by David Safier
Todd Camenisch's news conference was about a phone message he received from Rick Grinnell. Grinnell had been a registered lobbyist until August of this year. According to Grinnell in the phone message, Rosemont Copper is "a personal client."
Grinnell was clearly upset about the strong positions Camenisch has taken against the Rosemont Mine. The trigger might have been comments Todd made about Rosemont at a forum in Vail on, I believe, October 10.
In the phone message, Grinnell said,
"I'm not sure where you got the information [about Rosemont Mine], number one, and number two I'm not sure if you're putting yourself in a position that you would regret."
"Putting yourself in a position that you would regret." If Grinnell said those words as someone representing Rosemont Copper, it's clearly a threat of some kind, either legal or physical, from the corporation. If he's saying it on his own, Rosemont needs to step up and fire Grinnell for threatening Camenisch in the corporation's name.
Camenisch presents more of a problem for Rosemont than most of its detractors because of his credentials. He is leading a team at the UA College of Pharmacy researching the connection between arsenic and heart problems and is concerned as a scientist and a resident about the long term effects of water and land pollution which could be the result of Rosemont going forward.
I can't find a quote where Frank Antenori advocates for Rosemont. He ditches his tough-guy persona (He's been doing that a lot lately) and bobs and weaves when he's asked about the mine. But no question, the Rosemont folks would be much happier to see Antenori in the Senate than Camenisch.
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Tedski found the link over at RRR: http://www.rumromanismrebellion.net/2010/10/19/intimidation-in-the-district-30-senate-race/#comments
Todd Camenisch is alleging that he is being intimidated by lobbyists for the Rosemont mine.
Now, don’t those guys know they are supposed wait until after the election to intimidate him? Kids these days.
This from the Camenisch campaign, who promise there will be details later today:
Todd Camenisch, Democrat candidate for the Arizona Senate in Legislative District 30, will discuss an intimidating voicemail he received from a hired lobbyist for Rosemont Mine at a press conference today, Oct. 19, at 1:30 p.m. in downtown Tucson.
Contents of the Oct. 15 voicemail will be divulged at the press conference and made available to the press today.
Clearly, Camenisch said, this is a tactic of intimidation to keep quiet about his concerns about the controversial proposed Santa Rita Mountains mine, which is in LD 30.
Camenisch opposes the mine, citing its potential impact on the environment, including the long-term effect on water tables and contamination of local aquifers, which puts residents’ drinking water at risk.
“No lobbyist or intimidation from foreign corporations will keep me from speaking out on issues as important to Southern Arizona as water,” Camenisch said.
Opponent Frank Antenori, a Republican, supports the mine and has received campaign donations of $250 from James Sturgess, a vice president of the mine, and $300 from Michael Green of the Fennemore Craig law firm, which also lobbies for Rosemont.
“This is typical of the way the Phoenix political bosses work,” Camenisch said. “Politicians like my opponent get bought and sold by Phoenix fat cats and foreign corporations that care more about tax loopholes than schools for our middle-class kids or about the quality of water that they drink.”
“This insider trading up in Phoenix needs to stop!” Camenisch said. “I want to represent Southern Arizona, not a foreign corporation or political bosses. This is why I am running against my opponent.”
The mine is opposed by a wide range of local politicians, including Raúl Grijalva, Gabrielle Giffords, Ray Carroll and Jonathan Paton.