Steve Ellman

Fast Money Phil Gordon in Phoenix Developers' Pockets

Letters

From the week of August 30, 2001

Best Politician

Grant Woods

Pyscho Babble

Is Sheriff Joe Arpaio the Ted Bundy of Arizona politics?

Sins of the Fathers

Letters from the week of May 2, 2002

Hot Topics

Letters from the week of May 2, 2002

Howling Financial Woes

The wagering scandal enmeshing Wayne Gretzky through his wife and an assistant coach is the least of the Coyotes' problems

Pig Roast

Political party celebrates Sheriff Joe's sweet 70

Wily Coyote

Team owner Ellman skates over financial inquiries

On Thin Ice

Scottsdale may think it's fixing Los Arcos Mall. But it's really paving the way for a Coyotes arena in Glendale.

Furious George

Is Scottsdale ready for four more years of political scrutiny from George Zraket? It all depends on who you ask.

SCA Scandal: Dave Hendershott, Top Sheriff's Officials and Steve Ellman Among Major Contributors; Fox Files Two Campaign Finance Reports

Dave Hendershott The dam has broken on the SCA story: Under threat of a $315,000 fine from the Maricopa County Elections Department, Joel Fox and the SCA have filed two campaign finance reports that show high-ranking deputies under Sheriff Joe Arpaio as major contributors. The biggest buck ... More >>

SCA Scandal Round Up

In case you missed any of the action on the SCA scandal as reported through several blog posts today here is a review: Dan Saban: SCA Donors had "Vested Interest" in Election Outcome; Hendershott Nixed Payroll Deductions for Union DuesJoe Arpaio's Office Denies Involvement in SCA Despite Donations ... More >>

SCA Scandal: Captain Joel Fox Lied About Hendershott's Involvement; SCA Fails to Answer Key Questions

Captain Joel Fox hasn't been honest with us. Here's what Fox posted to our blog in February about the $105,000 contribution to the Arizona Republican Party that came from the SCA: None of the money came from Arpaio,or Hendershott or Arpaio's campaign, or anyone associated with Arpaio's campaign, ... More >>

Bruce Ash, Republican National Committeeman for Arizona, Won't Deny Truth of Statement About Source of Saban Smear-Ad Funds

With the SCA scandal breaking wide open last week, we figured it was time to make another call to Bruce Ash, the Republican National Committeeman for Arizona. This time we got him on the phone, and as you'll see, he helped clear up a couple of nagging questions we had about the Republican Party's ... More >>

Sonoran Alliance Blog and Readers Strike Critical Note on SCA Contribution

Image: www.sonoranalliance.com We asked for comment, we got comment -- from the Sonoran Alliance blog, anyhow. Turns out Shane Wikfors (pictured), who runs the blog, considers church-mate Dan Saban a friend. Who knew? Wikfors slams the infamous attack ad on Saban as "disgus ... More >>

All the Sheriff's Men: The SCA Campaign-Finance Scandal is Linked to Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Chief Deputy David Hendershott

Image: www.sonoranalliance.com We asked for comment, we got comment -- from the Sonoran Alliance blog, anyhow. Turns out Shane Wikfors (pictured), who runs the blog, considers church-mate Dan Saban a friend. Who knew? Wikfors slams the infamous attack ad on Saban as "disgus ... More >>

Blog Posts and Articles Leading up to This Week's Cover Commentary on the SCA Scandal

Five blog posts over 10 days led up to Sarah Fenske's cover analysis this week on the SCA (Sheriff's Command Association) scandal. A 2007 cover story on the smear of Arpaio opponent Dan Saban was an omen of what was to come -- state Republican Party ads further sme ... More >>

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Campaign Finance Reports Show Thousands of Anonymous Donors

 We will admit to being a glutton for the sort of details that most people (wisely?) dismiss as boring. And so, while reporting this week's feature on the SCA campaign finance scandal now plaguing the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, we literally spent two days studying Sheriff Joe Arpaio' ... More >>

Captain Joel Fox Expected to Deliver SCA Donation Checks Today to County Elections

​ Captain Joel Fox had to 'fess up and spill the names of the cagey SCA donors behind a Republican Party smear campaign, but he still hasn't turned over the contribution checks. Today's the big day, according to Jeffrey Messing, the lawyer hired by the Maricopa County Elections ... More >>

SCA Scandal: Some Donation Checks Could Trigger Criminal Charges; Companies Made Contributions

    ​The SCA checks are in, and some of them were from businesses -- in apparent violation of Arizona law. As we foreshadowed this morning, Captain Joel Fox turned in the canceled checks today as part of his settlement agreement with the Maricopa County Department of Elections. Al ... More >>

SCA Scandal: Elections Department and Recorder's Office Find "Reasonable Cause" That Campaign Laws Were Broken

