State election officials announced Friday there are more than enough signatures to force Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, to defend his seat.
Elections Director Amy Bjelland formally certified there are10,365 valid signatures on the petitions. Only 7,756 were needed.
Gov. Jan Brewer now has 15 days to call the election, something she cannot legally refuse to do. That means the vote will come on the next available election date, Nov. 8, unless there is a legal challenge.
Attorney Lisa Hauser, who represents Pearce, said she is reviewing the more than 1,200 pages of documentation produced by Maricopa County in its review of the signatures which explain how county workers decided whether each signature was valid or not. Yvonne Reed, spokeswoman for the county elections department, said that paperwork is n anticipation of a possible legal challenge to what would be Arizona's first-ever recall of a state elected official.
Hauser said she will present Pearce with various legal theories on how the certification might be challenged.
But Pearce told Capitol Media Services he has no plans to take the issue to court.
"I'm ready for an election,'' he said, citing his 16-0 record in primary and general elections to date.
Once the governor calls the election, challengers will have until Sept. 9 to submit nominating petitions with at least 621 valid signatures. Pearce, by virtue of his incumbency, does not need to do that.
Unlike regular elections, though, this is a single vote open to all registered voters of all parties or no party at all, with no primary to narrow the field. Whoever gets the most votes would serve out the balance of the term through the end of 2012.
Randy Parraz, one of the recall organizers, said there is no one at this point ready to take on Pearce.
Pearce said the leaders of the efforts are "outsiders, ... Democrats, open-border folks,'' people who he said do not represent the majority of those who live in his district.
Still, he conceded, his popularity is far from unanimous, as reflected in the large number of signatures gathered to oust him, even with the use of paid circulators.
"I know they've induced some good people'' to sign, he said. "I know there are some good people who just disagree with what I'm doing.''
Pearce said, though, he remains convinced that most district residents support his positions on issues ranging from his support of laws to make it easier for people to carry weapons to backing measures to place new restrictions on abortion.
But it has been his multi-year push for new laws aimed at illegal immigrants that has made him a lightning rod -- and ultimately became the impetus for the recall.
Pearce was the force behind the 2004 initiative to deny certain public benefits to those not in this country legally and to impose new identification requirements to vote. At that time, Pearce was out of step with many politicians, including from his own party, who urged voters to kill the measure.
It passed by a wide margin.
Since that vote, Pearce has found more support among GOP lawmakers to change state laws through the legislative process.
He crafted legislation to allow a judge to suspend or revoke the business licenses and permits of any firm found guilty of knowingly hiring undocumented workers. The legality of that law was upheld earlier this year by the U.S. Supreme Court.
And Pearce was the prime mover behind a comprehensive measure last year designed to give police more power to detain and arrest suspected illegal immigrants.
Key provisions of the law have been placed on hold by a federal judge until there can be a full trial on their legality. But the measure gained national attention, leading to calls to boycott the state.
"These folks are mad because I'm doing what I said I would do, successfully,'' he said.
Parraz said it would be a mistake to dismiss the recall as simply an objection to Pearce's stance on illegal immigration.
He said those who were involved were concerned about state policies that cut education funding and reduced health care for the poor, policies that Pearce, as Senate president, was instrumental in crafting.
"Immigration, to be truthful, has not been the driving force in this effort,'' Parraz said. "Most of our volunteers are white people over 50.''
Parraz acknowledged that neither he nor Chad Snow, as leaders of the effort, live in Mesa. And Parraz's political background was a run for U.S. Senate as a Democrat.
But Parraz said both of them are residents of Arizona and affected by the policies of the Legislature. Anyway, he continued, it's not like he and Snow, by themselves, could make the recall happen.
"Randy and Chad didn't sign the petition,'' Parraz said. "All we did is create the opportunity.''
Dale Whiting posted at 10:32 am on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
Oh that I were registered to vote in District 18. All I can do is vote out the idiot in my district who supports Pearce and his idiotic initiatives! Jan Brewer, your next!
devils66 posted at 11:23 am on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
LOL @ Jan being next!!!! Pearce will have no problems winning the recall!! Count on it!
