Horne could face bloody, expensive battle in 2014 attorney general race

Tom Horne has long maintained that he’s innocent of the campaign finance allegations against him, but he may not get a chance to prove it until after voters have decided whether to give him a second term as attorney general.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge expressed skepticism over the county attorney’s authority to pursue alleged campaign finance violations by Attorney General Tom Horne, putting the future of the case in question as the state’s top law enforcement officer and a key aide prepare to fight the charges in court.

Democrat Felecia Rotellini, who narrowly lost the attorney general’s race in 2010, is coming back for another run at the job, setting up a potential rematch with Tom Horne.

Rotellini filed a campaign committee to run for attorney general in 2014 Monday. In 2010, she lost by 3.8 percentage points to Horne, making her the most successful statewide Democratic candidate in a banner Republican year that saw every other statewide Democrat lose by double digits.

The Republic released the results of the poll conducted over the weekend on the 2014 AG’s race that was mentioned in yesterday’s report, and the early numbers look good for Goddard. The poll of 601 voters, conducted by Public Policy Polling from Jan. 4-6, shows Goddard beating Horne 50-38 with 12 percent undecided.

With the U.S. Supreme Court set to review a law that requires federal approval of any changes to Arizona’s election laws and procedures, Attorney General Tom Horne said Tuesday the measure has outlived its usefulness.

Like most elected officials, I’ve had to balance demands from diverse constituents over the years. No one ever seems completely satisfied, but I always tried to find policies that served the public need and were cost-effective. Of course, it is best when policies enjoy broad popular support, an especially difficult task in today’s polarized politics.

Arizona will get more than $1.6 billion to relieve underwater homeowners in settlements for two mortgage fraud lawsuits.

Goddard said Coughlin’s allegations in yesterday’s report that the former AG used his position to spark a Social Security investigation against Brewer and that he leaked the news to the Arizona Republic are completely unfounded.

In a four-page letter written to the Republic, Brewer issued a thinly-veiled accusation of how she believes an investigation into Social Security payments she received on behalf of her son came to be, but this morning her consultant, Chuck Coughlin, didn’t mince any words.

Senate Minority Leader David Schapira today announced he is exploring a run for Congress. In doing so, the 31-year-old Democrat can begin raising money and gauging his level of support in what is expected to be a Democratic-leaning district that includes his hometown of Tempe.