Steve Ellman, one of the SCA contributors​ The Maricopa County Elections Department and Recorder's Office announced this morning it had found "reasonable cause to believe that a number of individuals and entities" have violated the state's campaign finance laws. According to the announce ... More >>

Andrew Thomas' Top Donors: We Crunch the Numbers

​In this week's print edition, New Times examines Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' habit of hiring pricey outside lawyers -- and then letting them run up huge bills for less than stellar work.We couldn't help but notice that some of the same firms billing the county for the biggest sums ... More >>

Fishy Fundraiser: Wealthy Donors Claim Top Sheriff's Official Pitched for SCA on Alaska Trip

Back in July, Captain Joel Fox, frontman for the SCA fund, wrote the following comment on our blog: There has never been a "meeting" of SCA donors. How you figure you could get all the people on that list into one room is beyond me. I can hardly get in contact with most of them, let alone get them ... More >>

Joel Fox Testifies Before Grand Jury in SCA Case -- Investigation Wrapping Up

​Maricopa County Sheriff's Captain Joel Fox testified earlier this week before the grand jury probing the SCA campaign finance scandal -- triggering speculation that an indictment in the case could come as early as next month.Grand jury proceedings are secret and, typically, the subject of a p ... More >>

Mayor Phil Gordon's Girlfriend Had a Paying Gig With a Big Phoenix Developer Doing Business With the City

From FacebookElissa Mullany is shown in 2009 on developer Steve Ellman's payroll. ​Mayor Phil Gordon's girlfriend landed on mega-Phoenix developer Steve Ellman's payroll in 2009, political insiders confirm.  Elissa Mullany, who started dating Gordon in early 2008, spent time in ... More >>

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's 2009 Calendar Missing Info on His Girlfriend's Connection to Phoenix Mega-Developer

​ A version of Mayor Phil Gordon's 2009 calendar released this week to New Times is missing some bits of inflammatory information that were present last year.When city officials provided some of the same public records last year, the calendar revealed that on at least two occasions, ... More >>

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, In an Arpaio-esque Move, Refuses to Answer New Times' Questions Unless They're Sumbitted in Writing

​ Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon has established a new policy: He will no longer speak personally with New Times or the Arizona Republic. He will only accept questions from the publications if reporters submit them in writing.How very Joe Arpaio-esque.What's next? Will the mayor start banning ... More >>

Steve Ellman's Camelback Corridor Project, and Ties to Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's Girlfriend

Steve Ellman​ Phoenix's Steve Ellman is an international developer with a commercial real estate empire spanning more than 12 million square feet of retail, entertainment, and office space. Ellman is among the largest owners of real estate in the Phoenix metropolitan area.So why did Ellman ... More >>

Mayor Phil Gordon Doesn't Like Questions About His Girlfriend's Role at City Hall or Her Gig with a Phoenix Developer

Steve Ellman​ Phoenix's Steve Ellman is an international developer with a commercial real estate empire spanning more than 12 million square feet of retail, entertainment, and office space. Ellman is among the largest owners of real estate in the Phoenix metropolitan area.So why did Ellman ... More >>

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon Still Mum on Girlfriend Elissa Mullany's Role at City Hall

Phil Gordon​Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon still hasn't answered questions submitted to him by New Times on April 19.The questions were e-mailed to Gordon per his new policy of no longer speaking personally with New Times or the Arizona Republic -- more accurately, he won't talk to reporters who ... More >>

Mayor Phil Gordon Can Run, But -- Senate Bill 1070 or Not -- He Can't Hide

Phil Gordon​Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon still hasn't answered questions submitted to him by New Times on April 19.The questions were e-mailed to Gordon per his new policy of no longer speaking personally with New Times or the Arizona Republic -- more accurately, he won't talk to reporters who ... More >>

Joel Fox Gets His Stuff Back from State AG's Office, Tells Repub of SCA Fishing Trip in Alaska

​ Captain Joel Fox finally received his computer equipment back from the state attorney general's office, which is investigating him on allegations of making improper political contributions. Fox, typically chatty, has been mostly silent in the last few months as rumors swirl that he's going ... More >>

Did Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon Party at the 2008 and 2010 Super Bowls? And Who Paid for the Tickets?

