Charter school executive Jerry Lewis announced Wednesday morning that he will challenge state Senate President Russell Pearce in the Nov. 8 recall election.
The Mesa Republican also filed election paperwork Wednesday, more than a week after signaling interest. Lewis said he would do more to promote economic and education policies if elected while working more closely with others. He said he was drafted by community members to challenge Pearce.
"I believe it's time to restore a style of leadership to Mesa that its residents can be proud of," Lewis said.
Lewis announced his candidacy to more than 200 supporters at the Wright House in Mesa, where he referred to Pearce as a friend. Both are Mormons and Lewis said he'll run a positive campaign without making personal attacks.
"Our faith teaches us to treat each other with respect and kindness," he said.
Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley said a groundswell of support has been building for Lewis and that the candidate is well-known in Legislative District 18.
"He'll restore sanity to the process instead of this concept that we'll rule by fear," Stapley said.
Lewis is a reluctant candidate, said Mesa attorney Dea Montague. Community members unhappy with Pearce had been searching for a candidate since the recall momentum grew earlier this year, he said. Both Lewis and the community group were unaffiliated with the recall campaign, Montague said.
Lewis declined to sign a recall petition when given the chance, Montague said. The draft committee persuaded Lewis to run because they thought Pearce worked on immigration issues at the expense of education and the economy, he said.
"In recent times the brand of Mesa and of Arizona has hurt our standing in the business community and our standing in education, and I believe that Jerry can have a very positive impact in changing that branding," Montague said.
The campaign is Lewis's first venture into the political arena.
His announcement was unconventional for an office-seeker trying to get media attention. Lewis left the event venue without taking questions from reporters or making himself available for individual interviews. Lewis spoke briefly and didn't delve into specific issues.
Stapley attended the announcement and said he wished he'd had the chance to advise Lewis to answer questions.
"He is not afraid of answering questions. He's new at this," Stapley said. "But what I know about Jerry is he's a very solid leader with very strong principles."
Lewis's supporters said the candidate would handle immigration differently than Pearce, who has become a national figure for drafting SB 1070 and other bills to discourage and deport illegal immigrants. With the court putting a hold on major provisions of SB 1070, supporters said Lewis recognizes immigration as a federal issue. However, they said Lewis believes in closing the border and working with federal officials to improve border security.
Matt Tolman, head of Citizens Who Oppose the Pearce Recall, said Pearce has done what his constituents want.
"They like the fact that he's for securing the border and protecting the voters in Mesa because the federal government isn't doing its job, and I don't think that's changed," Tolman said.
Pearce has handily won eight terms in the Legislature and has been seen by some as virtually unbeatable. Stapley said he sees that differently after hearing from so many voters in Pearce's district.
"There has not been any choice on the ballots for some time - any good choice," he said. "No one has challenged him because of the primary system."
Supporters said they expect Pearce will dwarf the amount of money Lewis can raise, given Pearce's national prominence on immigration issues. Already, a nationwide campaign has started to raise money for Pearce in what is Arizona's first-ever recall of a lawmaker. Lewis supporters said they plan an inexpensive neighbor-to-neighbor campaign.
Pearce supporters have raised as much as $20,000 a day a couple times during a big push, Tolman said. He hesitated to estimate how much money would be spent but said he heard one pollster estimate up to $2 million. Lewis is an assistant superintendant for Sequoia Schools, a Mesa-based charter school chain with 13 Arizona locations. He is a former certified public accountant and has been a vice president with the Grand Canyon Council of the Boy Scouts.
His campaign is headed by Mesa attorney Dea Montague, former Mesa Vice Mayor John Giles and attorney Clint Smith.
Lewis is the most prominent challenger, but the third to enter the race. Mesa audiologist Tommy Cattey filed paperwork July 16 with the Arizona Secretary of State's office. He's an independent. On Tuesday, Republican Olivia Cortes filed papers to begin her candidacy. Candidates must gather 621 signatures to get on the ballot.
Tolman said it's not surprising three candidates have entered the race and he expects more.
"If they want to run, I welcome them to run," Tolman said. "It will just bring out the distances and help everyone understand who is who."
Moderation posted at 9:08 am on Mon, Aug 1, 2011.
