More >>

Tom Horne's Redistricting Investigation Blasted by ex-AG Terry Goddard

I missed ex-Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard's recent appearance on Horizon, wherein he criticized current AG Tom Horne's investigation of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, particularly Horne's grandstanding statements to the media about the probe. Oddly, I caught it as I ... More >>

Greg Stanton, Phoenix Mayoral Candidate, Gets Support of Former Mayor Skip Rimsza

commercialappeal.com​In the battle of endorsements by former mayors of future mayor-wannabe's, it looks like it's Greg Stanton 2, Wes Gullett 1-ish.It would be 2 if you include someone who only served as mayor for 10 days. Gullett has been endorsed by former Phoenix mayors Paul Johnson and John Ne ... More >>

Watch MyFoxPhoenix Inflate Joe Arpaio's Already Soaring Ego *VIDEO*

​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, as of late, has been not-so-subtly bragging that GOP presidential candidates are (allegedly) calling on him for campaign advice.According to the sheriff, Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is widely considered the front-runner in the race to become the GOP presiden ... More >>

Wes Gullett, Phoenix Mayoral Candidate, Pledges to Leave His Lobbying Firm If He's Elected Mayor

Phoenix mayoral candidate Wes Gullett​Phoenix lobbyist Wes Gullett is pledging to walk away from his lobbying firm if he is elected mayor of Phoenix."I will divest my entire interest from my company," he says in a statement released this morning.Gullett's spokesman says that Gullett's partners at ... More >>

Complaining to Congressman Ben Quayle Could Cost You Up to $50

New TimesCongressman Ben Quayle​Congressman Ben Quayle took a beating from constituents during a town hall meeting in Anthem back in May. Now, the congressman is catching even more heat, this time for not having any town hall meetings at all -- that constituents don't have to pay to attend, anyway ... More >>

Phoenix Council Members Plan To Terminate CityNorth's $100 Million Tax Rebate Deal

Council members hosting a 2 p.m. press conference at City Hall to announce undoing of CityNorth's nearly $100 million tax-break deal​Vice Mayor Thelda Williams and Phoenix City Councilmen Bryan Jeffries and Michael Nowakowski  plan to undo a deal that gave a nearly $100 million tax brea ... More >>

Federal Judge Changes Mind, Let's AG Tom Horne File Long Response in Marijuana Lawsuit

Tom Horne, Arizona Attorney General​ U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton let Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne file his extra-long response in Governor Jan Brewer's federal marijuana lawsuit after all.So much for Horne's quip that the response, made to refute the defendants' motion to dism ... More >>

Tom Horne Denied Extra-Long Court Filing in Federal Medical Marijuana Lawsuit

Tom Horne, Arizona Attorney General, says if Arizona US Attorney Dennis Burke wants to give comfort to state workers adminstering the medical marijuana program, he should put it in writing.​ Give me the short version, a federal judge told Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne today in a ruling on ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, July 28, 2011

Phoenix Mayoral Candidates and Their Coveted Endorsements from City Council Members

​Several Phoenix City Council members have picked sides in the August 30 mayor's race.Councilman Tom Simplot stands with Phoenix mayoral candidate and lobbyist Wes Gullett, Councilmen Michael Johnson and Sal DiCiccio are on team Peggy Neely, a former councilwoman running for mayor, and Councilman ... More >>

Tea Party Calls for Redistricting Chair's Head: Republican and Democratic Commissioners Support Her

Republican AZIRC commissioner Scott Freeman supports Mathis, though the Tea Party wants her removedDespite calls from Tea Party activists and some Republicans for the resignation of Colleen Mathis, chairwoman of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, both Republican commissioner Scott Fre ... More >>

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to Allow Marijuana Dispensaries as Governor Jan Brewer Keeps Thwarting Voters

Image: Office of NJ Governor Chris ChristieNew Jersey Governor Chris Christie says he'll allow medical marijuana dispensaries without federal approval. Meanwhile, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer keeps thwarting her state's voters.​New Jersey Governor Chris Christie isn't scare of the feds anymore when ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Desert Divas Connection and Chuck Coughlin's Threats

Give and give generously, lobbyists, or feel the wrath of KhanI have to give a nod to the Arizona Republic's Mary Jo Pitzl for nabbing a little item I'd been sitting on regarding a fundraising e-mail to fellow lobbyists sent from Mike Williams of the Phoenix firm Williams & Associates. This, on ... More >>

Russell Pearce Files Lame Court Challenge to Recall Petitions

Squawk all you want, bully-boy, your days in office are numbered...right up till November 8State Senator Russell Pearce's lawyer Lisa Hauser filed one of the lamest legal challenges in this history of civil actions today. This, to the so-far successful recall effort against Pearce, which has resulte ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Is Under Attack in Arizona Again -- But This Time, Voters and Patients Hold the High Ground

Governor Jan Brewer Issues Order for November 8 Russell Pearce Recall Election

I like Sinema, but she flubbed a couple of facts on OlbermannThough it's mostly a formality, Governor Jan Brewer today officially called a November 8 recall election for state Senate President Russell Pearce.In a terse memo issued on her website, she stated:"Today, in accordance with state law, I is ... More >>

