It took a lawsuit and courtroom questions from a lawyer and judge to do it, be we finally got our first glimpse of Olivia Cortes on Thursday.
What we saw was strange to say the least -- and for politics in Arizona, that's saying something.
Cortes told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Edward Burke that she is indeed a legitimate candidate in the recall election of State Senate President Russell Pearce, and not -- as many have claimed -- a "sham" candidate planted to siphon votes away from Pearce challenger Jerry Lewis.
In fact, Cortes claims it is Lewis who is siphoning votes away from her.
Whatever. We'll let all of that be sorted out by Judge Burke, who is expected to have a ruling by Monday on whether Cortes can remain on the ballot.
Legally, it may be difficult for Burke to remove Cortes. But common sense dictates that her campaign doesn't pass the smell test.
Cortes testified that she doesn't know who paid a petition company to circulate nominating petitions to get her on the Nov. 8 ballot -- the petitions that Pearce supporters and extended family members helped distribute. She doesn't know who created the website for her campaign. And she doesn't know who paid to put up campaign signs on her behalf with the slogan "Si, Se Puede" (roughly translated: "Yes, it can be done"), ostensibly designed to appeal to Hispanic voters, who obviously aren't Pearce's biggest backers.
East Valley Tea Party Chairman Greg Western -- the self-professed brains behind Cortes' campaign -- also pleaded ignorance in court Thursday regarding these mysterious finances.
Really?
So in the fantasy world of Olivia Cortes, she wakes up one day and says, "You know, I've never been involved in politics my whole life, but I'm going to enter the recall race against the most powerful Republican in the state. I don't plan to campaign or make myself available to voters or the media who might help spread my message. I don't need any volunteers to help with my campaign. And I'll be my own campaign committee chairwoman and treasurer. But gee, isn't it nice how this website and all these signs are miraculously appearing and being paid for by someone? And isn't it neat that the East Valley Tea Party, which worships at the throne of Russell Pearce, is now apparently behind my candidacy?"
Please.
Did Cortes think she could enter an extremely high-profile race against Pearce -- who, depending on your point of view, is either the most revered or most despised politician in Arizona outside of maybe Joe Arpaio -- and just disappear inside her house? Did she not understand that being a public official includes actually being in public and having some sort of accountability to the people she serves?
At best, all of this makes Cortes 1) Incredibly naïve, 2) A very easy person to manipulate, or 3) Both.
At worst, she is what many people accuse her of being.
In the end, it's not going to matter for three reasons:
First, voters are not as dumb as these mysterious people behind Cortes' campaign believe.
Second, this is not a general election with countless ballot questions where voters may choose a candidate in a race they know nothing about simply because they like the sound of their name. It's a recall election. It's the only measure on the ballot. Anyone going to the polls should already have a good idea what this race is about, and who is running.
And finally, while Pearce also pleads ignorance in regards to Cortes' campaign, her candidacy could actually hurt -- not help -- him. The people who are either staunch supporters or critics of Pearce aren't going to change their vote because some fringe candidate is on the ballot. But for sane-minded independent voters -- yes, they do exist -- these kinds of shenanigans are a turn-off and may in fact push them toward Lewis.
Regardless of how Judge Burke rules, that could be the ultimate justice in this case.
sockratties posted at 7:39 am on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
While watching the TV sound-bites of Ms. Cortes on the evening news last night, I almost felt sorry for her. We don’t know her personal agenda, if she has one, nor do we know what’s really going on. But to see someone so utterly clueless makes me cringe. I worry about people like her even voting, let alone running for office. If she is a sham candidate planted to siphon votes from Pearce’s opposition, this is one of the cruelest ploys yet. If she is putting on an act, she deserves an Oscar.
hadenough posted at 9:55 am on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
Cortes is being used and it's obvious. She's being used by Russell Pearce and Greg Western. Using people like these two are is downright wrong. Two powerful white men using a middle-aged Hispanic woman. Welcome to the Arizona Republican Party and the world of the ultra conservatives.
fourplagues posted at 10:06 am on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
If you needed a reason to make sure this is Pierce's last term in public office. This is your reason. Dirty rotten backdoor politics from him and/or his supporters. The level of cynicism by fielding a shame "hispanic" candidate speaks volumes. As a republican, this is why we have to clean our house. Message to the good ole' boys. Your days of dirty backdoor dealings are over. We are tired of your dated and horrible views of the world. You are the weakest link. Goodbye. We will not miss you.
