Arizona voters may not be quite done with Russell Pearce.
Questions of Pearce’s political future aside, a little-known provision of the Arizona Constitution requires the Legislature to act to reimburse any recalled public official his or her “reasonable special election campaign expenses.’’
Only thing is, no one knows exactly what that means — or how it works. That includes Secretary of State Ken Bennett, who is the state’s chief elections officer.
“Our office has no statutory authority to determine the provisions for providing reimbursement of campaign expenses,’’ said spokesman Matt Roberts. He suggested checking with the Senate.
But Wendy Baldo, the Senate chief of staff, said how the statute might work remains an unexplored issue.
The question goes beyond who determines what is “reasonable.’’
There also is the fact that the approximately $260,000 Pearce spent in his unsuccessful effort to defend his seat all came from donors. That raises the question of whether he would have to give that money back if the taxpayers pick up the tab.
Arizona history provides no guidance, either, as this was the first-ever recall of a state elected official.
A recall campaign was launched against Evan Mecham after he became governor in 1987. But there never was an election, as the Legislature impeached Mecham and removed him from office first.
Despite that, Mecham requested reimbursement of more than $828,000 for both his campaign expenses and well as what it cost him to mount his unsuccessful impeachment defense. In the end, lawmakers approved — and Mecham accepted — $405,000 to settle both claims.
Pearce was not giving interviews Wednesday. And Chad Willems, his campaign manager, said the question has not come up.
But Willems speculated that Pearce won’t force the issue.
“I don’t know if that’s a path he would want to go down,’’ Willems said. “It would be taxpayer money.’’
Further down the road is what will now become politically of Pearce, who is 64.
A former chief deputy sheriff, Pearce has made no secret he would like to become Maricopa County sheriff. But he also has indicated he would not try to unseat incumbent Joe Arpaio who has been a political ally, even standing with Pearce at several campaign events in the recall.
But Pearce also said that if he lost the recall he would consider trying to reclaim his seat from Jerry Lewis.
Pearce has never lost a race since he was first elected to the Legislature in 2000. But in each case, he first won a GOP primary in his heavily Republican Mesa legislative district, making him a virtual shoo-in over any Democratic foe in the general election.
In a recall, however, there is no primary, with all registered voters getting a voice. Pearce said that enabled Lewis to win with Democratic support, something he could not get in a 2012 Republican primary.
Only thing is, Pearce may not get the chance: Draft maps adopted by the Independent Redistricting Commission actually put Pearce and Lewis in two different legislative districts. Instead, Pearce would be in the same district as another GOP incumbent, Rich Crandall.
The two are not political allies, though, with Crandall having opposed some of Pearce’s immigration measures and supported Lewis in the recall race. But Crandall has said he is unconcerned about such a race, speculating that Pearce may choose to take the opportunity to do something else — something that pays more than the $24,000 a year legislators get.
As architect of some of the first — and the toughest — state laws aimed at illegal immigration, Pearce also has gained something of a national reputation he could parlay into a new role. That is the route taken by former Congressman Tom Tancredo, also a supporter of tough new immigration laws, who formed a political action committee to help elect politicians of a similar mindset.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 5:48 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
It was a forgone conclusion when the Mormons turned against SB 1070 and it's "Father", Senator Russell Pearce that the writing was on the wall. He would lose the Recall Election. Mesa is the "most" Mormon city in not only Arizona but all of America. There are more Mormons per population in Mesa than Salt Lake City, Utah.
19 Stakes (each Stake has 12 or so Wards...each Ward has more about 300 Mormons). I read where one Mesa Ward, the "Liahona Ward", whose Mormon Bishop, Pablo Felix, told a reporter that 60%-70% of his Ward were...."Illegal Aliens mostly from Mexico".
So we see that this "Recall Election" had nothing to do with Senator Russell Pearce's Football Tickets or lose of support from his Constituents...it had everything to do about Mormon "proselytising" to Illegal Aliens from Mexico and other Central American Countries.
Let's hope that......Russell Pearce becomes a candidate for the US Senate seat that is occupied currently by a ...R.I.N.O. (Republican In Name Only) and gives Arizonians a ...100% Patriotic Republican United States Senator.
DavidNichols posted at 5:49 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
Hopefully "Justice" now lies ahead for Russell Pearce.
Rigging, and Manipulating This Recall Election was not just a "Sham", it was a Mass Felony involving Pearce, his Brother, his two Nieces, Tea Party Officials, Mrs. Cortes, possibly hundreds of Legal Voting Citizens who knowingly engaged in this Fraudulent Rigging Scheme signing the Fraudulent Mrs. Cortes Ballot Petition in the Hands of the Pearce Family, even after being told that it was a Scheme to help re-elect Russel Pearce.
