Activists seeking to recall state Senate President Russell Pearce say they're on track to collect enough signatures for an election and that recent controversies have made their campaign easier.
The Mesa Republican is one of many elected leaders to face a recall campaign, but most fizzle quickly despite an initial burst of publicity. The Pearce recall group used a Tuesday media event to claim they've got two-thirds of the 7,756 verified signatures required by May 31. They predict submitting petitions before the deadline, possibly within weeks.
Volunteers with Citizens for a Better Arizona said they've been surprised how often voters are willing to sign petitions as they knock on doors every weekend. Others say they've voted for Pearce before but now oppose him.
"Some people are very excited," said Brenda Rascon. "I don't even have to explain to them who Russell Pearce is."
Pearce did not return a call from the Tribune seeking comment.
The campaign against Pearce started in late January. Rather than targeting Democrats in the heavily Republican Legislative District 18, Citizens for a Better Arizona is going after Pearce's base. That includes Republicans and voters who, like Pearce, are Mormons.
Some voters insist Pearce is their hero, volunteers said. But they say they've seen a backlash over a report claiming the Fiesta Bowl paid for Pearce to travel to out-of-state games. He has claimed he reimbursed the bowl for tickets. Also, Pearce declared state Sen. Scott Bundgaard was the victim in a domestic abuse incident along a Valley freeway. Police consider the girlfriend the victim based on witness accounts and plan to charge the lawmaker.
Voters frequently bring up those incidents when agreeing to sign, said Chad Snow, a founder of the campaign. He called Pearce a gift that keeps on giving.
"He really thinks he's invincible and completely above the law," said Snow, who is Mormon.
Citizens for a Better Arizona insist Mormons and Republicans are a major part of the group. One is Mary Lou Boettcher, a retired school librarian who was a founder of the Mesa Republican Women's Club. She said Pearce has cut too much from education.
"Russell Pearce has not been a good person for Mesa," she said.
Pearce opponents said some people pledged to vote against the lawmaker but are fearful because of their church or because they are government employees.
If the anti-Pearce campaign leads to an election, an opposing candidate would face a huge hurdle in getting votes because of the lawmaker's history of easy election victories.
Activists say no candidate has emerged but they will benefit by putting Pearce in an uncomfortable position of having to explain why he's been recalled. Strong candidates will identify themselves only after an election is called, said Randy Parraz, one of the campaign's founders.
"This is going to create a lot of room for people to maneuver politically," Parraz said.
Slabside posted at 6:05 pm on Tue, Apr 12, 2011.
Oh bla bla bla. Do your worst you wombats.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 6:51 pm on Tue, Apr 12, 2011.
THESE PEOPLE AREN'T "REAL" AMERICANS WHO ARE PUSHING THIS ....RECALL.....THEY DON'T RESPECT AMERICA'S BORDERS.......THEY DON'T RESPECT AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP....THEY WANT ...MEXICO, CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES TO BE ....ONE BIG...."VILLAGE".
WHEN YOU ARE APPROACHED BY ONE OF THE RECALL PEOPLE.....ASK THEM..."ARE YOU AN AMERICAN ???".......IF THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO LIE AND SAY ..."YES"............THEN TELL THEM TO ............"TRY ACTING LIKE ONE".
NothingButTheTruth posted at 7:28 pm on Tue, Apr 12, 2011.
Well over 50% of the voters approve of what Pearce and the rest of the republican party are trying to do to stop the out of control illegal immigration into Arizona, and these liberals behind the recall are clearly aware of that. Makes you wonder why they would want to waste valuable resources on this recall when they were just recently moaning about the budget and cuts the republicans wanted. Hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Arloon posted at 8:32 pm on Tue, Apr 12, 2011.
"Fearful because of their church" What church do they go to? If you say The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I'll show you a coward or a psycho. Just get over it and let Pearce do his job.
manini posted at 10:47 pm on Tue, Apr 12, 2011.
In their dreams will they recall ole Senator Russell Pearce...Go get them illegal immigrant outlaws, Rusty!!!!
retired03 posted at 4:51 am on Wed, Apr 13, 2011.