Accuracy posted at 11:26 am on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
“And finally, while Pearce also pleads ignorance in regards to Cortes' campaign, her candidacy could actually hurt -- not help – him.”
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In the court appearance, Latino Republican Olivia Cortes revealed suspect information about her candidacy. Olivia Cortes told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Edward Burke that her platform issue is immigration reform, and is running against Sen. Russell Pearce, the architect of Arizona illegal-immigration law SB 1070.
While, Suzanne Dreher said she circulated petitions to get Olivia Cortes' name on the ballot. “I was told if people were supporters of Pearce to go ahead and sign this (petition) and it would help his chances,” Dreher said in court.
Republican Jerry Lewis said he and his campaign staff had nothing to do with the lawsuit involving Cortes and went on to say he is not angry about the situation.
CooperG posted at 4:20 pm on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
A well-stated editorial and right on target. This is campaign abuse at its worst and many voters are finally able to see what those who have been watching politics in LD18 for a while have known for some time: it's all about holding on to power and it has nothing to do with integrity or honesty or what is in the best interests of the citizens of LD18.
Cortes is being used in horrible ways by equally horrible people who have to lie, cheat and steal to hold power. That's not America. That's not Mesa. Pearce needs to go.
Cactuscrusader posted at 5:00 pm on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
Now that she's been figured out, Cortes could do the honorable thing and voluntarily drop out of the race. She becomes less of a victim and more of an accomplice to the abuse of Democracy the longer she keeps this "cham" going.
bobunf posted at 6:14 pm on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
Leaving aside Pearce's utter lack of ethics and decency in not putting a stop to his supporters's action in this sordid affair (and a truly sad one for Ms Cortes), there is the matter of its astonishingly compete incompetence, brazenness and ineptidute.
They couldn't even put up a fake candidate who could go so far as to walk the dog in public.
How can anyone want incompetents like these running the state government? Besides the corruption, of course.
Pearce's whole election campaign is cut from the same cloth: fake twitter accounts, illegal signs, fake candidate, frivolous lawsuit and even the most adolescent of antics - sign stealing. All humorously incompetent in execution and all without a word of admonition from Pearce, nor a command to stop.
fairygirl posted at 6:25 pm on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
The T-Party leader and the Pearce brothers need to stop insulting our intelligence. Their underhanded tactics are so apparent as is their disrespect and disregard for the law. They have felt they have been above the law so long that they fail to notice crossing the line anymore.They have perjured themselves in the Courts; courts meant to protect us from those of their ilk. They swore an oath to tell the truth. Perjury is a felony. That's what Martha Stuart lamented over from within her prison's walls.
Arizona Willie posted at 11:26 am on Sat, Oct 1, 2011.
What if Lewis and Parraz saw they had a naive candidate and decided to surreptitiously " aid " her campaign and then claim Pearce was behind her candidacy?
Make her a red herring and make voters mad at Pearce thinking he was doing something he didn't?
Or perhaps she was even in on it from the beginning.
Maybe she agreed to file to run and let them put up the " sham " claims and the " mysterious signs " etc. etc.
Perhaps she agreed to be a " sham " " sham " candidate!!
If you think the pro-illegals wouldn't do that -- well I have some ocean front property just 5 miles outside Phoenix for sale.
abimopectore posted at 12:42 pm on Sat, Oct 1, 2011.
Arizona Willie states:
"What if Lewis and Parraz saw they had a naive candidate and decided to surreptitiously " aid " her campaign and then claim Pearce was behind her candidacy?"
1) Yes, that would explain why Pearce's nieces helped get signatures for Oliva Cortes recall petition.
2) It would also explain the backing of East Valley Tea Party Chairman Mr. Western, who is a known Russel Pearce supporter, of Olivia Cortes' candidacy.
