Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Lewis makes TV ad buy
Jerry Lewis, who is challenging Senate President Russell Pearce in the Nov. 8 recall election, is hoping to capture early voters and will air TV ads targeting Mesa residents starting this week.
Pearce ads cost $10K to air, target FOX News and other cable outlets
Senate President Russell Pearce’s first TV ads will cost his campaign $10,000 and will target FOX News viewers, as well as other cable stations.
The ads, set to air this week, are timed to reach early voters in the Nov. 8 recall election against him.
Pearce TV ad touts budget accomplishments; no mention of immigration
Senate President Russell Pearce’s campaign will begin airing TV ads in his fight to keep his legislative seat. The ad, which is also on YouTube, touts Pearce’s accomplishments in balancing the budget and helping to pass a “jobs” bill in the last session.
Parts of Arizona Medicaid plan rejected
Arizona can’t deny health coverage to about 60,000 low-income parents, federal health officials said today.
The state had asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to allow the elimination of health coverage of parents whose family income balls between 75 and 100 percent of the poverty level.
Ex-employee claims she was fired for questioning Lewis over school donations
A former employee of a charter school where Jerry Lewis served as principal sued the school for wrongful termination last year and claimed she was fired after questioning him over spending practices and use of donated items.
Lawyers: Russell Pearce’s brother played key role in Cortes campaign
The lawyers who fought to get alleged sham candidate Olivia Cortes disqualified in the Mesa recall election planned to put Senate President Russell Pearce’s brother on the stand in a now-cancelled trial.
Supreme Court refuses to stop Cortes’ hearing
The Arizona Supreme Court today refused to stop a lower court from hearing new witnesses in the lawsuit that’s seeking to disqualify recall candidate Olivia Cortes.
Cortes’ lawyer asks Supreme Court to dismiss lawsuit, stop hearing
Olivia Cortes’ lawyer today asked the Arizona Supreme Court to stop a hearing scheduled for Friday and to declare the case against the beleaguered recall candidate moot.
Ballots have already been printed for the Nov. 8 special election targeting Senate President Russell Pearce, and the lawsuit against Cortes is therefore moot, argued Anthony Tsontakis, who earlier successfully defended [...]
New witnesses to testify in Cortes lawsuit
A judge has scheduled a Friday hearing to allow new witnesses to testify in a lawsuit that seeks to disqualify the candidacy of a Mesa woman whose critics say is in the race to help Senate President Russell Pearce keep his seat. Election Attorney Thomas Ryan, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of a Pearce critic, plans to call more witnesses during a 3:30 p.m. evidentiary hearing.
More delays in Bundgaard ethics trial
The trial involving whether Sen. Scott Bundgaard breached ethical rules could be pushed back to next year, when the legislative session starts.
Sen. Ron Gould, chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, said the committee needs to resolve a request by a Democratic senator who is asking the committee to adopt a less-stringent burden of proof in investigating Bundgaard.
Judge: Cortes was recruited by Pearce allies, but she stays on ballot
A judge ruled today that the Mesa woman accused of being a “diversionary” candidate in the recall election targeting Senate President Russell Pearce was clearly recruited by Pearce’s supporters but that he cannot kick her off the ballot.
State budget revenue up $80M in August
Major economic indicators in Arizona point to a steady recovery, although some bumps remain.
Revenues in August grew by 8.6 percent, buoyed by strong showings in sales and individual income taxes.