DEFEATED: Pearce’s ouster viewed as cautionary tale for immigration hawks
Senate President Russell Pearce’s defeat on Nov. 8 was a colossal political victory for critics of his strict-enforcement approach to confronting illegal immigration.
And many immediately saw it as a cautionary tale for politicians here and elsewhere who share his views.
Brewer cuts nearly half-million-dollar check for SB1070 defense
Gov. Jan Brewer cut a $486,000 check for the state’s legal defense of SB1070 on Thursday.
The expenditure covers Arizona’s defense of the landmark illegal immigration law from September 2010 to September 2011 from the law firm Snell & Wilmer.
Court: Land Dept. funding illegal
The Arizona Court of Appeals struck another blow Thursday to the Land Department’s effort to fund its budget by using proceeds from the sale of state trust land. The court unanimously upheld a lower-court ruling that found the Trust Land Management Fund, established in 2009, to be unconstitutional.
Republican Sitton files exploratory for Giffords’ seat
Businessman and broadcaster Dave Sitton is eying a congressional seat, but the Tucson Republican has a few questions that need to be cleared up before he takes the plunge.
Carmona announces U.S. Senate run
Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate.
“Like most Americans, it’s clear to me that Washington is broken and it is time for honest people with real world experience to step forward to solve the problems we are facing and get our economy going again,” Carmona said in a press statement.
From Pearce to Pierce: Prescott rancher elected new Senate President
Republicans today selected Sen. Steve Pierce as their new leader, a move that quickly filled the vacuum that resulted from the toppling of Senate President Russell Pearce two days ago.
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.
Obama, prominent AZ Dems urging Carmona Senate run
President Obama and some of Arizona’s most prominent Democrats are pushing former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona to jump into the U.S. Senate race.
Some GOP senators expected to give Lewis cold shoulder
Jerry Lewis gained political enemies when he took on Senate President Russell Pearce in a historic recall election on Nov. 8.
Starting next year, the political neophyte will be sharing a parking lot with some of them.
Actually, some even suggested setting up Lewis’ office just several steps from the parking lot.
Grassroots ‘Mormon Fall’ aided Lewis victory
Though Jerry Lewis was cautious about saying exactly how important the Mormon church was to his campaign, the political newcomer’s upset win over Senate President Russell Pearce largely relied on a quiet, grassroots effort among Mesa’s faithful.
As the final results of the Nov. 8 recall election became clear, campaign insiders for Lewis revealed how vital early support was among membe[...]
Jail or prison? Counties target law on housing short-time inmates
An all-out blitz by county lobbying organizations is under way to repeal a 2011 law requiring anyone sentenced to prison for a year or less to serve the time in county jail.
Parraz’s group parties to recall results
Most of the taco buffet was gone when Randy Parraz finally arrived at the Citizens for a Better Arizona party at 8:11 p.m., but he came with news that brought a cheer from the 100 or so guests.
“It’s 53 to 45, we’re up by 1,000,” Parraz announced as he reached out a hand to Sen. Steve Gallardo and embraced him.