Politics & Government

We reported yesterday on the questionable ethics demonstrated by Phoenix mayoral candidate Peggy Neely as she helped the Klutznicks, Chicago-based developers who were filling her campaign coffers with political donations.Check out the story, now updated with some links to excerpts from the original court records and exhibits, depositions and e-mails…

After Arizona lawmakers passed SB1070, calls for action by immigration activists were heard loudly in California.San Francisco and Los Angeles announced boycotts against the state — but reality quickly set in when city leaders realized such plans might come back to hurt them. As L.A. Weekly writer Gene Maddaus points…

Phoenix mayoral candidate Peggy Neely pledges to rein in the influence of developers at City Hall to strengthen ethics in government — but certain of her past actions as a public official don’t conform with her new political message. Especially the former councilwoman’s dealings with CityNorth, a $1.8 billion mixed-use community in north Phoenix, and its…

Governor Jan Brewer wants to the U.S. Supreme Court to take a look at Arizona’s contested immigration law, SB1070, following the law’s shoot-downs in lower courts. “I am hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court will choose to take this case and issue much-needed clarity for states, such as Arizona, that…

Art “El Tudy” Olivas hates New Times.He’s picketed in front of our building, scolded us for our coverage of former TV pitchman J.D. Hayworth’s unsuccessful candidacy in last year’s U.S. Senate primary, and called us communists. That said, and despite Art’s inability to successfully spell “communist” on his protest signs,…

We spoke to Scottsdale Lieutenant Mike Stauffer this afternoon about the shooting at Tent City early yesterday morning.In case you missed it, click here to read about a Tent City inmate who was hit with shrapnel after a bullet was fired at the tents from about 120 yards away from…

For months, there’s been a lot of speculation about who will challenge Congressman Jeff Flake in his bid to take over the Senate seat getting vacated by Senator Jon Kyl next year. Finally, someone’s actually pulled the trigger and will challenge the Congressional beefcake.Wil Cardon, a 40-year-old Mesa investment manager…

Mesa Community College grad Olivia Cortes is a candidate in the recall election for the state Senate seat currently held by Senate President Russell Pearce — and nobody seems to know why.She’s sure as shit hesitant to talk about it — our colleague Stephen Lemons has contacted her several times…

Fagala-fearing Congressman Trent Franks was asked by Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. on Monday night to answer questions about a constitutional balanced budget amendment.”I’ll take a shot at that,” Franks responded.Franks’ “shot” was a little off — he responded with a rant about abortion and Nazis. Political Correction snagged the…

Congressional hopeful Matt Salmon didn’t just accept the endorsement of a sheriff he doesn’t like, he doesn’t respect, he doesn’t think is “playing with a full deck,” and he compares to Barney Fife, he actually sought it.That’s what Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio tells New Times, anyway. America’s self-proclaimed “toughest…

Poor Newt Gingrich won’t be sitting in the Oval Office anytime soon.The former Speaker of the House boasted about his 1.3 million followers on twitter, but was quickly exposed by a former staffer for hiring a firm to create fake accounts to make it look like he was far more…

Congressional candidate Matt Salmon picked up the endorsement of South Dakota Senator John Thune yesterday, but he still won’t explain his recent about-face in regards to how he feels about Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.Last month, Arpaio endorsed the former congressman in his bid to become the GOP nominee for…

Voters will begin casting their ballots on August 4 for Phoenix mayor and in five of the city’s eight city council districts.Phoenix election officials will be mailing out about 290,000 early ballots, which is about three times the actual number of ballots cast in the last mayor’s race in September…

The federal government avoided economic catastrophe today after the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill to increase the debt-ceiling yesterday. The bill cleared the Senate this morning, and President Barack Obama signed it into law moments ago.The vast majority of Arizona’s members of Congress, apparently, were no fans of…

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is being sued again — this time by four immigration activists arrested last summer during a protest at the 4th Avenue Jail.Two of the plaintiffs are lawyers who acted as legal observers during the protest; one demonstrator claims he was beaten by guards.Their allegations stem…

We’ve already heard about Senator John McCain calling tea party politicos hobbits yesterday as he ranted before Senate members about debt ceilings and balanced budget amendments.Well, Wes Harris, the leader of those beloved, hairy-footed small people who live in Middle-earth Phoenix, is backing Wes Gullett, a former McCain operative and…

We had a chance this morning to grab a cup of coffee with Scottsdale Lieutenant Mike Stauffer, who is currently campaigning to unseat Joe Arpaio as the Republican nominee in next year’s race for Maricopa County Sheriff.In short, what we took away from our hour-long chat is this: Stauffer wants…

If you’re planning to cast a ballot in Phoenix’s August 30 election and haven’t yet registered to vote, get signed up now because time is running out.August 1 is the last day to register.Phoenix voters will choose a Mayor, and those living in council Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7…

“The Mav” had quite the day for himself yesterday.Aside from calling Tea Partiers “hobbits” while addressing the Senate, Senator John McCain also managed to bash Nevada Senator Harry Reid, President Barack Obama, Reid’s opponent in last year’s Senate race Sharon Angle, one-time Delaware Senate candidate/possible witch Christine O’Donnell, and even…

We think we’ve figured out why Congressional candidate Matt Salmon refuses to explain his newfound love for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio: Salmon’s leading the polls — why bother?Salmon’s campaign today issued a press release claiming Salmon leads his two GOP opponents in the District 6 Congressional primary by at…

Several Phoenix City Council members have picked sides in the August 30 mayor’s race.Councilman Tom Simplot stands with Phoenix mayoral candidate and lobbyist Wes Gullett, councilmen Michael Johnson and Sal DiCiccio are backing Peggy Neely, a former councilwoman running for mayor, and Councilman Michael Nowakowski has endorsed Greg Stanton’s mayoral…

Since last week, we’ve been pestering the campaign of Congressional candidate Matt Salmon for an explanation of his recent switcheroo when it comes to how he feels about Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.Arpaio recently endorsed Salmon in the District 6 Congressional race, which was a bit of a shocker for…