Monday, August 4th, 2008...7:37 am
Fun Up North
I’ve been following some of the shenanigans up in District 14, where they have a bit of a primary for the House. Chad Campbell and Robert Meza are being challenged by John Valdez, who is an interesting candidate for a couple of reasons. He is a recently naturalized immigrant, which means that unlike a couple of candidates here in Pima County, he has a reason for his short voting record. The other is that he is far more comfortable speaking Spanish, and campaigns with a translator. Having a non-English speaking Representative is unusual, but isn’t totally unprecedented: the Territorial Legislature featured many members who spoke only Spanish.
Valdez has been put forward by Ben Miranda, who is trying to create some semblance of a political machine (or an “erector set with ambition,” as Sam Coppersmith might say), and has been endorsed by Ted Downing, who had been close to Miranda when he was in the legislature.
But, the guy has to take one of the current members out: either Campbell or Meza. He has chosen to put out a hit on both of them which makes some dubious claims about their votes. One is claiming that Campbell and Meza voted against House Bill 1228. There is one problem with this: no such bill existed. Now, there was a Senate Bill 1228 back in 2007 that both Campbell and Meza voted for, and Miranda voted against it. Oops.
The other piece of silliness is that the flyer implies that Campbell and Meza voted against a an anti-graffitti bill. Guess what? Both Campbell and Meza were prime sponsors of that bill. Valdez is trying to conflate oposition to an amendment with being “pro-graffitti.” Really weak.
Nice to see that it isn’t only Pima County Democrats that are ripping each other up.
NB – I have a PDF of the hit piece. I have been having a lot of trouble uploading it. I’ll get it up as soon as I can.
10 Comments
August 4th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Way to take the easy low blow – ” he has a reason for his short voting record.” It’s almost like you have a horse in this race or something.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:42 am
When Representative Jesus Maria Elias served in the Territorial Legislature in 1864, proceedings on the floor were translated for him by House Speaker William C. Jones, who was bilingual by virtue of having been born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, which had been a Spanish colony a generation before his birth. Jones also had the foresight to see to it that Arizona’s first code of laws was printed in both English and Spanish.
If Valdez is elected, would the current Majority leadership show him the same consideration that Jones and the pioneers of 1864 showed Elias?
August 4th, 2008 at 10:05 am
This is typical Miranda. Lies and attacks on people. But this is even lower than normal for Miranda. Attacking sitting legislators for voting records that don’t exist?!?! And, even better yet, Miranda falsely accuses them of voting the way that he actually voted! Classic Miranda.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Miranda? I believe it. He is a snake! Divisive and a racist.
August 4th, 2008 at 11:11 am
What party was the Speaker then Tom?
August 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Another interesting tidbit of information. Valdez and Miranda use a photo of Terry Goddard on their piece, even though they didn’t have permission to do so.
Another deceptive move as Goddard has already endorsed both Robert and myself for the race. I have been told that the AG’s office has told Mr. Valdez he cannot use any photos of the AG from here on out. So, I am interested to see if they go against the AG and continue distributing the flyer anyway…
August 4th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Miranda is unstable.
He honestly believes that by causing division in the Legislature that he will take it over. That’s too bad because it’s thoughts like that that have kept good bills from passing because how can he possibly have power over the legislature when he’s the reason the Democrats don’t have power.
For the sake of getting productive discussion going and perhaps passing sound bills, put your damn ego aside and stop bickering. Perhaps you’ll find that if you can get along with people they may show some respect for you.
And we thought Arpaio was the only person we could make fun of this election cycle. Thanks for enlightening our happy hour, Cheers! Jokes a plenty !
August 4th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Miranda, voted to protect sex offenders…….need we say more
August 4th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Miranda has a primary challenger, too.
http://www.munoz08.org/
Spoke with Jimmie on air and found him to be a very bright and talented young man.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
We all know Valdez will just be Miranda’s puppet. Get the word out and protect Chad Campbell and vote Miranda out. He voted against SB1228 to protect sex offenders and now I hear he wants to sit on the board of the Phoenix Union School District! Parents and Teachers must know!