Capitol Quotes: 6/25/2010

“Due process I have not been given.” – Rep. Doug Quelland, explaining to fellow District 10 Republicans that he was wrongly punished by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission and should be appointed to the seat left vacant by his removal from office. He wasn’t.

Business groups move to center

Arizona’s business community has sent a message to legislative candidates: Commit to a pro-business agenda, and stop wasting time with kooky stuff like “birther” bills.

In exchange, candidates who cooperate may get tons of cash for their campaigns and the support of chambers of commerce across the state.

Complaints force 9 from ballot

More than half of the candidates whose petition signatures were challenged this election cycle either were kicked off the ballot by a judge or withdrew voluntarily in the face of a likely courtroom defeat.

Vicious AG primary has Republicans fearing ’98 repeat

The vicious primary between Tom Horne and Andrew Thomas is bringing back bad memories of 1998 and Janet Napolitano for many Republicans.

Brewer gets NRA endorsement

Candidate Buz Mills owns a shooting range and is on the National Rifle Association's board of directors, but it's incumbent Jan Brewer who has the group's endorsement in the contested Republican primary for Arizona governor.

AZ Senate hopeful defends pitch for troubled firm

Republican U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth's campaign is defending his role as a pitchman three years ago for a Florida company that consumer advocates have accused of airing misleading ads.

2 Renzi associates headed for federal court trial

Two associates of former Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi are set for trial this week in a case tied to allegations that the congressman looted his family insurance business to fund his campaigns and for personal expenses.

Complaints force 5 candidates to drop out

Five candidates withdrew from their races soon after their nominating signatures were challenged.

Reliable political tactic narrowing the field

Sixteen court challenges against legislative, statewide and congressional candidates’ nominating petitions have already spurred at least five people to drop out.

Capitol Quotes: June 18, 2010

‘We have did the biggest cuts in the history of the state.’ — Gov. Jan Brewer, during the June 15 televised debate between among GOP gubernatorial candidates.

GOP hiding facts about immigration law

Gov. Jan Brewer and her Republican friends have been running around Arizona dismissing concerns about Arizona’s new immigration law, S1070.

Student: Huppenthal video was edited, taken out of context

A video circulated by Democrats that purported to show a Republican candidate for state schools chief walking out on an interview with a high school journalist earlier this year did not reflect what actually happened.