A possible public representative who does not feel the need to call everyone who might question is methods a bleeding heart liberal! I do like some things that Pearce has done. What I do not like is the way he and his supporters use bully tactics to force their beliefs onto people. Really when it comes down to it that is what many people dislike about Pearce. They may like SB1070, but not much else. Considering his name has not been behind much other legislation besides immigration. Really when it comes to it all he has done publicly is yell at those who might even question him. His supporters here do not always seem to be much better. I would rather have someone with a more civil discourse representing me. Mr. Pearce should look into maybe going back into active law enforcement possibly work in immigration. That way he could focus all of his efforts in his one big cause and personally make a difference! Then maybe we could have a representative who would work hard for all the different issues that face us and who can treat people with some respect even though they may disagree.
AmericanPatriot posted at 12:37 am on Fri, Jul 29, 2011.
We aren't surprised that the vast majority of voting citizens favor SB1070. Nor will we be surprised that La Ratza is behind this great waste of time and money trying to unseat a great American like Russell Pearce. But thanks for the news flash master Butters it does our heart good to hear such news.
Butters posted at 10:39 am on Thu, Jul 28, 2011.
NEWS FLASH for all of you Pearce haters, Fox 10 News released new poll results this morning. The Poll shows 84% of Arizona's LEGAL citizens SUPPORT SB 1070. I repeat, EIGHTY FOUR PERCENT of Arizona's LEGAL citizens SUPPORT SB 1070. You Pearce haters are in a TINY MINORITY. We, THE PEOPLE, who are in the VAST MAJORITY, not only SUPPORT SB 1070, we also SUPPORT Senator Pearce.
ATTENTION, Chad Snow: I know you read these news blogs. The LEGAL citizens of Arizona and especially LD 18, are STILL waiting for you to release your financial report that shows just exactly WHO funded your recall drive. Well, Chad, Where's The Beef?
Too all you business owners in our state that cater to and or continue to hire illegal alien workers, please PACK UP and move to the LEFT COAST STATE known as California. Jerry Brown is waiting at the border with open arms to welcome you to his amnesty state, where he will pat you on the back with one hand, while reaching into your wallet with the other.
To the owner of Carl's Jr., can't wait for you to close your businesses here since you are so much against SB 1070 and Senator Pearce. Do you need help boarding up the businesses? I know some good people who run a glass business that can handle the job. On second thought, you probably wouldn't want their company doing the work since they only hire LEGAL American Citizens. Worse yet, they prefer to hire VETERANS. How shameful of them.....NOT!
La Raza, in English known as THE RACE, YOU SUCK! Your organization is the modern day Hispanic version of Hitler's NAZI Party. Instead of trying to takeover the USA, go down to Mexico and help stop the WAR that has killed over 30,000 people in the past couple of years. You know Mexico, it's the NEW Iraq, where children want to grow up to become members of the drug cartels. Sad.
chick posted at 9:43 pm on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
"Jerry Lewis favors Utah’s HB 497 immigration law that following Arizona's lead and was passed by Mormon-controlled legislature this year in Utah."
This is LDS church policy, since the "fastest" growing population in the Church is Hispanic. More Pandering by churches to lawbreakers in order to increase church rolls and (they think) donations.
Chad Snow, the "recall co-chair" admitted on the New Times Blog, which he frequently posts on, the the LDS church endorses the pro-illegal stance.
samkat posted at 5:07 pm on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
Yep, here we have a charter school executive (translation an individual living off the taxpayer) running for an office that would put him in the position of voting on legislation that would financially benefit him. Is he planning to resign to eliminate the conflict of interest?
Accuracy posted at 4:37 pm on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
Charter school executive Jerry Lewis will oppose state Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce in a Nov. 8 recall election?
∙ Both are Mormons in the district in Mesa
∙ Both are Republicans
∙ Russell Pearce famous for SB 1070 immigration bill, that made changes to laws relating to the enforcement of federal and state immigration laws.
∙ Jerry Lewis favors Utah’s HB 497 immigration law that following Arizona's lead and was passed by Mormon-controlled legislature this year in Utah.
∙ Russell Pearce has focused on a wide range of issues
∙ Jerry Lewis says he will focus on a wide range of issues.
Just what are the Mormons up to?
Tommy Cattey (a Independent) and Olivia Cortes (another Republican) also have made an initial filing to run against Pearce.
