Wednesday, March 11th, 2009...4:02 pm
Election News From the Other Communities in the Pima County Firmament
Some interesting results in municipal elections aound the county yesterday. In Marana, Herb Kai, as expected, had a commanding victory with 64% of the votes cast so he avoids a runoff. Results further down get a bit more murky. At first it may look like Patty Comerford was elected last night without having to worry about a runoff with her 52% of votes cast. However, there are about 200 provisional ballots uncounted. Although the results are not likely to bring her total below those of third or fourth place finishers Kelle Maslyn and Carol McGorray (who are virtually tied at one vote apart and 48% of votes cast), the results could bring her percentage under 50% of votes cast. Comerford will easilly be able marshall her resources should her re-election drag out a few more weeks: she was apparently able to run a full-on campaign and spent hardly any money.
In Sahuarita, the election ended up being what the political science folks refer to as a scatter. The highest vote getter, Duane Blumberg, only managed 43%, which means he is in a runoff with five other candidates, three of whom managed to get at least a third of the votes cast.
In South Tucson, long time labor activist Carlos “Charlie” Salaz has won election to the council. He along with incumbent Councilperson Pete Tadeo managed to each capture more than two thirds of the votes cast. This is interesting because Salaz previously ran for South Tucson Council as a write-in insurgent and only managed to miss election by five votes. This time he ran with the blessing of Dan Eckstrom and his supporters.
Also interesting, Eckstrom’s slate this time only had two people for the three slots available, leaving Vice Mayor Paul Diaz to fend for himself. The “opposition slate” had three people running, Councilperson Ildefonso Green, John Felix and Herman Lopez. Diaz underperformed, leaving two of the opposition allies, Green and Felix, to face each other in the runoff.
Runoffs in all three communities are scheduled for May 19th.
31 Comments
March 11th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Although I understand local elections are nonpartisan and nuanced, Ted, can you (or someone else familiar with the races) help us decipher whether or not these results constituted an advance for progressives?
March 11th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
VD-
A fair question. I am not as familiar with many of these candidates as I should be, but I can tell you that Comerford up in Marana is quite conservative. Maslyn was supported by the local Democratic party in an effort to get more involved in these “smaller” races. She’s a spokesman for Comcast (not exactly a progressive bona fide), but would be miles ahead of the likes of Comerford and McGorray.
In Sahuarita, Rosanna Gabaldon, who also made the run off, was backed by the Democratic party for similar reasons.
In South Tucson, Salaz has been active for years in local progressive causes. He has even been active in Salt of the Earth Labor College, an organization at the far left of our local activist spectrum.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
March 11th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
What’s does”frimament” in the blog title mean?
March 11th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
The Democrats running in Marana are Vice Mayor Herb Kai, Council Member Carol McGorray and Kelle Maslyn. If the primary election is any indication, Democrats did very well (3 of the top 4).
The Democrats in Sahuarita are Council Member John Sullivan and Rosanna Gabaldon. (2 of the top 4).
March 11th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Charlie is the salt of the earth and one of the best loyal activist I have ever worked with. A heart of gold and loyal to the core. He will never waiver for the working people in South Tucson.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Congratulations, Charlie!
March 12th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Maslyn violated Arizona election law. Did not disclose who paid for her newspaper advertisments.
The Town of Marana found her in violation on Monday.
She can’t even follow the rules, enough is enough. Marana needs councilmembers that will follow the rules. Kelly should withdraw.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
And Comerford didn’t? c’mon. That is a suspect post.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Paul,
Marana Attorneys found Maslyn guilty of violating election law and informed her of the findings. Ask maslyn, she knows she broke the law. She can not deny it.
Comerford did not violate any election law.
Call the town and ask before you insinuate falsehoods.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
tedski is wrong about Maslyn and McGorray.
maslyn isn’t even registered as a Democrat…is she ashamed?
McGorray isn’t ashamed to be a Democrat.
So the person that Tedski likes, Maslyn, is embarassed of her political leanings and gets positive coverage from Tedski and McGorray, who is a Democrat and proud of it, gets trashed…
seems like something is rotten in Denmark here…
and why would the Democratic Party give Maslyn money when she isn’t even a Democrat. Something stinks here.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Maslyn…,
I don’t need to contact the town to know that Comerford violated laws. She did not report any debt on her finance report and had thousands of dollars worth of campaign materials on the street before the reporting deadline. This is cut and dried.
Maslyn left a “paid for by” off her newspaper ad. The penalty is three times the cost of the ad, but apparently the fine was waived by the town, because their ill-informed town attorney told the candidates that their materials did not require a “paid for by” disclaimer. It was later retracted, but it would be unfair to hold the candidates accountable for the bad advice from the town attorney.
Comerford’s behavior is fraudulent. And it’s my fervent hope that she’s held accountable by either the town, or if necessary, the Attorney General’s office.
This story isn’t over by a long shot.
And by the way, why can’t you use your real name? Your credibility is suspect when you hide behind anonymity.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
And I just checked the voter file. Maslyn is a Democrat. What the hell are you talking about?
Apropos of nothing, how can an attorney — who doesn’t even know that candidates require a “paid for by” statement, when he QUOTES THE RELEVANT STATUTE in his advisory email — even pass the bar, let alone advise the clerk and stand in judgment of candidates on election law issues?
This office is so poorly run, I really hope the new council seriously considering making substantive changes when it is seated following the election.
All the candidates, Comerford included, deserve a competent conduct of this election. This is pathetic.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Andrew, contact the town and find out who broke the law…it wasn’t Comerford, it was Maslyn. I guess laws only need be applied to the opposition…sorry, Maslyn clearly violated election law. There is no dispute of that fact. Maybe the Pima Democratic Party shouldn’t have given her neophytes.
