Ben Quayle Has Never Voted in Local Arizona Election, Records Show

Ben Quayle, son of former Vice President Dan Quayle and the latest addition to the jam-packed list of candidates for the District 3 congressional seat, hasn’t voted in a municipal election since registering to vote in Arizona in 1997, a new report claims.According to voting records dug up by the Arizona…

J.D. Hayworth Makes it Official; Will Challenge John McCain in U.S. Senate Primary, and Joe Arpaio and Chris Simcox Seem Thrilled

Former Congressman J.D. Hayworth made it official today that he will run against Senator John McCain in a Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.Flanked by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Minutemen co-founder Chris Simcox, Hayworth made his announcement from his Phoenix campaign headquarters.Hayworth kicked off his campaign with the announcement and will…

Joe the Plumber Says His Life Ruined by John McCain

Joe the Plumber, a.k.a. Samuel Wurzelbacher, the “everyman” campaign tool from John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, says the notoriety he’s received as a result of McCain has ruined his life.”I don’t owe him shit. He really screwed my life up, is how I look at it,” Joe the Plumber tells…

J.D. Hayworth’s New Field Director Is Conservative Blogger Shane Wikfors

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…

Phoenix Parking-Ticket Fees Rise Dramatically

Nothing makes us feel stupider than getting a city of Phoenix parking ticket.For one thing, it’s never a surprise. The only surprise comes when, after knowing full well that we blew through the metered time, we don’t see one of those piss-yellow tickets on our windshield. Worse, we’re ashamed to…

Familiar Face Enters Secretary of State Race

There’s a new face in the Democratic race for secretary of state, and he may have an early leg up on his probable opponent in the Democratic primary.Sam Wercinski, former Governor Janet Napolitano’s real estate commissioner from 2007-2009, has entered the race, and he’s already got more than enough money…

Save a Cop, Buy a Steak; City of Phoenix Approves Food Tax

The Phoenix City Council approved a new tax yesterday that will increase the price of the most basic necessity: food.In a 6-3 vote, the council approved a 2 percent tax on basic grocery items like milk, meat, vegetables, and all the other basics that people need to live.The move is…

Andrew Thomas Raises Just $25K in Quest to Be AZ Attorney General

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…

McCain Approval Ratings in Tank; Lowest Levels Since Keating Five Scandal

For the first time since 1994 — when he was recovering from the Keating Five scandal — John McCain’s approval rating has hit 40 percent. A poll conducted by the Behavior Research Center determined the figure, but while McCain’s numbers may be down, Arizona’s senior U.S. senator is far from out. Republicans, for…

Clean Elections Matching Funds Update: Goldwater Tries to Stop the Stay

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…

Dean Martin Leads in Governor’s Race, According to Latest Rasmussen Poll

Treasurer Dean Martin got some welcome amore (Rat Pack pun intended) from the latest Rasmussen poll, which shows him as the front-runner for this year’s gubernatorial election. The news may be a kick in the head (Rat Pack pun intended — again) for the former front-runner, Democratic Attorney General Terry Goddard, who led…

CityNorth Subsidy Sent Back to Court of Appeals

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…

J.D. Hayworth Quits Radio Gig to Run Against John McCain

ormer Arizona congressman turned AM radio conservative squawk box, has quit his radio gig at KFYI-AM to begin a campaign to un-seat Senator John McCain as the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. No shocker here, Hayworth has been hinting at a coup attempt for months. Hayworth confirmed the move on Friday but…