Pima Dems call on ‘Rio Nuevo’ Rick Grinnell to denounce Governor Brewer’s naked power-grab over AIRC

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Did you know that the the Tea-Publican's "Hail Mary pass" write-in candidate for mayor of Tucson says that he is "nonpartisan" on his campaign materials — materials paid for by the Arizona Republican Party with a hefty contribution from GOP money-man Jim Click? Lucky for him campaign materials are not subject to Arizona's Consumer Fraud statute for false and misleading advertisements.

But then Tea-Publicans have a disregard for the law as our lame-duck governor Jan Brewer so vividly reminded us on Wednesday. The Pima County Democratic Party has issued this press release:

Republican mayoral candidate Rick Grinnell likes to call himself non-partisan and if that’s the case he should stand up to Gov. Jan Brewer’s effort to remove members of the Independent Redistricting Committee for daring to draw competitive districts as prescribed by law.

In 2000, Arizona voters approved a measure to remove politicians from the process of drawing Congressional and Legislative boundaries so that they would be more competitive. The committee has done that, angering Republicans who want gerrymandered districts guaranteeing them the maximum number of safe districts.

If Grinnell is indeed non-partisan, he should stand up to Brewer’s power grab and let the volunteer commission do its job without threat of political retribution.

Grinnell sent out a mail piece calling himself non-partisan. Brewer’s move is one of the most blatantly partisan maneuvers in Arizona history, meant to protect the Far Right from having to answer to a cross-section of voters.

“If Grinnell's non-partisan claim is to pass the laugh test, he at the very least should stand up to Brewer’s effort to hide Republican politicians from swing voters,” said Jeff Rogers, Pima County Democratic Party Chairman. “Meanwhile, Grinnell is trying to hide from voters the fact that he’s a Republican. Well, Rick, if you talk the talk, walk the walk. Speak out for independent voters.”

Grinnell, meanwhile, is the beneficiary of Phoenix Republican money and influence. The Arizona Republican Party has taken over the local campaign and hired a Tempe-based firm to direct day-to-day efforts in Tucson.

“The test of a leader in Tucson is how willing he is to stand up to Phoenix political bosses,” Rogers said. “Phoenix political bosses want to choose voters for their lawmakers rather than have voters choose their lawmakers. Will Rick stand up for democracy and stand up to the Jan Brewer?”