The truth hurts.
Why are the Democrats only supporting Maslyn and not McGorray? McGorray is a Democrat that has served Marana well for quite some time. Maslyn has done little if anything for Marana.
Andrew, you work for the Pima Dems…why Maslyn and not McGorray?
March 13th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Andrew, you are a professional, you should have known that Maslyn violated the law…maybe she should have asked for competent assistance from the Pima Dems.
Blaming the system is funny, though. Good one.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
First off, I DON’T work for the Pima Dems, and I’ve never been an employee of the Party at any level. And I don’t even live in Pima County anymore.
Kelle made a really dumb mistake, and I think she should’ve been fined. It was dumb, but it was also an honest mistake. She reported the expenditure and no one was made to believe that anyone besides her campaign funded the ad.
Comerford’s situation is altogether different. And the town is clearly no authority on election law for the reasons stated above. If the town either refuses or is unable to adequately hold their candidates accountable, I hope the AG’s office will.
Again, why no name? Are you a candidate, an elected official, or a town employee misusing taxpayer-funded resources?
You clearly know who I am, why can’t you return the favor?
March 13th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Andrew, YOU should know the law.
The ad misled the public. Maslyn should withdraw. She implied that the Marana Police paid for the ad. Who knows? Maybe they did.
Read the law, the jurisdiction is at the town attorney level. Comerford has always been in compliance and found to be. Maslyn (I’m assuming with your lame help) did indeed break election law. There is no question.
Andrew – ask Maslyn how long she’s been registered as a Democrat (recent change – I posted that comment earlier to get you to check – because deep down you weren’t sure.)
also, Andy, why are the Dems helping a recent convert instead of a life-long staunch Democrat like McGorray?
Drew, the Marana race is non-partisan and the parties should stay out.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I am Russell Clanagan!
March 13th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
and where is my gym membership!
March 13th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
What the parties do to participate in local elections is their choice. I can’t speak to the Maslyn v. McGorray question. Or Herb Kai for that matter. I’m not advising any of these campaigns, Kelle’s included.
No one’s denying Kelle broke the law. It was a fine-able offense. IMO, it should have cost her the $250 or whatever three times the cost of the ad was.
To say that Comerford is in compliance is completely bogus on its face. To not report any of her contributions or expenditures (sans her $100 loan and the filing fees) until after the conclusion of the election completely circumvents both the letter and the spirit of the law. You know it, I know it, and everyone else following this increasingly childish exchange knows it.
If the Town Attorney is unable or unwilling to enforce the law, the AG should assume jurisdiction. If he fails to do so, it sends the message that campaign compliance is not required, but merely advisable. Arizonans have a long history of demanding accountability and transparency from their elected officials. Comerford shouldn’t be let off the hook because the Town Attorney is afraid to make waves.
Attack the messenger all you want, but flaunting the law like this really gets my blood going. I don’t have any connection to any of these campaigns, I just think that effective democracy depends on enforcement of the law. And yes, that includes Kelle Maslyn and Patti Comerford both.
March 13th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Maslyn guilty of violation of election law. Plain and simple. Comerford didn’t violate any laws.
You can say what you want, but you are plain wrong.
Have a great weekend, maybe I’ll see you at the gym. I have a free lifetime membership.
Russell Clanagan
March 14th, 2009 at 1:39 am
Russ,
“Comerford didn’t violate any laws.”
First, you repeating this over and over doesn’t make it true. If Comerford was found to have done nothing wrong, than these findings were clearly in error and I seriously doubt that they would stand up to scrutiny. It is CLEAR that Comerford DID break the law and what’s worse, did so deliberately.
Whatever was found, the violations are so blatant (Comerford virtually ignored the law all together) that it is hard to find satisfaction in the “trust us, she didn’t do anything wrong” song and dance. I can almost hear you laughing as you type it. Your childish and often unexplained ad hominem attacks don’t lend to your credibility either. I half expect your next comment to be posted under “Tucson Vice helped maslyn break election law” just for saying this.
Your argument contains so many falacies and unexplained arguments that it can’t possibly be taken seriously. Besides that, Comerford’s conduct stinks. Badly. Everybody knows it. There is no spinning this and your attempts thus far have been both intellectually lazy and often obtuse.
Your reasoning is Rovian. Your denial is concerning. Your little “nah nee nah nee boo boo, you can’t catch us” routine is downright….odd.
March 14th, 2009 at 1:42 am
In fact, I am seriously wondering if this is a Republitard spin-off….I am having that much trouble taking you seriously right now.
March 14th, 2009 at 7:40 am
TV,
Again. Maslyn is the lawbreaker. Comerford isn’t. Call the Town of Marana and ask them.
Bye Bye,
RC
March 14th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I would have expected a guy with your background to demonstrate more intelligence.
March 14th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Carol,
I think he meant “firmament”
March 15th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Maslin was personally responsible for the 25 seconds of porn during the Super Bowl. She did it to help out Obama and his muslim friends.
Clanagan once tried out to be Mr. Clean. He didn’t get the part, but has worn the earring ever since.
Andrew Meyers brother Michael was responsible for the murders of dozens of teenagers, as was documented in the “Halloween” series of movies.
March 15th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Hey Ted—
I think the dude posting this crap is awesome, everything he says is true…..
your friend, Melvin Dumar.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I agree, Melvin — people making s@%t up is stupid.
-George O’Leary
March 16th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I agree…I wish Andrew would stop fabricating falsehoods.
March 16th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Fabricating falsehoods? Wow. Do you always drink heavily before logging onto the internet?