Political Notebook: Becker's signs blast Manross

Signs bashing Mayor Mary Manross are the latest addition to the displays found on the north Scottsdale land owned by Henry Becker, who is still locked in a legal battle with the city over his candy canes and spherical-object displays.

Is agency hinting Manross a shoe-in for mayor?

Becker has blasted Manross at council meetings in the past. Now, he's hoping motorists read about her.

He has spaced signs along his property on the east side of Pima Road, just south of Happy Valley Road, saying:

"We cannot ... afford to ... re-elect ... Mary Manross ... to any ... public office."

He takes shots at Manross' support of SkySong and the city's loss in court against Toll Brothers to condemn preserve property, which cost the city about $48 million more than it hoped.

"Mary Manross considers herself a 'visionary' with no responsibility," another sign reads.

Early on, Becker gave a campaign contribution to Manross' opponent, Jim Lane, but Lane returned the contribution.

ALLEN, REAGAN, ARPAIO, MINUS THE 'R'

Scottsdale City Council candidate Suzanne Klapp has sent out news releases announcing her endorsements from Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, state Sen. Carolyn Allen and state Rep. Michele Reagan.

But one thing was missing from the releases - the fact that they are all Republicans. Klapp went out of her way to avoid bringing partisan politics into a nonpartisan race.

But the Sept. 2 election is a partisan primary election in a city with more Republicans than Democrats. Klapp didn't have to say it - Republicans will know that their Republican legislators are supporting her. But the news release does not hide all of her Republican ties. It notes a number of organizations that Klapp is involved in, including the Legislative District 8 Republican Committee. And her chairwoman is Donna Reagan, Michele Reagan's mother.

POLITICAL CONSULTANT SAYS BYE-BYE TO CHAMBER

Scottsdale political consultant and Jim Lane supporter Lamar Whitmer, in a letter announcing he is not renewing his Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce membership and seat on the public policy advisory committee, took some shots at the organization that recently endorsed the three incumbents, Manross and council members Betty Drake and Ron McCullagh.

"Our community is in need of new and competent leadership," Whitmer wrote. "The chamber should be part of that but has chosen to close ranks to protect the status quo."

Before the chamber endorses anyone, candidates fill out a questionnaire. That is followed by an interview with a subgroup of the public policy committee, a recommendation to the board of directors and then a closed-ballot vote by the board.

MAG DOESN'T PLAY FAVORITES

In last week's column, we poked fun at a Maricopa Association of Governments news release that said Manross will serve as chairwoman for the next two years, implying that the agency already knew who would win the mayoral election. MAG was concerned that this gave the impression it endorses or favors a certain candidate.

Spokeswoman Kelly Taft said that is not the case and that all news releases are written saying chairs will serve two years with the understanding that if they lose an election, they are out.