They’re not just picking on the Tucson City council

by David Safier
You know the statewide legislation to make all Arizona city councils nonpartisan, which only affects Tucson? It's not alone.

Another bill awaiting the Accidental Guv's signature or veto requires Pinal County to go from three supervisors to five. Though it's a statewide bill, only Pinal County will be affected. Sound familiar?

First let's see why this is a stupid thing to do.

• This would happen anyway in 2012 because the census will add population to the county, which will require the extra 2 supervisors.
• The 2010 redistricting will change the boundaries of the supervisor's areas.
• The county is in a budget pinch like everyone else and has cut 160 jobs. The 2 supervisors and their staff would cost an extra $1 million.

But as the county has grown, it's become more Republican. More supervisors probably means more Republican supervisors. And that's why this Republican legislation is sitting on Brewer's desk.

Right now there's only one Republican supervisor, who, along with the Democrats and the County Supervisors Association of Arizona, want Brewer to veto the bill. So there is a unanimous, bipartisan consensus: Governor, tear down this bill!

The three sponsors of the bill, all Republicans, are Rep. Frank Pratt from Casa Grande and . . . drum roll please . . . Rep. Vic Williams and Sen. Al Melvin from my Legislative District, the fightin' 26th.

I know these Republicans are fierce states' rights people — Feds, keep your grubby hands off our state! (though they're not raising much of a fuss about accepting all that dirty stimulus money). But I guess, since they're part of Big Government, state-of-Arizona style, they want to impose their wills on counties and cities.

Anyone else see a contradiction here?