Just in case you were worried that Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas aren’t wasting enough money on their jihad against other county officials, we’ve got news for you.Arpaio has now hired his own lawyer to represent his interests in Thomas’ piece-of-crap racketeering lawsuit. Start running the…
If Andrew Thomas were the one telling this story, he’d probably begin it on December 12, 2008. That’s the day Thomas, the newly re-elected Maricopa County Attorney, issued a subpoena to other county officials — demanding to see all contracts and procurement documents from the court tower about to break…
Yesterday’s court proceedings examining the question of whether the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office must be removed from prosecuting Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox contained a number of big revelations, as we detailed in this earlier blog post.But one of the most fascinating pieces of news for anyone following these cases involves…
In a hearing yesterday that stretched to more than four hours, both Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk shared their perspectives on the investigation, and prosecution of, Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox. The hearing allowed Wilcox’s attorney, Colin Campbell, to argue that Thomas must be disqualified…
Carlos Mendoza, the justice of the peace who “retired” under questionable circumstances in May 2008, appears to be exploring another run for office.Mendoza filed paperwork in December suggesting that his long dormant campaign-finance committee is again active, according to county records. The paperwork indicates that Mendoza has yet to collect…
The campaign of would-be U.S. Senator J.D. Hayworth confirmed today that it has hired Shane Wikfors, the blogger behind sonoranalliance.com, to serve as its field director.Hayworth, the former radio gabber, is trying to unseat John McCain in the GOP primary.Even as it confirmed Wikfors’ hiring, the Hayworth campaign, fronted by PR man…
It started with the boss’ brother. Doug Lingner had been executive director of the Housing Authority of Maricopa County for just two months when he hired his brother to repair a carport at the agency’s Seventh Street complex. Total cost: $2,000. Now, that wasn’t such a big deal. Yes, state…
For those of us who don’t stand accused of being criminals, or literally face felony charges simply for doing our jobs (see: Donahoe, Gary), it’s been something of a hoot to read the filings by Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas in his conspiracy-fueled attack on other county officials. Of course…
It’s a small victory, and a technical one.But an order yesterday from Pima County Superior Judge John Leonardo could have a major impact on the resolution of the criminal case against Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox.Leonardo, who was assigned to hear the case against Wilcox by Special Master Ruth…
That was a good use of taxpayer money. Once again refusing to accept the notion that his goons do not have a right under Arizona law to read judges’ email, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court. Once again, he was shot down yesterday, without…
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who’s exploring a run for state attorney general this fall, has so far drummed up just $25,070 in donations, according to newly filed documents at the Secretary of State’s office.That figure stands in stark contrast to the fundraising of Thomas’ chief rival, fellow Republican Tom Horne…
Maybe they’re not so crazy after all.Citing the ongoing state budget crisis, the Metro Phoenix Partnership for the Arts announced this week that it was abandoning its plans to seek a sales-tax increase on the November ballot.MPAC CEO Myra Millinger announced the group’s decision in a letter to arts organizations released…
We’ll say this for Ruth McGregor, the newly appointed “special master” for the ongoing county legal disputes: She does not mess around.Just a few days ago, McGregor summarily rejected Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas’ request that she order the hiring of “celebrity prosecutors” to handle the cases against Supervisors Don…
There was a point in November when I thought Phoenix City Councilman Claude Mattox’s head might explode. Dozens of cabbies had come to the November 18 council meeting to protest the city’s selection process for cab service at Sky Harbor. Rather than pick cab companies based on experience, financials, or…
Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver put an end to all-important “matching funds” provisions in Arizona’s clean elections system, saying that — absent a stay from the appellate court — publicly funded candidates will only get a set amount of money this year.This week, the appellate court offered a…
The details aren’t yet complete, but both the mayor’s office and writer/PR guy David Leibowitz confirmed to New Times today that they’re finalizing an agreement to have Leibowitz work for Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.Leibowitz will be helping Gordon, and the city, with communications — from speech-writing to official statements to the…
The Arizona Supreme Court today unanimously reversed an appellate court ruling on the CityNorth case, saying it erred when it deemed the city of Phoenix’s $97 million subsidy of the shopping center unconstitutional.But the unanimous decision hardly settles the issue once and for all — and is hardly a victory for the…
Saying that attorneys for Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas made a procedural error, U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow rejected the “amended complaint” they attempted to file last week in their racketeering lawsuit against county officials.While that ruling has nothing to do with the merits of the case, it…
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has spared no expense in his quest to read e-mails penned by court administrators — filing a lawsuit, an appeal after he lost the lawsuit, and finally a special action after he lost the appeal.But Arpaio isn’t done yet, as county records make clear. Indeed,…
It has been annoyingly, painfully obvious to me for the past decade or so what my New Year’s resolution should be: I ought to quit drinking. But for serious boozers like me, knowing that you “ought” to quit is right up there with politicians knowing they ought to vote their…
One hundred million dollars. That’s how much money the Metro Phoenix Partnership for Arts and Culture hopes to generate from a new tax hike proposal quietly being prepared for voters. One hundred million freakin’ dollars, each year. Are these people insane? This state is in near-meltdown. Foreclosures are up. Employment…
Reason, the influential libertarian magazine devoted to “free minds and free markets,” has published a piece criticizing Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas as “Sheriff Joe’s Enabler.”The piece was published online yesterday.In it, senior editor Radley Balko explains that “[f]or all of Arpaio’s tough on crime preening, Thomas may actually be…
