Friday, August 12, 2011

Maricopa County Judge In Arizona Ruled State Senator Pearce's Recall Can Move Forward

State Senator Russell Pearce

Arizona's first recall election to be held in November.

By H. Nelson Goodson
August 12, 2011

Phoenix - On Friday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Huge Hegyi ruled that the recall special election against Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce (R) can move forward. On November 8, Pearce will face a recall, which will become the first ever in the state's history. Citizens for a Better Arizona (CBA) filed the necessary recall petitions with the Maricopa County Election Board (MCEB) calling for a special election, but Pearce's attorney Lisa Hauser filed a challenge to the petitions claiming the process in getting sufficient signatures for a recall was done illegally. Judge Hegyi on the contrary said in his rulling that the election process was not a judicial proceeding, but political in nature and "Voters may recall any public official for a reason or no reason at all."
Attorney Hauser confirmed that Pearce has decided to appeal Judge Hegyi's decision in the state appeal's court.
CBA's attorney Thomas Ryan assured the petitions were done legally. The recall group got 16,949 signatures than the minimum 7,756 that was required. The MCEB certified 10,365 signatures, according to Ryan.
Pearce is being challenged by two other Republicans, Olivia Cortes and Jerry Lewis. Both Cortes and Lewis filed the required campaign registration forms with the Secretary of State Office to begin their quest in gathering 621 valid signatures before the September 9 dateline to get on the ballot and challenge Pearce.
Pearce authored the controversial immigration enforcement Senate bill SB 1070, which authorizes law enforcement officers to question the legal status of suspects during domestic and traffic violations.
MCEB confirmed that voters have until October 10 to register to vote and early voting starts on October 13.
A federal judge blocked major provisions of the bill making it useless. Governor Jan Brewer (R) filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to try and overturn the federal partial injunction on SB 1070.

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

No comments: