Paul Charlton endorses Gerald Richard over Andrew Thomas for Maricopa County Attorney

By Ray Stern Gerald Richard, Democratic candidate for Maricopa County Attorney (pictured), today released a list of people endorsing him that included Paul Charlton, former U.S. Attorney in Arizona. Charlton was famously fired by the Bush Administration in 2006 along with several other top federal prosecutors in what appeared a...

By Ray Stern

June 30, 2008

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

By Ray Stern

Gerald Richard, Democratic candidate for Maricopa County Attorney (pictured), today released a list of people endorsing him that included Paul Charlton, former U.S. Attorney in Arizona.

Charlton was famously fired by the Bush Administration in 2006 along with several other top federal prosecutors in what appeared a purely political move. He's now a partner at the Phoenix law firm Gallagher & Kennedy.

A Republican, Charlton's the only real surprise on this list of mostly Democrats, unions and immigrant-rights advocates.

Except for Mary Jo West, that is. But her name is only surprising because of its incredible irrelevence. Since when did a "former newscaster" have endorsement credibility with potential voters?

Here are the highlights of Richard's press release:

June 30, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RICHARD RELEASES ENDORSEMENT LIST

Gerald Richard, Democratic candidate for Maricopa County Attorney, has released his list of major endorsements:

Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association

Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters

Sheet Metal Workers Local 359

AZ Building Trades

Communications Workers of America Local 7019

Paul Charlton, former US District Attorney for Arizona

Dennis Garrett, former DPS Director and Phoenix Police Chief

John Buchanan, Assistant Chief, Phoenix PD (retired)

Commander Ken Tims, Phoenix PD Organized Crime/Gangs Division (retired)

Jason Schechterle, Phoenix PD (retired)

Paul Johnson, former Phoenix Mayor

Leah Landrum-Taylor, state senator

Cloves Campbell, Jr., state representative

Steve Gallardo, state representative

David Lujan, state representative

Ed Ableser, state representative

Alfredo Gutierrez, radio host and former state senator

Lydia Guzman, Somos America

Patrick Kelly, Former Chair Phoenix PD Gay/Lesbian Community Advisory Board

Guru Roop Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix Sikh community leader

Carole Coles Henry, Phoenix Equal Opportunity Director (retired)

Mary Jo West, former newscaster

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Ray Stern is the former news editor of Phoenix New Times. He worked as a newspaper reporter in Arizona for more than two decades. He's won numerous awards for his reporting, including the Arizona Press Club's Don Bolles Award for Investigative Journalism.