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Free NewsletterMesa’s Watergate: Cortes’ campaign conspirators should come clean
The Arizona Constitution, Article 7 section 12, charges the Legislature with the duty to “maintain the purity of elections.” Arizona case law has held that attempting to place a “diversionary candidate” on the ballot is illegal. A “diversionary candidate” is one who is in the race solely to divert votes from a particular candidate so as to give an advantage to another candidate. The re[...]
The Cortes factor: Politicos debate alleged ‘sham’ candidate’s impact
Olivia Cortes’ controversy-ridden candidacy abruptly ended earlier this month.
But it’s too late to strike her name off the Nov. 8 recall election ballot, and some say she could still peel votes away from fellow Republican Jerry Lewis, thereby helping Senate President Russell Pearce secure a victory.
Pearce attacks Lewis on immigration, says challenger ‘embarrassed’ to be an Arizonan
In his first attack mailer, Senate President Russell Pearce said his challenger, fellow Republican Jerry Lewis, is “embarrassed” to be an Arizonan.
2012 Pearce-Lewis match-up unlikely
Senate President Russell Pearce’s allies have said that recall challenger Jerry Lewis would be soundly defeated if he faced Pearce in a Republican primary election.
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.
Lewis: Do you really want to talk ethics?
Pearce’s allies have seized on the controversy about donated school items that Lewis gave away when he was serving as a principal to show he’s not as saintly as depicted.
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.
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.
Candidates in Arizona recall election to debate
The three candidates running in the Nov. 8 recall election for Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce are scheduled to debate late Thursday in Mesa.
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 [...]
Why the lawsuit against Olivia Cortes had to be aggressively defended
It’s not because the lawsuit was politically motivated. Everyone knows how unapologetically brutal politics can be. And it’s not because the lawsuit was brought to defame Ms. Cortes, either. Placing your name on a ballot is the functional equivalent of sending the world an open invitation to attack your character.
