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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.
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.
Cortes testimony begs several questions
Olivia Cortes’ revelation in court yesterday that she didn’t pay for the campaign signs that are plastered across the district or the professional circulators who gathered signatures on her behalf spawned more legal questions.
SOS investigates pro-Cortes signs; Mesa removes them
Republican Olivia Cortes’ admission in court yesterday that she doesn’t own the pro-Cortes campaign signs in Mesa and nobody knows who paid for them compelled the city to take them down.
Lewis campaign attacks Pearce on Cortes, Fiesta Bowl, fiscal issues
Jerry Lewis’ camp has finally launched an attack on Senate President Russell Pearce, initially firing off a letter that sarcastically welcomed Republican Olivia Cortes to the recall race.
Look what I did!
With Arizona’s jobless rate hanging stubbornly at 9 percent, next year’s election will come down to one issue that trumps all others: jobs.
And as dozens of lawmakers gear up for the campaign season — including the 25 freshmen elected last year — they know that voters will be expecting them to do something about it.
Capitol Quotes: Sept. 30, 2011
This week's most outstanding quips, jibes and utterances.
The 12% solution: Russell Pearce may not be as formidable as he appears
The operative assumption of most observers of the Russell Pearce recall election has been that Pearce is the odds-on favorite to retain his seat. He hails from a heavily Mormon, conservative, Republican district and has, after all, regularly won elections handily.
Clear on the game plan
While Cortes testified that she never lent her name as part of an effort to split anti-Pearce votes, paid signature gatherer Suzanne Dreher told the court her boss, Petition Pros owner Diane Burns, told her to tell people exactly that.
Cortes testifies she’s unaware of recall campaign machinery
Republican Olivia Cortes is challenging one of the most powerful politicians in Arizona, but the political neophyte testified in court today that she doesn’t have full control over her campaign and doesn’t know who paid circulators to gather many of the signatures she needed to qualify for the ballot.
Pearce, challengers to debate next month in Mesa
State Senate President Russell Pearce and Republican challenger Jerry Lewis will debate Oct. 6 at a public forum presented by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce.
Attorney: Cortes lawsuit will continue despite sent ballots
The attorney who is seeking to disqualify Republican Olivia Cortes from the recall election in Mesa is moving ahead with the lawsuit even though ballots have already been printed and some have been sent to a handful of voters.
The lawsuit alleges that Cortes is a part of a “cynical ploy” to divert votes from another candidate in order to help incumbent Senate President Russell Pearc[...]
