Anti-Mask COVID-Deniers File Recall Petition Against Tucson Mayor Regina Romero

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona reached 241,165 on Wednesday, Oct. 27, an increase of 1,044 from the previous day, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. A prominent health expert expressed worry about rising COVID-19 numbers across Arizona, saying the trend is reminiscent of early summer conditions that preceded a spike in cases and … Read more

District 11 Senate Race

There is the far-right, and then there are those who are two steps further to the right. Unfortunately, this Constantin Querard backed candidate represents legislative District 11 in Arizona.

atchue-smithSenator Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) in Legislative District 11 is an acolyte of recalled former Senate President Russell Pearce, and was a member of Pearce’s anti-immigrant “Super Friends” team with Cap’n Al Melvin, John Kavanagh, and Joe Arpaio.

You will recall that Smith sponsored legislation to make citizens recalls more difficult to try to derail the Pearce recall. Russell Pearce inspired recall bill is unconstitutional, experts say. When that failed, he later sponsored legislation that would have required the state to pay Russell Pearce for his expenses in the recall election. Proposed bill could repay ousted lawmakers from recall elections.

After Pearce was recalled, Smith carried the disgraced Sen. Pearce’s anti-immigrant bills for him after his recall. Rep. Steve ‘Secession’ Smith carries Russell Pearce’s anti-immigrant bills. He sponsored a bill that would require school districts to count the number of students who are in the country illegally, HB 2289 (2013), and to require hospitals to report patients who cannot prove their lawful status. HB 2293 (2103). Both measures are unlawful under existing law.

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IOKIYAR: Secretary of State violates election laws with impunity and no accountability

Earlier this week, attorney Tom Ryan filed a complaint with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General seeking to void the May 17 Special Election and reschedule it to the August primary election or to the November general election, Complaint (.pdf), because the Secretary of State had failed to mail publicity pamphlets regarding the election to over 200,000 households affecting over 400,000 voters.

Ryan cited a law signed into law last year by Governor Doug Ducey, which requires “strict compliance” with requirements for the referendum process. Secretary of State Michele Reagan herself advocated for the law.

MicheleReaganReagan’s office conceded that it had violated the law. The facts are not in dispute. Reagan’s office also engaged in a cover up not pro-actively disclosing it’s violation of law until it was later discovered, but that’s another matter.

Reagan’s response to Ryan’s complaint  effectively boiled down to “Yeah I violated the law, so whaddya gonna do about it? The election is not going to be canceled.Reagan won’t cancel next week’s special election.

Which put the ball in the court of Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Stephen Lemons of the Phoenix New Times reports, Attorney General Says Secretary of State Broke Law, but Won’t Sue to Halt Special Election:

An angry Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich told reporters on Thursday that Secretary of State Michele Reagan “did indeed violate Arizona law” in not sending out hundreds of thousands of publicity pamphlets regarding Tuesday’s special election. But the AG said he won’t go into court to stop the election from taking place.

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