This Felony Rigging/Manipulating was not Just a "Sham" it was a Class 5 Felony for All Persons involved , possibly including Pearce's Former Mentor Pink Pant's Arpaio?
Nine Months to two Years in pink Panties could be what "Lies Ahead for Russell Pearce "
To: "True Justice for All Criminals, especially those posing as Law Makers, or Enforcers!
DavidNichols posted at 6:10 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
January 2008 started the E-verify Law, the I.C.E. Deportations, and "The Worst Recession in U.S. History."
Tens of thousands of vacated Immigrants dwellings triggered and caused the "Foreclosure Crisis."
This made entire States like Arizona, California, Florida, Ect. instantly overbuilt, causing all private sector Construction/Growth to Halt.
This caused millions of Americans to lose their Construction related jobs.
This also left these States with massive excesses of Total State and Federal Government Services, and matching Budget Deficits.
Arizona has taken it all out on Teachers!
Fact:For every Good, Hard Working Immigrant Deported by I.C.E. since January 2008 America has lost over four times as many American Jobs.
Fact: The Hard Labor Immigrants gladly did for America was the Foundation of our once Strong Economy, and it supported All other American Jobs.
A very wise 1840's French Historian said:
"America is great because it is good, when it ceases to be good, it ceases to be great."
In my opinion Russell Pearce is Far, Far from a Good Person.
Hopefully this will be the start of a New Era for America, one of "Good, and Brotherhood",/Prosperity.
Not a continued Era of Extremist Groups, Hate, and the Demise of America that we have seen since January 2008.
To: Good, and Brotherhood, from Sea to shining Sea.
Masterrogue666 posted at 7:18 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
Leon: My sister and brother in law are Mormons. I asked, and have been told that the Mormon church as a whole has taken no position regarding ILLEGAL ALIENS. They expect the individual to check for themselves, pray about it, and make their own decision. FYI.
As for covering any part of Pearce's losses, I think that if donations covered it, tax payers shouldn't. Personally, I don't think ANY MONEY should go back to special interest groups on either side. Hopefully, once THEY start losing money, they'll stay out of elections, and the citizens will be listened to. I know, pipe dream.....
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:22 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
LOL....well someone must have attended ...Barack Hussein Obama University of Blame Everything up to and including the "Black Plague" on poor ole George Bush....[wink]
Let't go back in what past American (maybe that's the problem....Liberals/Progressives/Socialists and Democrats must have "ditched" Modern American History 101) Presidents have done about ..Illegal Aliens.
1. President Herbert Hoover ordered "all" Illegal Aliens deported during the Great Depression (the operative word is = "during"..not before...not the cause of..but during).
2. President Harry Truman (good Democrat, liked poker and whiskey highballs) ordered 2 Million Illegal Aliens deported after World War II ended to open up jobs for returning American Veterans coming back from Europe and the Pacific..
3. President Dwight Eisenhower signed off on "Operation W*tback"...the mass deportation of 13 (thirteen) Million Mexican Illegal Aliens after the end of the Korean War to open up jobs for returning Korean War Veterans (and World War II Veterans who were having a hard time finding any kind of work too).
I don't remember that these "Deportations" caused a World-Wide "Depression/Recession and the "Meltdown of the Housing Industry" in America at the time...........do any of you out there ???
Rational Human posted at 7:49 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
It's a sad day in the history of Arizona the day extremist lefties fooled republicans into helping them to oust one of the greatest senators this state has ever produced. A sheethole like Mesa never deserved such greatness. Russell Pearce is larger than Mesa will ever be. A drive through the heart of Mesa shows it to be nothing but a terd world city full of terd world thinkers. Russell Pearce will go on to bigger and better places, and the fight to decimate the filthy scum invaders from the south will not end here today. Pearce helped to start the ball rolling and it's picking up speed. Look out terd world invaders. We are coming for you, and we will kick you out of our state and country. Perhaps Russell needs to consider running for Jon Kyl's US Senate seat. He'd be ten times better for Arizona than flaky flakes could ever be. In the meantime, all you illegal supporters join hands with La Ratza and do the hat dance in celebration. You deserve to celebrate a job well done. Then get back down in your bunkers cause the war isn't over by a long shot.
