We shouldn't be surprised that former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon appears to be exploring a possible run for mayor.
This is the same elected official who tried a few times, albeit futilely, to extend the city's two-term limit for mayor.
During a recent television appearance on 12 News "Sunday Square Off," Gordon said that he'd "love to be mayor again," and disclosed there were "legal issues" that might prevent him from doing so.
See also: -DiCiccio Deserves Criticism For Approving $78,000-A-Year Pay Raise for Cavazos -Gordon Blasts Councilman Sal DiCiccio for Twisting Truth About Employee Pay -DiCiccio Makes Call for Lobbying, Ethical Reforms Despite His Lobbyist Ties
When Resnik asked him whether he was running, Gordon's stammering non-answer included that he wasn't seeking any state or county office -- he didn't exclude a city post.
All in all, Gordon more so than the other two former mayors who appeared on Resnik's show -- Terry Goddard and Paul Johnson -- took a beating from Resnik, who didn't allow Gordon a pass as bemoaned that the council wasn't getting along and that pension reforms haven't gone far enough.
Gordon, when he was in office, had $850 million to play with thanks to a voter-approved bond election. Visions come easy when a city is flush with money to burn. These days, Phoenix is all about trimming budgets.
Resnik reminded Gordon of the fights he got into with Councilman Sal DiCiccio, calling him names like a "little child" and "self-serving naysayer."
Does this put you in a position to criticize? Were you able to rise above? Resnik asked Gordon.
Gordon says it does. And, he add that he and Sal had coffee a couple of weeks ago. He says that he made a mistake in his final year of office taking the bashing from DiCiccio so personal.
Resnik also calls out Gordon, who seems to now be parroting DiCiccio in saying that adopted pension reforms are merely token, for his role in allowing the controversial pension spiking.
"We have you and your council to blame," Resnik told Gordon, reminding him that former City Manager Frank Fairbanks contract -- approved by Gordon and DiCiccio -- got the conversion started about pension spiking.
He reminded him that DiCiccio also voted on City Manager David Cavazos contract, which included a giant pay raise and allowed him the unfettered ability to spike his pension payments.
But now they all want to complain about the problem they created and permitted.
"None of us are beyond saying we weren't a contributor in that process, but the issue is that it's this generation's challenge to fix it," said former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson.
It is interesting to see how chummy Gordon is now getting with DiCiccio, a perpetual naysayer and seasoned hypocrite.
And, it's worth noting that both of those men owe their elections to the same unions that they so easily criticize now for their political gain.
Watch Resnik's "Square Off" edition with the former Phoenix mayors on 12 News.
Send feedback and tips to the author.
Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.