Facebook.com​ Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon may be refusing to answer questions about a $3,200 payment made to the NFL in 2008 out of a fund meant to promote downtown Phoenix -- but a Facebook photo of his girlfriend may provide a clue about that expense.In the photo, Elissa Mullany (left front ... More >>

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's Lack Of Transparency, Accountability Should Be On List of Story Ideas City Suggests to Media

​Every month the city of Phoenix Public Information Office sends out a blast to media with story ideas reporters might consider covering on a slow news day.Some of the June story ideas include covering the fire ban the Phoenix parks department has instituted in the city's desert preserves or t ... More >>

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon Says He "Values Transparency," Yet He Refuses To Answer A Host Of Questions, Including Who Paid For Him And His Girlfriend To Attend Two Super Bowl Games

Phil Gordon​ Oh, the irony of all ironies. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon sent out a letter today to Phoenix residents on the city budget with an opening line that read: "In the City of Phoenix, we value transparency in government."Value transparency?Wait, there's more: "Every city employee ... More >>

Phil Gordon's Girlfriend Problem: Mayor Gordon Helped a Transportation Company Employing His Gal Pal Muscle Almost $30 Million From Phoenix

Phil Gordon​ Oh, the irony of all ironies. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon sent out a letter today to Phoenix residents on the city budget with an opening line that read: "In the City of Phoenix, we value transparency in government."Value transparency?Wait, there's more: "Every city employee ... More >>

State Case Against SCA & Joel Fox Appears Dead; No Indictments Coming on Goddard's Watch

  Joel Fox​State Attorney General Terry Goddard will leave office without resolving the case against Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Captain Joel Fox and the shady SCA fundraising group. And that, it's safe to say, means almost no likelihood of criminal charges - o ... More >>

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon Lines Up $8,000 Job for his Girlfriend

Elissa Mullany continues to make money off her relationship with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.​Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and his girlfriend, Elissa Mullany, have evolved over the past year - and not in a good way.The couple used to try and hide the fact that they were using the Mayor's Office to funn ... More >>

Read the SCA Investigative Report From the State Attorney General's Office

​ We've only just begun looking through a large report on the state Attorney General's SCA investigation, and already we're finding interesting stuff. But it's hundreds of pages long and, honestly, we don't have time to sift through it and cobble the highlights for you tonight. So, rather than ... More >>

SCA Report Details Depth of Conspiracy Between Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and State GOP; Repubs Took Anti-Dan Saban Ad Material and Dirty Money From Arpaio's Buddies

Randy Pullen, former chairman of the state Republican Party, knew the SCA donation was illegally earmarked, sources told state and federal investigators​ Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lisa Allen was dismayed when she saw the super-sleazy TV ad against her boss' opponent, Da ... More >>

Two of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Top Deputies Have "Love Connection" to SCA Scandal

Randy Pullen, former chairman of the state Republican Party, knew the SCA donation was illegally earmarked, sources told state and federal investigators​ Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lisa Allen was dismayed when she saw the super-sleazy TV ad against her boss' opponent, Da ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, April 28, 2011

Randy Pullen, former chairman of the state Republican Party, knew the SCA donation was illegally earmarked, sources told state and federal investigators​ Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lisa Allen was dismayed when she saw the super-sleazy TV ad against her boss' opponent, Da ... More >>

Munnell Report: Larry Black Offered Coyotes Tickets to Deputy Punched by Hockey Player Brad May in Return for Dropping Case

Larry Black, former deputy chief under Sheriff Arpaio, once tried to bribe one of his own lieutenants to do a favor for his buddy, Steve Ellman, the Munnell Memo report shows.​You can add bribery to the list of misconduct committed by former deputy chief Larry Black, one of Maricopa Co ... More >>

Steve Ellman's a Bad Influence on Sheriff Arpaio's Men, It Seems; Developer Tied to Multiple Allegations

  Image: ellmanco.com Valley developer Steve Ellman has shared some good times with Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the sheriff's top aides. Now he shares their scandals.​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio ought to tell his deputies not to play with Steve Ellman. The Valley developer and forme ... More >>

Joe Arpaio "Announces" Re-Election Bid, the Money-Grubbing Part, Anyway

A "civil rights" investigation?! Who the heck does the president think he is?He just took you for $100 million in protected taxpayer funds.You are one of the following: 1) a senile ol' coot skerred of Messcans2) a tebagging piece of white trash with a do-rag and a Harley3) a rich Republican goober l ... More >>

Bill Montgomery, Maricopa County Attorney, Binds Himself to Arpaio/Thomas Scandal Through Lawyer Mark Goldman's Fundraiser

Image: www.youtube.comBill Montgomery still stands with the powerful politician who endorsed him, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, despite an unfolding scandal.​ Ssshhh... Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery seem to be on a secret mission. He's scheduled to appear at a fundraiser tomorrow for himself ... More >>

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

Image: www.youtube.comBill Montgomery still stands with the powerful politician who endorsed him, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, despite an unfolding scandal.​ Ssshhh... Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery seem to be on a secret mission. He's scheduled to appear at a fundraiser tomorrow for himself ... More >>

Evidence Shows SCA Funds Were Illegally Earmarked Campaign Contributions, Investigation Revealed; Feds Still Working Case

Image: Court video Dave Hendershott, seen hear testifying in the disciplinary hearing for former County Attorney Andrew Thomas, was very evasive when interviewed by investigators about the SCA scandal.​The evidence shows that Sheriff Joe Arpaio's top men ran an illegal campaign-financ ... More >>