City council candidates Augustus Shaw and Hut Hutson are at odds over the endorsement of a prominent Tempe councilman.
The two candidates, who are fighting for the final seat on the council, are split over whether Ben Arredondo endorsed Hutson’s candidacy.
Shaw, a real estate attorney, said the longtime councilman never officially supported his opponent.
"Hut is a liar, he has no character and he should not be allowed to govern," Shaw said Thursday.
Arredondo, who is serving his third term on the council, refused to say whether he endorsed Hutson.
"I have talked with Hut and Augustus about this and I don’t want to discuss this in the newspapers," Arredondo said.
In his campaign literature, Hutson lists Arredondo along with Mayor Neil Giuliano, Vice Mayor Barb Carter and Councilman Mark Mitchell as supporters of his campaign.
"I showed (Ben) all of my mailers before I sent them out," said Hutson, a retired associate deputy warden with the Arizona Department of Corrections.
Recently, Hutson came under increasing scrutiny for his handling of the city’s Industrial Development Authority funds.
But the authority’s board, during a special meeting to address the groups finances, voted 4-1 to re-elect Hutson as treasurer.