Russell Pearce Denied: AG's Office Says No Corporate Contributions for Pearce's Anti-Recall Committee

Gage SkidmoreNo corporate money for you, boo-boo​More bad news for state Senate President Russell Pearce.One day before the historic announcement by the Arizona Secretary of State's Office that the Pearce recall will go before the voters of Legislative District 18, Arizona's Solicitor General Davi ... More >>

Governor Jan Brewer Says Feds' New Letter on Medical Pot Proves She Took "Proper Course of Action" in Derailing Dispensary Program

Governor Jan Brewer​Governor Jan Brewer believes that a "clarification" by the feds on medical-marijuana programs proves she took the "proper course of action" in halting the voter-approved dispensary program.Brewer and state Attorney General Tom Horne filed a declaratory judgment in federal ... More >>

Phoenix DREAM Activist Recognized on Capitol Hill

Angelica Hernandez being recognized by U.S. Senator from Illinois Dick DurbinOn Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held its first DREAM Act hearing since the legislation was first proposed a decade ago. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat, announced the hearing last week. Durbin ... More >>

Immigration Reform Introduced in Congress, Locals Say It's a Political Ploy For Obama

U.S. Senator from New Jersey Bob Menendez, who introduced immigration legislation in Congress today The United States Senate is at it again with immigration reform legislation, but Republicans are still unwilling to join the effort.Today, Senator Robert Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, introduc ... More >>

Jan Brewer's Special Session Adjourns Leaving 45,000 Arizonans in the Lurch

Brewer's "special session" was a major dudThe state Legislature recessed indefinitely today from its special session without making a minor change in state law that would allow some 45,000 jobless Arizonans to continue receiving unemployment checks.Around 15,000 out-of-work Sand Landers will receive ... More >>

Phoenix Mayoral Candidates Toss Political Barbs During Downtown Phoenix Forum

centralphoenixinn.comPhoenix mayoral candiates met at the Lexington Hotel for a lively exchange​Quite a lively exchange at the Downtown Voices Coalition's mayoral forum at the Lexington Hotel. At most forums, candidates cleave to the their talking points and engage in political niceties, but resid ... More >>

Russell Pearce Begs for Corporate Funds, Uses Office on Behalf of Anti-Recall Effort

Pearce, seeking corporate dough to save his hideState Senate President Russell Pearce and the Republican-controlled Legislature couldn't be bothered today to change one word in state law to extend unemployment benefits to 15,000 out-of-work Arizonans, but Pearce has had time to compose a lengthy, fi ... More >>

Jan Brewer's Special Session, and the GOP's Hypocrisy

Senate President Pearce: A life spent sucking on the public spigot...Extending unemployment benefits to around 15,000 Arizonans still looking for work should be a no-brainer, assuming the wingnuts at the state Capitol had a pound of gray matter among 'em.It's federal money that's pumped into the sta ... More >>

El Mirage Officials Hire Political Pals: UPDATED With Links

When El Mirage's current elected officials campaigned for office, they promised residents change and transparency -- a politically popular word these days.In some ways, El Mirage Mayor Lana Mook and her cohorts on the City Council have delivered -- they increased the water and sewer rates by about 1 ... More >>

El Mirage Officials Hire Political Pals; Refuse to Answer Questions

​When El Mirage's current slate of elected officials campaigned for office, they promised residents change and transparency -- a politically popular word these days. In some ways, El Mirage Mayor Lana Mook and her cohorts on the City Council have delivered -- they increased the water and sewer rat ... More >>

Tom Horne, Arizona Attorney General, Worked With Anti-Prop-203 Leader Carolyn Short on Federal Lawsuit Idea

Image: Carolyn Short's Facebook siteCarolyn Short, leader of the "No on 203" movement, admits she's actively trying to defeat the voter-approved medical marijuana law. Tom Horne and Jan Brewer appear to be taking her cues.​ Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne discussed a plan to launc ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Pal Thayer Verschoor to Take Over for Brett Mecum as AZ GOP's Executive Director, Sources Say

Thayer Verschoor​With the ouster of now-former Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party Brett Mecum, Thayer Verschoor, a veteran of the Arizona Legislature and short-lived communications director for the AZ GOP, is getting a promotion.Sources tell New Times Verschoor has been slated to t ... More >>

ACLU to Defend Medical Marijuana Law Against Legal Attack by Governor Jan Brewer

Governor Jan Brewer followed through today on her threat to attack the voter-approved medical marijuana law.​ Governor Jan Brewer followed through today on her threat to attack Arizona's voter-approved medical marijuana law, but advocates of democracy are fighting back. Numerous defendan ... More >>

Governor Brewer Can't Stop Medical Marijuana Under State Law; Qualified Patients Can Legally Possess Drug Without State Approval

Governor Jan Brewer hopes to derail Arizona's voter-approved medical marijuana law, but qualified patients can legally possess weed with or without state approval. ​ The effort by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and state Attorney General Tom Horne to steamroll voters in their attempte ... More >>