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Vasquez used work computer to send info on rival
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Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez, shown Oct. 7, 2008, used his work computer to research his opponent and pass the information onto his campaign staff, according to records of his e-mails.
Jennifer Grimes, Tribune
Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez used his work computer to research his opponent and pass the information onto his campaign staff, according to records of his e-mails.
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In August, Vasquez sent an attachment containing a Scottsdale speeding ticket for political opponent Paul Babeu to his personal e-mail account and to the account of his campaign treasurer using his county e-mail, records say.
Arizona law prohibits the use of public resources, including computers, for campaign purposes.
Just a short time later, Vasquez sent Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio an e-mail asking Arpaio to refrain from talking badly about him during a speech Arpaio was going to give in Pinal County. In that e-mail, also sent from Vasquez's public e-mail to Arpaio's public e-mail, Vasquez reminded Arpaio that Babeu had opposed him in the past and that he should not support Babeu now. Both Babeu and Arpaio are Republicans; Vasquez is a Democrat.
According to Vasquez, the e-mail with the speeding ticket attachment was sent to him by a Pinal County resident, which he then forwarded to his personal account and to his campaign treasurer, K.C. Jones. The e-mail itself, obtained under a public records request, shows it was created by Vasquez and was not a forwarded document. And Vasquez could not provide documented proof of the resident's e-mail by late Thursday.
"I cannot control e-mails which are sent to me by citizens," Vasquez told the Tribune via e-mail.
"Whether I e-mailed the person from my county computer or forward(ed) it to my campaign e-mail and then informed them I believe is not a violation of law or policy."
Jones said she did not recall the message sent by the sheriff and said she could not find it in her inbox.
The message as well as the one he sent to Arpaio were part of a series of e-mails Vasquez sent and received on Aug. 14.
Vasquez should be held accountable for his actions, which violate county policy, Babeu said.
If elected, Babeu said he would immediately audit financial and other departmental records.
"There are few boundaries remaining with him," Babeu said of Vasquez. "There are some major problems in that agency."
Despite Vasquez's electronic request, Arpaio publicly endorsed Babeu during several Pinal County meetings following the e-mail.
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