Kwaayesnama posted at 2:10 pm on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
Jerry Lewis is not only running for LD 18 he is also running for the entire state of Arizona. Until Pearce with his politics of hate and intimidation is removed from office Arizona will not be able to recover economically. During Pearce’s tenure as president of our senate he has made Arizona the laughing stock of the nation. IMO the best thing about Jerry Lewis is that he is an educator, it is hoped that he will fight for more books in Arizona’s schools rather than guns. This Arizona resident is looking forward to helping and donating to his campaign. [smile]
Leon Ceniceros posted at 1:45 pm on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
"HE SAID HE WAS DRAFTED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS (no deferrments allowed when the call comes from "ON HIGH"...lol.....not like during the Vietnam War Era when Mitt Romney took deferrment after deferrment after deferrment to stay out of Military Service) TO CHALLENGE PEARCE.
COULD THIS HAVE BEEN MORMON LEADERS LIKE
DEA MONTEGUE (MORMON MISSION PRESIDENT)
JOHN GILES (FORMER MESA VICE-MAYOR) AND ATTORNEY CLINT SMITH.....BOTH PROMINENT MORMON LEADERS.
OH, AND COULD THE ..EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE....HAVE ONE OF IT'S REPORTERS CLEAR UP SOMETHING TOUCHED ON BY THE .......ARIZONA REPUBLIC.
IT SEEMS THAT ......"CANDIDATE" JERRY LEWIS'S ...SEQUOIA CHOICE CHARTER SCHOOL WAS PROVIDING TEACHERS AND CURRICULUM TO THE .......JOY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL...WHICH WAS CHARGING TUITION (I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC NEWSPAPER ARTICLE MENTIONED)...WHILE THE .....SEQUOIA CHOICE CHARTER SCHOOL WAS BEING FUNDED BY THE .....HARD-WORKING TAX-PAYERS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA. I DON'T THINK THE EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE SHOULD DO A 5 DAY...MULTI-PAGE....PULITZER PRIZE WINNING EFFORT...BUT JUST A SMALL ARTICLE TO CLEAR THIS ........PROBLEM UP FOR THE MESA VOTER.
OH, AND WHILE THE EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE REPORTER IS LOOKING INTO THIS......"ANOMALY" (LOL) OF THIS "TUITION QUESTION"....THERE WAS ONE OTHER LITTLE THING.....
IT SEEMS THAT IN 2005....RECALL CANDIDATE JERRY LEWIS (I APOLOGIZE FOR REFERRING TO HIM AS A .."MORMON BISHOP"....HE WAS A MUCH MORE EXALTED MORMON LEADER...JERRY LEWIS WAS THE ...."MESA STAKE PRESIDENT").........MADE A COMMENT ABOUT....."ILLEGAL ALIENS" IN MESA.
JERRY LEWIS WAS QUOTED AS SAYING...."HE DOESN'T CARE IF THE HISPANIC PEOPLE ARE LEGAL OR ILLEGAL, HE JUST WANTS THEM TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN HIS COUNTRY".
THE VOTERS OF MESA (AT LEAST THE ONES THAT I KNOW) WOULD JUST LIKE THE ....EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE TO HAVE ONE OF IT'S REPORTERS CLEAR THESE TWO ...."ANOMALIES" UP.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 1:34 pm on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
Hey davidflucier, when has America ever attracted the world’s most dynamic and high-I.Q. immigrants to enrich our universities and start new businesses? All we attract are the lowest of the lowest and that is by design.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 1:32 pm on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
Now here's a man "I'm not Pearce" who we can all agree needs more master locks tossed at his groin. lol Personally I can't wait to see the ads. I'm not Pearce and have never thrown a master lock at my opponent. Also, I don't have a lick of experience so I should at least be as smart as the President of the United States, and in a few years, after my term is up, I may have learned enough of parliamentary procedures as not to totally embarrass my constituents who had the misfortune to elect me.
davidflucier posted at 1:00 pm on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
Personally, I’ll support anyone with a real plan to investment in the five pillars of our success:
1) Educating the work force up to and beyond whatever technology demands; 2) building the best infrastructure of ports, roads and telecommunications; 3) attracting the world’s most dynamic and high-I.Q. immigrants to enrich our universities and start new businesses; 4) putting together the best regulations to incentivize risk-taking while curbing recklessness (not always perfectly); and 5) funding research to push out the boundaries of science and then let American innovators and venture capitalists pluck off the most promising new ideas for new business.
Rudy111 posted at 12:03 pm on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
Lewis will make a great state senator. His knowledge and expereince in business and education are things the state senate needs. He has my vote on November 8th!