A South Carolina senator, arguably the biggest tea-bag in the conservative “Tea Party” movement, says he will remain neutral in the Arizona Senate race, where John McCain is squaring off with conservative darling J.D. Hayworth.Senator Jim Demint told Fox News’ Gregg Jarrett this morning that he is not taking a…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Get your “p-o-t-a-t-o-e” ready. Ben Quayle, son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, is rumored to be considering a run for Congress.Quayle, a Scottsdale-based attorney, is believed to have hired a campaign manager to lay the groundwork for a run at the congressional seat currently held by John Shadegg. As far as…
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…
In the early days of what’s gearing up to be a tough primary battle for U.S. Senator John McCain — where he will need to appeal to some of Arizona’s most staunch, anti-gay marriage conservatives — he may want to tell his daughter to put a sock in it.Meghan McCain gave…
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…
How far right is J.D. Hayworth? If you ask him, about one click left of “birther.”The former Arizona congressman turned Rush Limbaugh clone appeared on Hardball with Chris Mathews last night, and when Mathews asked him if he was as far right as a “birther” — sporting his most sinister…
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…
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…
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…
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…
A U.S. customs officer who pleaded guilty to accepting bribes to allow immigrants into the country illegally, is heading to the joint, compliments of a federal judge.Jose Carmelo Magana, 46, of Yuma, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg to serve 37 months in federal prison followed…
With fewer half-naked aborigines in the world to hang out with, National Geographic decided to spend some time last year with the polygamist clan north of the Grand Canyon. The magazine received “exclusive” access to members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Colorado City, Arizona and…
Sarah Palin, the new darling of the Conservative party, announced today that she will be making the campaign rounds for several Republican Congressional candidates, including a stop in Arizona to campaign for her former running-mate, John McCain.Apparently getting run down by the hope and change-train in the 2008 presidential election…
Arizona Senator John McCain is looking at last night’s Massachusetts Senate election as the “wake-up” call that could change how business is done in the nation’s capitol. “Last night, a shot was fired around this nation … saying no more business as usual in Washington, D.C.,” McCain said on the Senate floor this…
Pick a job, any job…Paradise Valley Mayor and political rookie Vernon Parker’s PR honcho, Jason Rose, reluctantly confirmed to New Times today that the mayor is dropping out of the race for governor and is planning on filing paperwork this week to officially make him a candidate for the congressional…
State Senator Pam Gorman announced that she will be joining the growing field of potential replacements for Congressman John Shadegg. Gorman says that Washington D.C. politicians are “out of control” and she seems to think she can change that. This is the same Pam Gorman who caused a bit of a…
Political rookie and Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker is putting his gubernatorial ambitions on hold for a few days to mull over a possible run for the District 3 Congressional seat.The seat is currently held by Congressman John Shadegg, who announced last week that he won’t be seeking re-election. Parker,…
Here’s one fresh from the rumor mill:With John Shadegg’s long-overdue departure from the U.S. House of Representatives, there are rumors that Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon may be looking to take his seat.So, does Mr. Gordon really want to go to Washington? He’s certainly spent a lot of time there this…