OneSoldiersView posted at 12:03 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
For all the Mormon bashers, I will try one more time. Russell Pearce is a Mormon just as much as Jerry Lewis. There is no church policy or effort regarding this election or the issue of immigration. The doctrine of the Mormon church is that its people are required to obey the laws of their nation. I am a strong supporter of Russell Pearce, I am a Mormon, and I know many others that are supporters. So inform yourself before you speak without knowledge.
I believe Russell Pearce was defeated because, with a recall election having no democratic candidate, he lost the entire democratic vote plus a small percentage of republicans. This was enough to tip the scales. As a note to all the estatic democrats, two can play that game so just keep up this effort to overturn a democratic election and see where it gets you. I hope Russell Pearce runs in the general election and becomes a scourge to the sore losers who conspired against him.
DavidNichols posted at 6:46 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
Perhaps "The Tax Payers" Should reimburse Russell Pearce the many thousands he, his Family, and the "Tea Party" Spent on the Mrs. Cortes "Sham"/Felony Ringer Candidate?
Possibly in free rent with his Life Bud Arpaio?
To: Justice.
Rational Human posted at 7:17 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
OneSoldiersView, you are correct that this recall gave anyone the dubmocrats didn't hate an advantage. Allowing dumbocrats a vote in what was basically a republican primary is why Pearce lost the recall election. It was a perfectly executed scam by leftist extremists perpetrated against the people's will. In a regular election the bishop wouldn't have been able to beat Pearce, but allowing dumbocrats a vote in what was essentially a republican primary made all the difference. Lewis is the democrats choice. The republicans in LD18 were defrauded.
DavidNichols you sound jealous. You got a thing for Sheriff Joe? lol
hillstreet posted at 8:31 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
What's ahead for Pearce? Hopefully a jail cell for attempting to commit fraud during an election. He was crooked when he was at MVD and nothing has changed. Mr "letter of the law" is one of the worstt slimeballs Arizona politics has seen in a long time. Good riddance.
Accuracy posted at 8:59 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
What lies ahead for Pearce?
To get the U.S. Supreme Court to accepts the State of Arizona's petition to review the Obama administration's lawsuit against Arizona's SB 1070 illegal immigration enforcement law. So it will change and lead the way to the eventual solutions adopted in other states and the federal government.
DavidNichols posted at 11:22 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
Pearce and his Mentor Arpaio have Crashed Arizona, and America with their Anti-Immigrant Rant.
This Dynamic Dou of Corruption, and Hate, are a large part of why Home Values in America have Plummeted, and why our Natiions Economy is in Ruin.
Millions of Hispanic lives have been ruined including legal Citizen Children, and Family Members.
Jan Brewer signed SB1070 to enrich the Private Prison Profiteers, (Pearce, Brewers Staff, ect.) with Total disregard to "Human Beings", including innocent Legal Citizen Childrens right to have a Parent, or even Human Rights at all
Its all about the Almighty Dollar.
And the vast "Mormon" Control of Arizona is absolutely why Pearce has up until now not been investigated for the Felony Election Rigging/Manipulating, right Brother Horne?
To: True Justice for all Criminals.
Rational Human posted at 11:29 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
I hope the state decides to reimburse Pearce the entire 260k and he uses it to beat the bishop in the republican primary for LD18. He will of course beat any dumbocrats running against him. This thing ain't over by a long shot.
Masterrogue666 posted at 2:42 pm on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
DavidNichols wrote: "This Dynamic Dou of Corruption, and Hate, are a large part of why Home Values in America have Plummeted, and why our Natiions Economy is in Ruin." -- DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT? So, Pearce and Arpaio cause the ENTIRE USA's Home values to plummet? Do they really have that much power in those other states?
Sorry, DavidNichols, your HATRED is showing. It has unbalanced your thinking. I've addressed your remarks before in another article. Unfortunately, some believe MISINFORMED OPINIONS like yours. The majority of the Housing market crash was due to FANNIE MAE and FREDDIE MAC loans to individuals that had no business getting loans in the first place. There were other contributing factors as well, but for you to blame two men that had NO CONTROL over it is LUDICROUS!
As for "innocent children", I've addressed that as well. Whom brought them here? Their parents. Whom stayed here ILLEGALLY? Their parents. WHOM SHOULD YOU BLAME? THEIR PARENTS. Their parents know what may occur if they are found out. NO ONE SHOULD BENEFIT FROM A CRIME!
Rational Human posted at 4:00 pm on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
"Millions of Hispanic lives have been ruined including legal Citizen Children, and Family Members." lol Including illegal's children who should never have been allowed citizenship to begin with. Millions of criminals lives are ruined because they have to obey our laws? Oh my, the pity meter has reached an all time low here David. They get deported and leave their children here? And that's our fault? lol