Phoenix police are investigating the alleged embezzlement of more than $75,000 from a campaign fund that belongs to Deputy Attorney General Greg Stanton. The fund, which has no ties to Stanton’s post in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, dates back to his days on the Phoenix City Council. Police sources tell…
Judicial Watch is planning to appeal a November 4 decision by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Rea that allows Gordon to keep secret two years’ worth of his security-detail logs.Jim Peterson, an attorney for the Washington, D.C.-based conservative think tank, tells New Times that they are waiting for the…
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon just posted a blog titled, “The Truth … For A Change.”In it, Gordon blasts DiCiccio for his creative (that is, false) interpretation of budget figures to propel the idea that the average city worker gets $100,000.[Of course, it would be nice if Gordon applied that mantra…
Since Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard’s days are numbered, it’s likely that Deputy Attorney General Greg Stanton will put himself on the short list of politicos who plan to run for mayor of Phoenix.That list of potential candidates already includes Councilman Claude Mattox, Councilwoman Peggy Neely, and maybe Wes Gullett.Stanton confirms…
In case you missed it … Phoenix Councilman Sal DiCiccio appeared on Sunday Square Off to talk to 12 News’ Brahm Resnik about the committee of “high-powered individuals” who had been meeting quietly.Watch the video .Resnik points out several contradictions about DiCiccio, including his general praise and belittling of city…
Jon Talton, author of Rogue Columnist, reminisces in his latest blog post that, once upon a time, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon “got it.” But no more. Talton writes that if “any historian cares to write about Phoenix’s collapse…the mayoralty of Phil Gordon will be an essential chapter.”Here’s a snippet:…
Phoenix Councilwoman Thelda Williams tells New Times that she isn’t part of a private committee pulled together by Councilman Sal DiCiccio, Pete Gorraiz, president of the firefighters union, and Billy Shields, a Phoenix lobbyist and former head of the fire union.”I was just on a e-mail list to get minutes of…
An influential group of individuals — including three elected Phoenix officials, members of the Goldwater Institute and the firefighters’ union boss — have been quietly meeting over the past month and developing strategies on how to change city government.It’s unclear what will ultimately emerge from this group, but its members…
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Rea has denied Judicial Watch, a conservative think tank, access to two years’ worth of security-detail logs kept by Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon’s bodyguards.Judicial Watch said it was considering its next steps, and that it would be a few days before they reach a…
Although Phoenix City Councilman Claude Mattox is the only one listed for a Sunday afternoon musical performance at the CityScape Block Party, rest assured that the 90-minute set also includes the rest of Mattox’s band — the Screamin’ Javelinas.Speculation ran rampant (in at least one New Times’ office) about whether…
The CityScape Block Party is taking over downtown Phoenix starting Thursday night … and the musical lineup is mind blowing.Macy Gray! Third Eye Blind! And Phoenix City Councilman Claude Mattox?Yep. He is expected to make a solo appearance on stage Sunday afternoon for a 90-minute set. What happened to his…
A crowd of Congressman Harry Mitchell’s supporters gathered at Tempe Mission Palms, waiting for the defeated congressman to arrive. Mitchell, a Democrat who represented Congressional District 5 for two terms, lost his seat to Republican David Schweikert.It was not a good night for the Dems,Supporters applauded and chanted for a…
Congressional candidate David Schweikert is up by nearly 12,000 voters as early polling numbers start rolling out. The margin has been widening between Schweikert and his opponent Congressman Harry Mitchell. Schweikert: 59,134Mitchell: 47,148And his fellow-Republicans appear to be on the same path to victory. There was a brief burst of jubilation…
David Schweikert back in the day David Schweikert might just have stumbled into politics because it was “too hot outside.”That’s the story that Lois Fitch just told New Times at Schweikert’s campaign headquarters in Scottsdale.Fitch, a former American History teacher at Saguaro High School, started the Teenage Republican Club there…
Um, we’re pretty sure that the Maricopa County Election officials aren’t scattering broken glass — or hot coals, bear traps, or land mines, for that matter — in front of polling sites.This is one of the photos that greets you on District 5 Congressional candidate David Schweikert’s campaign Web site. …
Russell Pearce U.S. District Court Judge David G. Campbell has denied an attempt by Senator Russell Pearce to join a lawsuit filed by Glendale and the Gila River Indian Community against the Department of the Interior.Glendale and the Gila are suing the Interior Department because it approved in July an application…
Russell Pearce State Senator Russell Pearce, best known for his immigrant-loathing views, is taking on the Tohono O’odham Nation, an Indian tribe that plans to open a resort-style casino in the West Valley.Pearce and state Senate-hopeful Scott Bundgaard, now joined by about a dozen Arizona lawmakers, have filed a lawsuit against…
Veolia Transportation continues to negotiate with two labor unions representing employees who drive and maintain Phoenix city buses. Company execs have already inked a contract with the mechanics’ union.Negotiations have been ongoing since union contracts expired on June 30.During that time, Phoenix officials have warned the public about potential strikes…
Apparently New Times isn’t alone in trying to get Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon to answer legitimate questions he finds tough or uncomfortable.Gordon & Co. also are blowing off Fox 10 because, according to a story posted on its Web site, Gordon didn’t like its line of questioning. Who does the mayor think…
The Arizona Democratic Party launched a website poking fun at Secretary of State Ken Bennett for getting chummy with the lobbyists that he is “duty bound to ensure … are regulated and kept in line.”The website, Lobbyists Love Ken, is dressed in pink, covered in hearts and even comes with…
A show of good faith?That’s what Veolia is calling the company’s latest offer — this one to allow members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters back to work after 2:59 a.m.on October 15.Coincidentally, October 15 is the deadline set by the National Labor Relations Board for Veolia Transportation to answer…
A labor dispute that promoted Veolia Transportation officials to lock out about 60 union bus workers has led union reps to file charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board.According to a letter from Cornele Overstreet, Regional Director of the NLRB in Phoenix, Union and Veolia officials have…
