Part II:
Where we are today: Friends, we’ve got trouble—right here in River City
In 2007, there is one game in town. Phil Gordon, with approximately $1 million in his campaign war chest, is opposed by lawyer and businessman, Steve Lory, but there is no contest. How does one slay dragons with a fly swatter?
The citizens of the City of Phoenix will dutifully mosey down to their polling places or take a seat at the kitchen table and cast ballots for people and issues they know little about. Try to find out who is funding the campaigns and you’ll hit a block wall. The City of Phoenix, with ample technological capabilities and staff, does not make the information available online. County, state and federal governments all provide means to access campaign donors.
Mayor Gordon, it turns out, supports Prop 1. Opposed to gangs and crime, (aren’t we all?) he is soliciting “funding authority to hire an additional 500 police personnel and 100 fire fighters.” Didn’t we authorize those expenditures last election? Be assured this “legacy” will play a prominent role as he campaigns for higher office. When Gordon and the amnesty-friendly Phoenix Chamber of Commerce are in concert in supporting anything, antenna should go up! The folks at Sonoran Alliance are running an excellent commentary on this issue, which we highly recommend.
Another issue that Gordon is promoting is innocuously called, “Home Rule.” Again, don’t be conned. While publicized as a cost saving device, it actually is a conveyance to subvert public authority, transferring it to the city council and giving government more power to independently tax and regulate. When Home Rule was proposed on the county level several years ago, it actually would have removed the vote from the citizens for what proponents termed, “line offices,” giving the authority over to the Board of Supervisors. Under that plan, the county attorney, sheriff and other county elected office holders would have been appointed by supervisors rather than face the public in elections. The rationalization was that voters did not know enough about the office seekers to make intelligent decisions. Citizens rejected those arguments and the proposals were defeated. We were not deceived then and should not be now.
The candidates running for council are:
District 1:
Stacey O’Connell, Minuteman Project’s former state director. Businessman, former Marine. Republican who opposes the sanctuary city policies of Mayor Phil Gordon.
Jonathan Humphrey, No web page located.
Loralei Poll,, No web page located. Union organizer, works for ADOT.
Thelda Williams, Former council member and one-time appointed mayor. Endorsed by Phil Gordon. Friend Joe Arpaio found her employment after losing Mayor‘s race.
Distrcit 3:
Jon Altmann Is another iffy Republican, who has Planned Parenthood’s Sam Coppersmith as an endorser. Even so, he is probably the best of this lot.
Maria Baier, Name appeared on a Republicans for Janet (Napolitano) website. Endorsed by Phil Gordon with the support of unions and “moderates.” She is sister of Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Khan, which accounts for the union support. Endorsed by McCain aides and supporters.
James Mapstead, endorsed by RINO Sen. Carolyn Allen and liberal Democrat Rep. Jackie Thrasher.
James Iannuzo, Links on issues are not working.
District 5:
Claude Mattox, Endorsed by Phil Gordon, city council candidate Maria Baier, and a load of lobbyists.
District 7:
Laura Pastor, Daddy US Rep. Ed Pastor has been a great help in assuring job security with community college system. Phil Gordon, AG Terry Goddard, Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and Rep. Steve Gallardo were all on hand for her campaign kickoff. Hmm? Think she might be a Democrat?
Ruth Ann Marston, Phoenix Elementary School District Board member. Conveniently provides Spanish translation on website.
Art Harding, No web page located. Legislative liaison for AZ Department of Education.
Michael Nowakowski, Endorsed by every imaginable union, the Sierra Club, and the family of Cesar Chavez.
Good luck. We’re going to need it.
August 3, 2007 at 2:28 pm
You didn’t mention that Stacey O’Connell supports Prop. 1… yes, he supports Prop.1. Are there any fiscal conservatives running? This city has a HUGE spending problem and it all starts and ends with whom we are electing to run this place.
August 3, 2007 at 5:59 pm
I was reviewing your information about City Council candidates. Please go to my website at VOTELMPOLL.ORG for more information about Loralei Poll for City Council.
August 4, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Thelda boasts SAFETY, but can’t even spell it correctly on her website!!
“SAFTEY FIRST” is how it reads.
August 4, 2007 at 6:04 pm
If the election depends on who “raises” the most money you are right. It doesn’t always go that way though.
If we all get out and Vote, Mr. Gordon will be out of office.
Steve Lory
August 4, 2007 at 7:16 pm
I agree that money shouldn’t play a deciding role in campaigns but most people are not reading anything and just see signs as they drive through the city. They might remember what names they’ve heard—not what they’ve heard about them.
We live in a time of plenty and many of the people I encounter have no concept of what was given by others in terms of blood and sweat in order to guarantee their freedoms, including the right to vote. My dad fought in WWII, so I grew up knowing how fortunate we all are.
I wish Steve Lory the very best! He has my vote and that of the rest of my family. I hope there are others who are as disgusted with Phil Gordon as we are. The idea that these people are running as “non-partisan” candidates is laughable. Even the leftist AZ Republic discloses their party affiliation in the coverage they are doing on the council races. Kind’a blows a gaping hole in that non-partisan concept, doesn’t it? But, then, we knew that anyway.
August 4, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Gordon is able to rake in the big bucks from unions and those who are angling for high dollar contracts with the city. It’s not that the donors are enamored with Gordon. The money buys them access–both to hizzonor and to cushy and lucrative deals.
There are numerous contracts for public buildings, roadways, light rail and its many components, and various other projects. Phil Gordon, Janet Napolitano, Michael Crow, Terry Goddard and others, form a partnership that is impenetrable and far reaching. These are not innocuous folks. The rampant ambition and close ties will only be broken when they encounter one another while pursuing the same offices.
August 6, 2007 at 7:37 am
Candidate for City Council District 1 Website
JonathanHumphrey.com
August 10, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Phoenix has really grown over the years. So has tax revenue, tied to both growth and inflation. Every tax dollar received should fund the existing infrastructure proportionately. Have you funded the police and fire department based on the above, Phil? My guess is you have not and have spent that increase in tax revenue money on other projects. We want some answers!!!! If not then those that appose prop one will do our best to expose what the city has done over time unless we get some answers without political spin.
August 16, 2007 at 10:20 am
I strongly oppose propositions 1 and 3. Is there an anti proposition campaign? If so, please let me know.
August 16, 2007 at 11:06 am
John:
Coverage of the District 7 City Council Forum was posted on Seeing Red AZ this morning and provides the excellent comments made by Tom Jenney, Executive Director of the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers.
http://www.aztaxpayers.org/
He would be a knowledgeable person to contact.
Thanks for your interest in this important issue.
August 20, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Maybe if candidates actually had to summarize their positions on all the issues, and provide a website about themselves for more details, instead of wasting time, money, and resources on vague worthless slogans, people would be better able to make informed voting decisions.
September 9, 2007 at 4:52 am
Vote out anyone for open borders or Sanctuary for illegals! This is crucial to our survival as Free Americans. We must make change from the bottom up! And believe me, Phil Gordon and our City council, are the bottom!