Paul Penzone

Paul Penzone wants to build on the new culture he has installed at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department.

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There is a new culture at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department. Instead of the divisive cult of personality that prevailed during the Joe Arpaio Era, the Sheriffs Department under Paul Penzone has sought to instill a culture where the people, not the office, are served first. During his less than three years as Sheriff, Mr. … Read more

Democratic Party Chair Felecia Rotellini sees a bright Blue Future for Arizona in 2020.

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Since becoming the Democratic State Party Chair in 2018, Felecia Rotellini has presided over steady Democratic gains in local, state, and national offices. She and other Democratic State activists feel that the trend to a more Blue Arizona will continue with the 2020 elections. Just returning from a very productive party convention in Prescott where … Read more

New Maricopa County Democratic Party Executive Director Maritza Miranda Saenz discusses Preparing for 2020.

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At the café of choice for meeting public servants and activists, Lolas in Phoenix, the new Executive Director of the Maricopa County Democratic Party, Maritza Miranda Sanez chated and discussed her background as well as how the county party is beginning to prepare for the 2020 elections. Ms. Saenz has”grown up” in the political arena … Read more

New Maricopa County Democratic Party Executive Board ready to make Arizona Blue in 2020

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The new Maricopa County Democratic Party Executive Board. They are (from left to right): Treasurer: Tom Krepitch, 1st Vice Chair: Carol Maas, Secretary: Roberta Neil Miller, Chair: Steven Slugocki, Sergeant-at-Arms: Patrick Seifter, and 2nd Vice Chair: Lynsey Robinson

A jubilant crowd of Precinct Committeepersons and County Democratic superstars and candidates attended the Maricopa County Democratic Winter Convention at Central High School in Phoenix on December 8, 2018. Speaker after speaker vowed to work together with everyone in the audience and those who could not attend to continue the trend started in this year’s election of turning Arizona to a blue state. Delegates to the convention also voted for a new Maricopa County Democratic Executive Board to help pave the way to victory in 2020.

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Our society must move beyond violence against women

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Domestic violence_20b10e08caby Pamela Powers Hannley

This week the story of domestic violence charges against former Mexican American Studies (MAS) Director Sean Arce bubbled up on the Arizona Daily Independent (ADI) blog and on Facebook, where discussions continue to roil. Prior to ADI's initial blog post on December 27, 2012, rumors were swirling around regarding what happened on December 9, 2012, the night Arce and his compadres celebrated his birthday. Now we have ADI's account– written from the police report and reaction from people across the political spectrum, including this blogger. Unfortunately, none of the lame stream media outlets have chosen to cover this story.

Did Arce aggressively confront his ex-wife in a local restaurant? Did he follow her home, break into the house, and break windows– causing Essence Arce to flee? That is for the courts to decide, but, in my opinion, the police report (which alludes to dried blood on Arce's hands when he was arrested) is very damming. 

My goal here is not to try Arce's case in the court of public opinion, but to point out that IF the domestic violence charges against him are true, we have yet another local case of a powerful man abusing his power and acting in a violent or at least highly inappropriate manner toward women. In recent months, Arizona has seen SIX powerful men charged with domestic violence or sexual harassment.

Women are murdered every day in this country by husbands, lovers, and former partners. In the workplace, women are subjected to harassment and discrimination. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. For more details, continue reading after the jump.