More bad news for state Senate President Russell Pearce.
There's another group that's going to file paperwork to recall Pearce on Monday: Citizens for a Better Arizona, led in part by former Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate and pro-immigrant firebrand Randy Parraz.
According to CBA's Facebook page, the group claims to have gotten close to $10K in the bank (though the effort just registered its recall fund as of today), and is already able to offer canvassers $10 per hour to obtain the 7,756 valid signatures of qualified electors necessary to force Pearce to either resign or face a recall election.
I've been hearing about this effort, and spoke with one of it's leaders last night. But I was told it was all on background, not for publication till Monday. However, today, a notice appeared in the Desert Free Press inviting folks to take part in the recall, with a link to the Facebook page, touting the effort. So I reckon the feline's fallen out of the sack.
I called Assistant Arizona Secretary of State Jim Drake about the new effort, and to ask how the recall drive filed yesterday by DeeDee Blase's group Arizonans for Better Government would impact it and vice versa.
Interestingly, Drake informed me that there can be more than one recall campaign underway for the same official, at the same time
Even better, there's nothing to stop qualified electors in Legislative District 18 from signing both recall petitions. Hypothetically, both drives could be successful, Drake told me.
And if this occurs, and Pearce refuses to resign, the Secretary of State will probably try to get a judicial order combining the two elections.
It may be wishful thinking on my part, but maybe Parraz and Blase could get their groups to work together on ridding the legislature of Russell Pearce.
But if not, the good news is that the two efforts will not cancel each other out in any way. So if they don't combine forces, let the best recall effort win.
Either way, you know Pearce's blood is boiling right now, which, of course, is a beautiful thing.
Here is the statement from CBA just posted to Desert Free Press:
Citizens for a Better Arizona urges you to join with us to recall Russell Pearce!
Over the past couple of months people have been meeting in Mesa and other parts of Arizona to develop a strategy to recall Senator Russell Pearce. Out of those discussions came the idea of creating Citizens for a Better Arizona to bring together people from all walks of life with the same committed goal of removing State Senate President Russell Pearce from office. Our numbers are growing rapidly as word spreads about this important movement.
Join our Delegation to File a Recall Petition Against Russell Pearce, 12pm Monday, January 31st
Strategies have been planned and implemented with our "Hold Russell Pearce Accountable" campaign , including our January 10th event at the capitol, our January 15th District 18 Door-to-door canvass and our January 22nd town hall meeting in District 18. These efforts also include fundraising, community outreach to other supporters throughout Maricopa, and as of this morning the official formation our newly formed political committee - Citizens for a Better Arizona.
We are a well-established group that has what it takes to raise the necessary funds both across the state and across the nation and we're rapidly closing on $10,000 already raised to help us achieve our goals!
It takes courage to undertake this important effort. And while anyone can draft a petition to start a recall, it is good organizational skills and dogged determination that will actually get the job done. While other groups are welcome to undergo their own efforts, the results cannot be combined (signatures from one group can't be added to those of another). We urge everyone who has a true commitment to removing Russell Pearce from office to be part of our diverse and non-partisan coalition. Together we can succeed!
We will be meeting at the Mesa Utilities building on January 29 to begin a canvassing walk to meet the people in LD18 and discuss how Russell Pearce's actions are affecting them and we urge you to join us there.
Finally, as planned, we are moving forward on Monday, January 31, 2011 at 12:00 noon to file our recall petition at the Arizona State Capitol, and because of our successful efforts at fundraising, we are launching our paid canvassing operation to collect signatures in District 18 on Monday afternoon. Now is not the time to hold potlucks to plan strategy. Now is the time to implement the plan. We hope you will join us to show your support!
Sincerely,
Citizens for a Better Arizona
