Supporters of State Senate President Russell Pearce must remove hundreds of anti-recall signs in Mesa that urge voters to "stand for the rule of law" because the signs violate election laws.
The red signs blanketed west Mesa a week ago but will be coming down in the next few days, said Christine Zielonka, Mesa's development services director. About 50 people reported the illegal signs since they appeared, she said.
"It really has gotten people's attention because there have been so darn many of them," Zielonka said. "Our approach is we don't care about the politics. We just want to make sure we have a safe city."
The signs were posted by Citizens who Oppose the Pearce Recall, whose chairman is Mesa resident Matt Tolman. They attack recall organizer Randy Parraz and ask voters to oppose the recall.
Tolman told the city on Wednesday he's working on a timeline to take down 300 signs - and that he'll repost them in a few weeks when political signs can be displayed under law, Zielonka said.
The signs violate several city and state election rules.
Political signs can only be posted 60 days before an election, which is Sept. 7.
Also, many signs are posted illegally because they're within 15 feet of a right-of-way.
None of the signs include contact information, which is also required so the city can contact organizers if there's a problem with the signs such as illegal placement.
Mesa had to use a liberal interpretation to even consider the signs election-related because they feature a person who isn't on the ballot of the Nov. 8 recall, Zielonka said.
"We've agreed that is an issue for attorneys to discuss," she said. "At this point, we're deeming them to be political signs."
Had the city considered them non-political signs, they would have been treated like illegal weight loss advertisements and thrown away, Zielonka said.
Mesa officials met with Tolman to inform him of political sign regulations. He agreed to follow them next time, she said. The city will not fine Tolman because he's agreed to remove them and the city only wants compliance, Zielonka said.
Tolman didn't return a call from the Tribune.
Parraz said signs have been spotted in Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert - communities outside of Pearce's legislative District 18. The district covers much of west Mesa, generally areas west of Gilbert Road. Parraz estimated the signs targeting him cost $30,000.
Chad Snow, another recall organizer, said the signs could justify a libel suit for their claim that Parraz opposes the rule of law. Parraz said he'll consider legal action if the signs appear again.
Parraz blasted the signs as deceitful. The signs, in part, claim Parraz and "his recall candidates" oppose the rule of law and are supported by unions that favored an Arizona boycott. Parraz said he supports the rule of law and opposed the boycott. He said he's never had contact with candidates who are running against Pearce.
The candidates are charter school executive Jerry Lewis, Mesa resident Olivia Cortes and attorney Michael Kielsky. So far, only Lewis has given the Arizona Secretary of State the 621 signatures required to get on the ballot.
Carolyn posted at 5:33 pm on Wed, Aug 24, 2011.
Will wonders never cease.....Matt Tolman has had to back off of his vicious, nasty, libelous, ridiculous attempts to make Randy Parraz look bad, when reality, the bad idiots are Tolman and HIS ilk AND Russell Pearce. Good for Mesa! I hope they enjoy taking down those 300 signs in this hot weather!!!!
A_Rose_By_Any_Other_Name posted at 9:17 pm on Wed, Aug 24, 2011.
Bad idiots? How old are you Carolyn?
hadenough posted at 7:59 am on Thu, Aug 25, 2011.
State Senate President Russell Pearce what part of illegal don't you understand? You've been in enough campaigns to know the law. As a retired sheriffs deputy and a fired MVD director you definitely should know the difference between legal and illegal.
Cactuscrusader posted at 1:00 pm on Thu, Aug 25, 2011.
Tolman's being very cocky about placing the signs up in September.
Since when is it legal to spread libel all over the city? He still hasn't addressed the lies on the signs. In addition, since Parraz is not a candidate, nor part of an initiative, the signs should not be considered part of the campaign but the self-indulgent piece of (offensive term) that they actually are and should be thrown in the trash with all the other illegal scheme signs that get posted in Mesa.
Political strategists should be brought into the light and into accountability. You can tell more about a candidate by who their strategist is, than you can by any of the nonsense rhetoric that mumbles out of their mouth. Especially in Pearce and Tolman's case.
Bravo to the City of Mesa officials who abide by the law. Pearce and Tolman could take a lesson from them.
Butters posted at 11:39 am on Sat, Aug 27, 2011.
According to the Maricopa County Recorder's office and county court arrest records, Randy Parraz resides in NORTH SCOTTSDALE, where he owns a large home, which is Arizona state senate District 8. Why is someone who lives in another state senate district, meddling in the affairs of OUR state senate District 18? Where's the transparency by way of a full financial disclosure for Parraz's recall committee that he stated he would provide to the public? Something smells real bad, but it's not in Mesa, it's up in North Scottsdale.