NothingButTheTruth posted at 11:57 am on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
Dale, the recall effort aimed at Governor Brewer failed to get enough signatures. Didn't you get the memo? So now that it's official it will be interesting to see which dumbocrats run against Pearce. Too bad you can't run Dale.
Moderation posted at 12:15 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
I wonder if Pierce ever wonders if he really isn't the shining star of his district he thinks he is. He does have a lot of supporters and alot of people upset about how he does business. It will come down to who runs against him. This is going to be fun to watch!
azconan posted at 12:41 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
I own a business in district 18 and many other locations throughout the state. Let me tell you Pearce is the most useless politician since Evan Meacham. This guy is a racist and has only race on his agenda. He is senate president and done NOTHING to fix the housing isues in the state, unemployment, crime, housing, tourism, NOTHING. This district has more out of business than in business and his concern is the Hispanics. Get them out and the magic fairy will turn our state around. Yes, I heard that in GErmany sometime ago.
Fact is his son is a thief and in jail. Fact is his son stoled from the DMV while Pearce was RUNNING the DMV. Fact is Pearce took money for favors from the Fiesta Bowl. Fact is he has done NOTHING for this state that isnt race based.
How about we try to elect someone who actually cares about this district, this state and this COUNTRY !
BYE BYE PEARCE!
ForThePeople posted at 1:11 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
Pearce was fired from his job at MVD for mis use of the database, by allowing information from the drivers' license database to be used by non employees. Pearce stated he paid for all of his tickets to games given to him by the Fiesta Bowl. (Now totalling over $38,000) Pearce claims he is in politics to help the people of his district. Why would anyone vote in a crook politican?
He did NOT pay nearly $40,000 for his bowl tickets. The funny thing about that is that the law is VERY clear, in that you can accept game tickets if they are given to the Legislature, BUT you STILL HAVE TO REPORT IT. I do not know why Pearce did not understand that extremely simply law. Unless he is that stupid, he did what he did intentionally, and with disregard for the law.
He thinks unemployed people are lazy, he hates anyone who does not have white skin. He does not follow the law in terms of having hearings in public, because he does not care about running this state above the law. He only cares about himself, and Mesa and the State have suffered long enough because of him. He should be in jail and not just recalled, as he is a crook. If he is so concerned about the economy why did he take out nearly $1 billion in our revenue stream over the past year? He does not care about Mesa, or Arizona and needs to be gone now. I would never embarass myself by voting for a proven crook. I deserve better representation than that, and so too does Mesa and Arizona.
AmericanPatriot posted at 2:25 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
What's the matter azconan, wont he let you hire all your illegal alien buddies? lol
"Fact is his son is a thief and in jail. Fact is his son stoled from the DMV while Pearce was RUNNING the DMV. Fact is Pearce took money for favors from the Fiesta Bowl. Fact is he has done NOTHING for this state that isnt race based."
So let's see, his son is in jail so we shouldn't elect him.
His son stole something from DMV? Wrong! Justin was caught by an FBI sting with more than 20 other MVD employees after he was found to have printed REAL Driver's Licenses with FALSE ages for his friends to buy alcohol. Justin did the noble thing and pleaded guilty. . We call it MVD, so where are you from?
They all took free sporting tickets.
He balanced the budget among many other things not having anything to do with illegal aliens.
For idiots like you who know nothing but what you read in The Republic, it's expected that you know nothing about what the Senate President does.
borninmesa posted at 2:52 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
I'm not at all being sarcastic when I say that I am loving the lesser congestion on our streets, the shorter lines at our businesses, and the general lack of illegals performing illegal activity on our streets these days. It's like a time warp back to 15-20 years ago...I love it. I'm working and my quality of life is better. Thank you Russel Pearce.
borninmesa posted at 2:58 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
If I'm ignorant, then ignorance truly is bliss..........
NothingButTheTruth posted at 3:46 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
ForThePeople, just what people are you for? Sounds to me like maybe your people are illegal aliens. BTW, illegal people aren't a race.
