PCDP Statement Demands Supervisor Sharon Bronson be ‘Held Accountable’ for Racist Treatment of Recorder Cázares-Kelly

Tell me an elected public official treated another elected public official in a disrespectful manner based on her race or ethnicity, without telling me that she did it.

That is the particular needle the PCDP seems to be trying to thread in this statement. If you read carefully, it is pretty clear they substantiated and deplore Supervisor Bronson’s ‘demeaning’ behavior toward Recorder Cázares-Kelly and her staff, though they try very hard not to directly call Bronson’s behavior racist.

Notably, they call on the Pima County Board to impose some sort of penalty or discipline, rather than doing so themselves. I’m not sure what the Board can do, or will be willing to do, given they will have to work with Bronson directly on a daily basis.

In sum: the buck was found to be very disappointing, but the buck has been passed.

Here’s my personal take: I did not observe Bronson’s behavior for myself, but I believe our PCDP EC and Recorder Cázares-Kelly that the behavior occurred and was both egregious and racially motivated. Bigoted racist and white supremacist attitudes and (especially) behavior must not be tolerated in the Democratic Party: those beliefs and attitudes lie at the root of the fascist autocratic movement our party is currently struggling to save our nation from. Nothing short of a personal public apology and a plan to rectify her attitude and behavior in the future will suffice. If such is not immediately forthcoming, the Democratic Party will need a primary challenger next time Supervisor Bronson is up for re-election – if she decides to stand again. I’m disappointed that the PCDP has failed to articulate those stakes and terms more clearly, but I give partial credit for recognizing this behavior publicly, rather than trying to sweep it under the bureaucratic rug.