Truth, these are private organizations that are initiating this recall... It's their money to waste. I will not follow a politician in this state blindly just because he is Mormon or a champion for the enforcement of illegal immigration. There are many other forms of trouble in this state with the deficit etc. Besides, I too would like to know more about his freebies from the fiesta bowl and why he believes his cohort in the legislature was the victim of a domestic dispute when obviously he was not. Pearce may have the state of Arizona at heart when he works as a legislature but he is far from perfect and it is time he comes down from the pedestal people have put him on. His ego is way too big.
mrfixer123 posted at 5:18 am on Wed, Apr 13, 2011.
Russell Pearce is a patriot and we need more just like him.
Observer posted at 6:45 am on Wed, Apr 13, 2011.
As a conservative Mormon Republican and a US citizen the recall of Russell Pearce makes sense to me. His words and actions have gone beyond being responsible and reasonable. He does not represent my views. He hurts rational discussion and solutions. His over zealous hatred of anyone or anything Hispanic is reason for recall. Is he trying to obtain revenge for being shot by a Hispanic when he was a police officer? The Utah Compact, developed and supported by many Mormons, is a much better approach to the problems. Read it.
azconan posted at 9:37 am on Wed, Apr 13, 2011.
Russell Pearce is a racist. HIS only concern is getting every Hispanic out of "his" state. Since he was shot in the little finger many years ago he has harbored a deep hatred for Hispanics. He thinks he is above the law, his own son was arrested while working for the DMV when Russell was running the DMV ! He refuses to answer questions about his issues like the Fiesta Bowl. He wont do anything for his own district because he is trying to get every bown skinned person out of the state he can ! He hasnt tried to pass worthwhile legislation in years ! Recall Pearce, if youre not in his district at least donate to the cause . recallpearce.com you can donate there. This is NOT a good man for Arizona, he certainly isnt a GOOD man for our Country . Heil Hitler MR. Pearce ! ADIOS !
devils66 posted at 11:15 am on Wed, Apr 13, 2011.
It's going to be real funny when this does go to a recall election and all the people that actually are registered voters and show up to vote keep him in by a LAND SLIDE. I can just imagine how many unregistered voters or illegals have signed those petitions. No chance at all he will lose his job!
Slabside posted at 2:55 pm on Wed, Apr 13, 2011.
"His over zealous hatred of anyone or anything Hispanic"
"Russell Pearce is a racist"
Here we see the left at it's finest. An elected official is performing the duties of the office that American voters put him by enforcing the laws that a disgraceful Federal government refuses to do and they scream racism and hatred.
You liberal hacks make me want to puke.
bobunf posted at 10:42 pm on Wed, Apr 13, 2011.
Under Pearce's leadership we've seen state funding of education cut by half a billion dollars. That is the future of Arizona, the future of our children. The former head of Intel (whose spent millions of his own money donating to ASU) telling us that Intel wouldn't come here if they had it to do over because of the state of our public education.
Under Pearce's leadership Arizona has become a pariah. The question, What's wrong with Arizona?" on the lips of vast numbers of other Americans.
His legislation has become so extreme that a majority of Republicans voted against one or more of his latest batch of anti-immigrant bills.
Thirty percent of Arizona's population is Hispanic. Half of the children under 18 are Hispanic. Eighty percent or more of these people are legal; more than 2/3 are citizens of the United States, many with roots going back long before the first Anglo set foot in Arizona.
A day after the 150th anniversary of Fort Sumter is good time to remember, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." The divisive hate rhetoric towards Hispanics has cost the state dearly, and it will continue to cost dearly. Pearce has caused Americans to look at each other with hate in their eyes, a truly awful legacy.
Let us hope, when minorities become the majority in Arizona, that they treat Anglos, like my granddaughter, better than we've treated them.
apriltwenty posted at 10:00 am on Fri, Apr 15, 2011.
People throughout AZ and the country support this recall of Pierce and admire the Mesa electorate for their courageous stand against this unsavory character.
wagonjak posted at 3:36 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Hey Leon Ceniceros:
I'm a good American and a good Arizonan, and for you to label (with your hysterical all caps comments) me and others who oppose Pearce as "unamerican" is absolute BS and unamerican in itself. In case you didn't notice, this is a democracy, and we're all entitled to our own opinions without a narrow-minded person like yourself labeling us "unamerican." I don't live in Mesa, but if I did, I would sign it in a nanosecond!