"He thinks unemployed people are lazy, he hates anyone who does not have white skin. " As usual, your kind have to resort to calling people racist to make a point. Senator Pearce is for all Arizona citizens of any color or religion.
In_God_We_Trust posted at 4:20 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
Yes we are ready to take on any democrat that is foolish enough to waste their money trying to take our champion's job from him. We are hoping many of you fools will step forward. Don't look for a republican with any self respect to run against Pearce.
CooperG posted at 7:31 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
"Champion?" Champion at what? Let's review.
1. Champion for raising taxes on his constituents while cutting them for his big donors who live in five-car-garage homes in Fountain Hills, Scottsdale and Cave Creek.
2. Champion at causing more Mesa families to lose their healthcare.
3. Champion at causing Mesa families to lose their homes and businesses through foreclosures
4. Champion at making Arizona dead last in education.
5. Champion at sponsoring bills to kill the renewable energy industry in Arizona, losing billions of dollars in investment and sending thousands of jobs to neighboring states.
6. Champion of forcing cities in Arizona to lay off teachers, police and firemen because he raided their budgets in a shame to make it look like he balanced the budget.
7. Champion of throwing his OWN SON under the bus in an attempt to make himself look innocent in the Fiesta Bowl scam (some father).
8. And the best of all, Champion of shaking down the Fiesta Bowl for $37,930 in chauffeured limousine rides to 10 Bowl and professional sporting events with stays at fancy hotels for him, his wife and his family.
Pearce is a champion alright. A champion failure and con-man playing the citizens of his district and all Arizonans for fools.
samkat posted at 7:39 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
con: Tell us what business you own so we can boycott it. Dale, I will make a donation to Pearce's campaign just to tick you off. :-)
chick posted at 8:21 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
Howie,
It wasn't that hard to look up election contributions and see that CHAD SNOW, who's law firm makes money off ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, DONATED, along with his WIFE, 3900 dollars to Parraz's 2010 Senatorial Campaign. He and Randy both have the same agenda. Both the Trib and the RAG, refused to do their homework and alternative media had to do the job. Shameful.
chick posted at 8:24 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
Dale,
Is your only job trolling the Trib, writing opinion columns, and posting?
chick posted at 8:25 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
Randy
You are a racist that only cares about melanin content. "White people".
chick posted at 8:40 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
Howie
Also check the New Times for Chad's comments. Very telling. Chad admitted that he is following the Church's support for lawbreakers.
shrinkingviolet posted at 12:38 am on Sat, Jul 9, 2011.
Jan is just doing Pearce's bidding as she is told.
chick posted at 1:14 am on Sat, Jul 9, 2011.
Got a recording of that violet?
NothingButTheTruth posted at 4:33 pm on Sat, Jul 9, 2011.
That's right CooperG, Pearce did all that plus he killed JFK and started ww1 and 2. You're a libertard with a one track mind too. Like you even care about any of those things you wrongly lay at Pearce's feet. All you scum care about is his enacting SB1070. We all know it so why don't you just admit it and be done. You're a racist and probably a member of several racist Latino groups like La Ratza and others.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 4:36 pm on Sat, Jul 9, 2011.
The fact is that Pearce wont lose. You scum haven't put anyone forward yet even while you know now that the election will be held. How come? Could it be that no one wants to stand up and be defeated? lol Bring em on bozo.
Brittanicus posted at 3:58 pm on Tue, Jul 12, 2011.
We need oversight of our election process, as illegal aliens are voting--intentional or not, as they have in New York, Texas, Colorado and could alter the course of federal elections. Citizens must insist of the federal government that every person who registers or those on the rolls, be in possession of official ID to prove their right to vote. Voter fraud is REAL. Even municipal petitions at the county level are not safe from illegal foreign nationals.Our right to vote is a matter and respect; integrity to our most valuable possession given to us by the founding fathers and should not be violated by people who scorn our laws, by entering this sovereign nation illegally. currently many States are pursuing laws to demand ID documentation for individuals who wish to vote. American patriots who believe in the "Rule of Law" should observe or ask for some kind of unbiased representative to check registrations, petitions and election rolls.