One step closer to Russell Pearce recall

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

We are one step closer today to the Russell Pearce recall. Official: Petitions enough to force Pearce recall election – East Valley Tribune:

It looks like the embattled president of the state Senate is going to have to fight to keep his seat in the Legislature.

Maricopa County Elections Director Karen Osborne said Wednesday her office has reviewed about 13,500 signatures on petitions calling for the recall of Russell Pearce. At this point she said more than 8,250 have been determined to be valid, far more than the 7,756 required to force Pearce into a special election.

And Osborne said still has close to another 3,000 signatures to review.

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Osborne stressed that this is simply an interim report. She said even after all the counting is done the final numbers need to be audited.

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When a special election would occur depends, at least in part, on how quickly Osborne’s staff finishes its work — and in part to the whims of Gov. Jan Brewer.

State Elections Director Amy Bjelland said having the vote in November requires that all the formalities be completed by Aug. 10.

Osborne’s office has through Aug. 2 to complete its verification. But Arizona law then allows the governor up to 15 days to issue the formal call for the election.

That means if the county finishes its work before late July, the election automatically will be in November.

But if her office takes the full time, Brewer could delay the election until March simply by taking the full 15 days to make the call.

This would be the first recall election of a state legislator in Arizona history. Russell Pearce likely to face recall election:

Recall supporters on Wednesday celebrated the numbers.

"This guarantees there will be an election and at the rate they are going, it's almost a given that the election will be in November," said Citizens for A Better Arizona Chairman Chad Snow. "Now it's up to the residents of Legislative District 18 to decide whether they want to continue to live in a state that's last in the country in education . . . a state that puts more emphasis on a state gun than on creating jobs."

Snow said he hasn't talked to anyone about running against Pearce but said there are rumors that several moderate Republicans in the district are interested.

"Pearce isn't as popular as he thinks he is in Mesa," Snow said.

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It's unknown whom Pearce may face in a recall election. Once an election date is set, district residents of any party can file nomination petitions and begin collecting the 621 signatures required to run on the ballot against Pearce. If no candidate runs against Pearce, Pearce retains his seat. If there are other candidates, the one with the most votes becomes District 18 state senator.

Candidates can begin to file nomination petitions 90 days before the election, and petitions must be filed no later than 60 days before the election.