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Recent Articles from Christian Palmer
Lawyer who exposed Cortes strives for ‘purity in the process’
By his own account, attorney Thomas Ryan spent more than 200 hours of his time preparing and litigating a lawsuit to thwart recall candidate Olivia Cortes, whose bogus candidacy was launched with the sole intention of ruining the chances of a challenger who Ryan had never met.
‘Baggage’ in hand, former IRC attorney takes on commission
Seven months ago, attorney Lisa Hauser was trying to land a job serving as the redistricting commission's Republican attorney, just as she did a decade ago.
But by the time Senate Republicans ratified Brewer’s decision to remove the commission's chair for what the governor described as “gross misconduct in office,” Hauser had taken on a new redistricting client — Brewer, who wil[...]
Twists and turns in redistricting process
If could get any crazier, I’d like to see it. Arizona’s decennial “independent” redistricting process has been nothing short of spectacular for journalists. The intrigue, outrage and paranoia took hold quickly and the twists and turns have continued without stop.
Horne disqualified from investigating IRC
Attorney General Tom Horne will no longer be able to pursue an open meeting law investigation into members of the Independent Redistricting Commission, as a Maricopa County Superior Court judge has ruled the attorney general is saddled with an existing conflict of interest.
Judge tosses Clean Elections ballot measure
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge today struck from the 2012 ballot a measure that would have ended Arizona’s system of publicly financed political campaigns.
Judge leery of Clean Elections referendum
A pending ballot referendum that would allow voters to decide the fate of publicly funded political campaigns in Arizona could be deemed illegal by a county judge, but a former lawmaker who has set his sights on Arizona’s Clean Elections system promises voters will have the last word.
Republicans cry conspiracy over redistricting
Republicans are really mad about redistricting. An approved draft (as in preliminary) congressional map strengthens the chances of Democratic incumbents Gabby Giffords and Raul Grijalva, both of whom narrowly won re-election last year. Republican freshman David Schweikert and Ben Quayle, on the other hand, appear to be on a collision course and could face each other in the primary in 2012. And Rep[...]
IRC chair hires former US Attorney for AG’s probe
Following a vote by the Independent Redistricting Commission to authorize the hiring of additional lawyers, IRC Chairwoman Colleen Mathis has secured the services of former Arizona U.S. Attorney General Paul Charlton.
Goddard weighs in on Horne’s redistricting commission probe
Former Attorney General Terry Goddard this weekend accused now AG Tom Horne of taking part in a Republican “intimidation campaign” against the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. The announcement was odd, and so was the timing – given that Horne’s investigation has been ongoing for more than a month.
IRC Democrat still leery of cooperating with AG probe
If Republican Attorney General Tom Horne would be willing to meet the Independent Redistricting Commission halfway, a Democrat on the panel said he would be prone to reconsidering his stance that he and his colleagues should resist cooperating with an investigation Horne launched last month.
Redistricting commissioner set to cooperate with AG investigation
More than a month after Attorney General Tom Horne announced an investigation into possible open meeting and procurement law violations by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, his attorneys will finally get to conduct their first interview with a commissioner Wednesday morning.
‘Job creator’ Cardon destined to hire numerous consultants
Last week, East Valley investor Wil Cardon announced he’d challenge Congressman Jeff Flake for the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate in what could be described as the Political Consultant Employment Act of 2011. In these times, a complete lack of experience is somehow touted as a benefit when it comes to running for political office. With that in mind, Cardon seems to be the man for the j[...]
