Mills hits Brewer on public campaign funding

Gov. Jan Brewer flashes the "number one" sign as she joins proponents of Prop. 100. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican gubernatorial candidate Buz Mills is making Gov. Jan Brewer’s public campaign funding an issue but mixes up the money involved.

Mills says in a web video that Brewer “is raiding $3 million” of tax dollars to pay for her campaign after winning voter approval of a sales tax increase to help balance the state budget.

According to the ad released Monday, Brewer is “not a conservative.”

Public campaign funding comes from surcharges on criminal and traffic fines, not the sales tax. And Mills’ $3 million figure presumes Brewer wins the primary and advances to the general election.

Brewer spokesman Doug Cole responds that Mills’ criticism is “half-cocked” but says “it’s nice” that Mills assumes Brewer will defeat Mills in the primary.