State Senator Scott Bundgaard probably will avoid jail time for a scuffle he had with his ex-girlfriend earlier this year, but chances are he’ll face a Senate ethics probe.Fellow state Senator Steve Gallardo, a Phoenix Democrat, has filed an ethics complaint against Bundgaard, which should come as a surprise to…
Congressman Trent Franks is extremely vocal in his opposition of a woman’s freedom to choose whether to have an abortion. He’s equally vocal in his opposition of giving homosexuals the freedom to get married. But Franks’ insistence on playing the role of morality cop for abortion-seekers and homosexuals was apparently…
Remember earlier this year when Arizona Senator John McCain said “there is substantial evidence that some of these fires are caused by people who have crossed our border illegally.”They have set fires because they signal others, they have set fires to keep warm, and they have set fires in order…
Nearly all of the Phoenix bus drivers who turned out to vote on a labor contract proposed by Veolia Transportation rejected their offer and authorized a strike.96 percent of voters said ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to Veolia’s “best and final offer”, which comes after about a year of labor negotiations.Union…
Phoenix mayoral candidate Wes Gullett failed to declare a conflict of interest while he was serving on the Phoenix Planning Commission in 2008.That is the latest message coming out of the Greg Stanton for Mayor camp. Here is the issue: Back in 2008, the Planning Commission considered whether to pursue…
There’s been a lot of consternation about robo calls alleging that Phoenix mayoral candidate Wes Gullett has a baby momma that isn’t his wife.Yes, the recorded calls should have identified to the listener who was footing the bill for message. And generally, people seem to agree that they were in…
Scottsdale Lieutenant Mike Stauffer — who is hoping to unseat Joe Arpaio as the Republican nominee for Maricopa County sheriff — last week participated in New Times’ inaugural online Town Hall Meeting, during which he answered every single question posed by readers in the comment section of the post.Arpaio was…
“Birthers,” for some reason (probably because they know the “birther” movement is little more than a baseless conspiracy theory) will never admit to being “birthers.”Take local Tea Party coordinator Jim Wise, for example, whom we caught up with following our post this morning. We asked this guy four times whether…
Scottsdale Lieutenant Mike Stauffer hopes to unseat Joe Arpaio, 79, as the Republican nominee for Maricopa County Sheriff — and he wants to let you know where he stands on the issues.So Stauffer’s agreed to answer any question you have in New Times’ inaugural online town hall meeting.Arpaio was extended…
For the average (pardon the pun) Joe, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s a hard guy to get a hold of. As for his opponent in next year’s GOP primary for sheriff, Scottsdale Lieutenant Mike Stauffer: not so much.Stauffer, in our experience, welcomes any question thrown at him. He doesn’t sugarcoat…
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 town hall meetings at all — that constituents don’t have to pay to attend, anyway.Congress is in recess for the…
Phoenix mayoral candidate Wes Gullett, who just today said he’d walk away from his lobbying firm if elected mayor, included this nugget in his press release. “I hope that Mr. Stanton will live by his pledge and not have any community property interests in lobbying firms as well,” Gullett said.”Community…
Phoenix lobbyist Wes Gullett now pledges to walk away from his lobbying firm if elected mayor of Phoenix.”I will divest my entire interest from my company,” he says in a statement released this morning.Gullett has come under fire since he stepped into the 2011 Phoenix mayor’s race for being a…
State Senator Scott Bundgaard pleaded no contest this morning to a misdemeanor endangerment charge stemming from a February scuffle on the side of a Valley freeway with his now ex-girlfriend Aubry BallardInitially, Bundgaard was charged with one count each of reckless assault and endangerment for the freeway fracas that resulted…
At Phoenix’s mayoral debate, candidates offered up many of the same talking points you can find on their websites. A snapshot:Mayoral candidate Wes Gullett swipes at fellow candidate Councilman Claude Mattox, chairman of city’s Public Safety Committee, because Phoenix still hasn’t hired a police chief — four months after Phoenix Police Chief Jack…
Just before candidates introduced themselves, a couple of dozen individuals wearing Jennifer Wright T-shirts walked out of Phoenix Chamber of Commerce-sponsored mayoral debate at Phoenix Symphony Hall.Mayoral candidates Wright and Anna Brennan were not allowed to participate in the debate because they didn’t meet all the criteria set by the sponsors, including raising…
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 break to Chicago-based developer Thomas J. Klutznick.The trio are having a press conference at 2 p.m. outside of City Hall.Jeffries, recently appointed to the City Council…
We reported yesterday on the questionable ethics demonstrated by Phoenix mayoral candidate Peggy Neely as she helped the Klutznicks, Chicago-based developers who were filling her campaign coffers with political donations.Check out the story, now updated with some links to excerpts from the original court records and exhibits, depositions and e-mails…
After Arizona lawmakers passed SB1070, calls for action by immigration activists were heard loudly in California.San Francisco and Los Angeles announced boycotts against the state — but reality quickly set in when city leaders realized such plans might come back to hurt them. As L.A. Weekly writer Gene Maddaus points…
Phoenix mayoral candidate Peggy Neely pledges to rein in the influence of developers at City Hall to strengthen ethics in government — but certain of her past actions as a public official don’t conform with her new political message. Especially the former councilwoman’s dealings with CityNorth, a $1.8 billion mixed-use community in north Phoenix, and its…
Governor Jan Brewer wants to the U.S. Supreme Court to take a look at Arizona’s contested immigration law, SB1070, following the law’s shoot-downs in lower courts. “I am hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court will choose to take this case and issue much-needed clarity for states, such as Arizona, that…
Art “El Tudy” Olivas hates New Times.He’s picketed in front of our building, scolded us for our coverage of former TV pitchman J.D. Hayworth’s unsuccessful candidacy in last year’s U.S. Senate primary, and called us communists. That said, and despite Art’s inability to successfully spell “communist” on his protest signs,…
