Maricopa County GOP Straw Poll yields surprises

Captain Rick: A Straw Poll in Arizona surprisingly places Andrew Thomas in first place…well ahead of the rest of the Republican contenders…in the race for Governor.
Former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas has filed nominating petitions to get on the Republican ballot as a governor’s candidate in the August 26 primary.
Thomas filed nearly twice the required number of signatures Thursday needed to qualify for the ballot. He also turned in more than enough $5 contributions to qualify for more than $750,000 in public funding for his primary bid.
Thomas promised to crack down on illegal immigration. He touted his success in doing that during his tenure as a prosecutor.

Seeing Red AZ

An unannounced straw poll was conducted Thursday evening at the Executive Guidance Committee meeting of the Maricopa County Republican Committee. The EGC is composed of 30 members, including 20 District Chairmen, 5 members-at-large and 5 officers. Republican guests can attend and cast ballots. In total, 40 people were eligible to vote.

County Chairman A. J. LaFaro announced the results of the “no advance notice” poll on statewide candidates:

GOVERNOR:

Andrew Thomas: 16

Ken Bennett:   7

Frank Riggs:   7

Doug Ducey:  5

Christine Jones:  2

Scott Smith: …

Al Melvin:     …

U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon, not in the governor’s race, garnered a single write-in vote.

SECRETARY of STATE:

Wil Cardon:  19

Justin Pierce: 15

Michele Reagan: 4

ATTORNEY GENERAL:

Mark Brnovich: 19

Tom Horne:  17

TREASURER:

Jeff DeWit:  26

Randy Pullen:   9

Hugh Hallman:  4

SUPERINTENDENT of PUBLIC INSTRUCTION:

Diane Douglas:  35

John Huppenthal:  4

CORPORATION  COMMISSION:

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Supreme Court will hear Arizona appeal for blocked law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration

Captain Rick: The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Arizona over a its blocked law requiring proof of American citizenship before registering to vote. This law originated from Proposition 200, approved by Arizona voters in 2004, but was later blocked by a 12-member panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which said that federal law trumps the Arizona requirement. It is anticipated that the Supreme court will consider this case in February 2013.

Federal law allows voters to fill out a mail-in voter registration card and swear that they are citizens under penalty of perjury, but it does not require them to show proof of citizenship as Arizona’s 2004 law does. Arizona has its own form and an online system to register when renewing a driver’s license. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling did not affect citizenship requirements using the Arizona forms. The Arizona law also denied some government benefits to illegal immigrants and required Arizonans to show identification before voting. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the voter identification provision and the denial of benefits was not challenged.

Arizona Propositions on the Nov 2, 2010 Election Ballot + my voting suggestions

 

Arizona Propositions on the Nov 2, 2010 Election Ballot + my voting suggestions

  

Arizona Constitutional Amendments:

106…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution in an attempt to circumvent Obamacare.

107…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to prevent Affirmative Action programs that favor minorities.

109…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to make hunting and fishing a citizen’s right that can not be restricted by special interest groups….like those that don’t want animals and fish killed.

110…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to allow for trading state trust land in order to protect land around military bases like Luke AFB from encroachment.

111…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to amend the title of AZ Sec of State to AZ Lt. Gov. Makes AZ like most other states. Places Gov and Lt. Gov on the same ticket (same party). If Gov dies, leaves….the party in power, stays in power.

112…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to allow 6 months, instead of 4 to acquire signatures for a initiative petition. 

113…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to allow people to vote via secret ballot to stop people from being harassed into voting yes for creating a union.

 

Citizen Initiatives to revise AZ State Law: 

203…Vote NO…legalizes marijuana in Arizona. Forces Arizona to establish a costly regulatory system at tax payer expense.

 

Legislative referrals to revise AZ Statutes:

301…Vote YES…transfers $124 Million from Land Conservation Fund back into the general fund to be used for land conservation related costs to help reduce the current AZ $1.7 Billion deficit.  This fund was established by the Growing Smarter initiative back in 1998, when money was oozing out of the cracks. AZ can no longer afford to take $20 Million from the general fund every year to speculate in land investment. 

302…Vote YES…transfers $324 Million from the Early Childhood Development Fund to the general fund to be used to increase quality and access of early childhood development and health services to help reduce the current $1.7 Billion AZ deficit. The fund originated from $.80 tax per pack of cigarettes in a 2006 voter initiative.

 

I welcome your comments,

Captain Rick