Your version of the facts is just plain ludicrous. If you do want to see the truth, that's up to you; but it's pretty clear to everyone else.
bobunf posted at 1:49 am on Mon, Oct 3, 2011.
"None so blind as those who will not see."
And Willie's blindness must approach some kind of all-time record. His scenario suffers from many more bruises from reality than what abi pointed out, although that is a good start.
Pearce's nieces were joined in circulating Cortes petitions by his most ardent and long-term supporters. For instance:
>Pat Oldroyd, who introduced a resolution endorsing Pearce at the LD 19 Republican meeting last month.
> Dan Grimm, who spoke, at the same meeting, in favor of endorsing Pearce.
> Franklin Ross, who unsuccessfully sued, on Pearce's behalf, to stop the recall election.
Then there's Logan and Andrea Pearce, the Senator's nephew and Logan's wife, both of whom signed Cortes' petition.
If you drive around looking at the lawns of those who circulated or signed Cortes petitions, they are peppered with Pearce yard signs, and nary a Cortes sign.
It is abundantly clear to everyone that Pearce has tried to pull a fast one, and blundered in the attempt.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 5:55 pm on Mon, Oct 3, 2011.
Well, Arizona like all of America is a nation of Laws. The Judge has ruled that he feels that under the Law of the State of Arizona, Ms. Cortes is eligible for candicacy.
I call on the Editorial Board of the East Valley Tribune to "Man-Up" and accept the Judge's ruling and give her the same "fawning" news reporting as it does Mormon Bishop Jerry Lewis and his attempt to "Recall" the "Father of SB 1070, Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce.
P.S....I do have to admit that lately the Editors have printed "attractive" photographs in the articles of "ALL" of the Candidates in this Recall Election...something that was long over-due (I don't need to see Governor Brewer's hair extensions, Senator Pearce's dental work or even Sheriff Joe's gut or crow's feet...thank you).
bobunf posted at 2:20 pm on Tue, Oct 4, 2011.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Edward Burke pretty well summed it up in three sentences in his October 3, 2011 ruling on the Olivia Cortes candidacy:
"The court finds that Pearce supporters recruited Cortes, a political neophyte, to run in the recall election to siphon Hispanic votes from Lewis to advance Pearce's recall-election bid."
With respect to East Valley Tea Party chairman Greg Western, the Judge wrote, "His testimony that he has no idea who designed, posted and paid for campaign signs supporting Cortes or who paid the professional circulators is too improbable to be believed."
"Plaintiff's remedy is through the ballot box and not the courts."
Let all of us make that happen. Russell Pearce, the benefactor of this shameful behavior, shot through with lies and deception, probably including perjury, must go.
Diogenes Lantern posted at 9:37 pm on Thu, Oct 6, 2011.
Teacher(s) at Jerry Lewis' charter school filed a lawsuit charging Lewis with theft from the Homeless Children donations.
Go to Sonoran Alliance and check out the legal documents.The legal documents also shows the Facebook entry made by the teacher friend in which she discloses that she obtained nearly $1,000 from the sale of the donated items Lewis gave her.
Negative Comments (3) from Lewis' Fellow Teachers:
Jerry Lewis made himself principal of the school (even though he did not have the training or state certificate to be one) while he was also the assistant superintendent. The morale and academics plummeted under him
In the two years I worked while Jerry was principal I saw favoritism, heavy-handed tactics, and a decline in academics. The behavior of Jerry is far worse than Dr. Dowling was accused of.
Crazy thing is that through her contacts she brought in more funds for the school than what they paid her. Jerry did not like her constantly catching him spending donated funds incorrectly
Arizona Willie posted at 8:40 am on Fri, Oct 21, 2011.
Any trumped up charge against Pearce is bannered on the front page but the investigations into the illegal activities of the Pro-Lewis people are buried on page B3.
The Pro-Lewis people accuse Pearce of illegal campaign activities while all the while indulging in their own illegal campaign activities.
Well, what else can you expect from Pro-Illegal supporters?