JLAC Chairman Gress criticized a school district in Tucson Tuesday for spending almost $500,000 on out-of-state travel. An Auditor General report examining Baboquivari Unified School District published Friday indicates district officials spent $342,000 on a two-day out-of-state professional development conference and didn’t ensure expenditures were approved or in accordance with the state’s gift clause. According to the report, the district sent 135 employees to educator training courses in Atlanta between September 2021 and July 2023. The district’s governing board also held meetings out of town, which violates state open meeting laws. Baboquivari Superintendent Ruben Diaz wrote a response to the report that the district’s business office questioned the “excessive” costs for travel and training, but the previous superintendent dismissed concerns and proceeded with conference arrangements. Diaz also wrote that the district would provide a livestream feed or alternative methods to access board meetings if the governing board holds out-of-town meetings. The district superintendent at the time was Christopher Bonn. In 2018, Nogales International reported that Bonn was voted out as the Sonoita Elementary School District superintendent, although neither board members nor Bonn commented about the decision. Gress criticized school districts broadly in a Tuesday news release after he read the auditor general’s report. “These education dollars should not be used on lavish trips and conferences, especially when we are dealing with a teacher crisis and are told that districts don’t have the dollars necessary to raise salaries,” Gress said. “This kind of irresponsible behavior further erodes public trust and makes it harder for those of us who are advocating for more dollars for education to make our case.” Gress also cited a Goldwater Institute report published last week raising attention to Phoenix Elementary School District’s governing board approval of a trip for a board member to attend a conference in California that promoted “far-left radical political ideologies.” The conference was hosted by Local Progress, which describes itself as a progressive organization fighting for justice and equity. The organization’s July 25-27 conference featured topics titled “Governing While Black” and “Strategizing for Tenant Power and Taking on Corporate Landlords.” Gress noted in his news release the school district canceled the trip after public backlash. “It seems like (the conference) was preparing school board members for running for office rather than educating kids and that’s not what we should be spending our tax dollars on,” Gress told our reporter on Monday. One of the Democrats Gress will face in the LD4 House race this November is Karen Gresham, a Madison Elementary School District governing board member who beat Gress for a spot on the board in the 2020 general election. Gutierrez, another member of JLAC, said while she doesn’t give much credibility to Goldwater studies, investigations of school districts are necessary if school officials aren’t using public funds with diligence. “I would love to see schools that receive state funding through ESA vouchers also go through audits,” Gutierrez said. “I suspect Matt Gress only has situational concern when it comes to ESAs and wasted taxpayer money, however.”

In a new court filing, Richer responded to a request from Merissa Hamilton, executive director of Lake’s Save Arizona Fund, for more than $30,000 in reimbursement for costs associated with printing out more than 100,000 pages of documents in response to a subpoena. Daniel Maynard, attorney for Richer, claimed Hamilton failed to comply with a subpoena and Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure requirements. Those requirements stipulate documents be produced “as they are kept in the usual course of business” and “in a native form or in another reasonably usable form that will enable [Richer] to have the same ability to access, search, and display the information as [Hamilton].” Maynard claimed Hamilton was “repeatedly using her proposed hardcopy production as a publicity stunt” and “cannot now seek reimbursement for the unreasonable costs she voluntarily incurred.” The subpoena sought documents covering the reach and scope of Lake’s defamatory statements, her efforts to “profit based on those lies,” the campaign to “knowingly spread lies about Richer” and “knowledge of threats and other harm to Richer and election workers.” Maynard noted the subpoena required electronically stored information be kept electronic and if Hamilton were to seek payment of expenses “other than routine clerical and per-page costs” she should have sent an estimate of those expenses before incurring them. Maynard added that Hamilton failed to confer with Richer’s counsel before moving forward with creating the hard copies. Maynard again emphasized the requested costs are not reasonable and asked the court to deny the motion.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge on Tuesday rejected the Goldwater Institute’s attempt to send Court of Appeals retention elections to voters statewide. In the special action petition, Goldwater attorneys, on behalf of Arizona residents in each of the appellate court voting jurisdictions, claimed the election scheme violated a constitutional provision requiring elections be free and equal because decisions from the Court of Appeals impact voters statewide. But the judge added voters are limited to the appellate judges they can vote on based on their county of residence. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Frank Moskowitz disagreed and found the current retention election system “specifically gives all Arizona voters the right to vote for those Court of Appeals judges that are up for retention election in the voters’ respective counties. It treats all similarly situated voters in each county the same” and concluded the elections to be “equal.” He drew a comparison to superior court judges, whose elections are also restricted to their respective counties, and noted they, too, have statewide jurisdiction. “Since the Arizona Constitution recognizes that statewide jurisdiction does not mandate statewide retention elections for Superior Court judges, Plaintiffs’ argument that statewide jurisdiction constitutionally mandates statewide retention elections for Court of Appeals judges fails,” Moskowitz wrote. “It would be inconsistent that geographical limitations on voters in Superior Court retention elections are constitutional, but any such limitations on voters in Court of Appeals retention elections are unconstitutional.” Moskowitz granted the state’s motion to dismiss and asked for a proposed form of judgment by August 5.

July 29, 2024 (Phoenix, Arizona) – Election Day is Tuesday, July 30, 2024, and voters planning to vote in person on Election Day can choose from one of 222* Vote Centers county-wide to cast their ballot. *Due to storm damage, the Vote Center at Riverside Elementary School, located at 51st Avenue and Buckeye Road will not be a Vote Center. In-Person Voting on Election Day As one of the nation’s largest voting jurisdictions, Maricopa County is home to more than 2.4 million voters. The County’s Vote Center model allows any voter to cast their ballot at any location from 6 am to 7 pm on Election Day. After arriving at a vote center, voters check-in to ensure the voter has not already voted. A ballot specific to that voter, with the correct contests that person is eligible to vote in, is then printed on-site. Locations, drop box hours of operation, and wait times can be found at Locations.Maricopa.Vote . Tabulating Results Ballots cast at Vote Centers on Election Day are tabulated at Vote Centers and results are stored on a memory card within the tabulator. The tabulator is not connected to the internet. If the tabulator is unable to read the ballot for any reason, the voter places the ballot in a slot below the tabulator and the ballot will be tabulated at the County’s Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC.) Once Vote Centers close, the memory cards are transported by bi-partisan elections workers to MCTEC to be uploaded to a server, not connected to the internet, that will aggregate the results. Maricopa County Elections will release the first batch of results at 8 p.m. on Election Night. This will represent early ballots cast and received by Friday July 26, 2024. Throughout the evening and night, results will be released as memory cards are received and uploaded at MCTEC. Learn about this process and watch a short informational video at CountingBallots.Maricopa.Vote . Results will we be posted at Results.Maricopa.Vote . By the Numbers

• Registered Voter as of July 1 (Deadline to register for Primary): 2,419,609
• Voter Participation as of July 26: More than 557,000
• Election Day Vote Centers: 222
• Elections workers administering Primary Election: More than 2500
• Estimated Election Day Voters: At least 94,000
• Estimated total turn-out: Approximately 718,000 – 894,000 or 30% of registered voters

Other Important Information:

• General Election Information: Vote
• Voter Dashboard: Vote
• Phone: 602-506-1511
• Constituent Services: [email protected]

PHOENIX – A stretch of northbound Interstate 17 in north Phoenix is scheduled to be closed this weekend (Aug. 2-5) for ongoing pavement improvement work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Drivers should allow extra time, consider traveling during non-peak morning or nighttime hours and stay on the designated detour route when northbound I-17 is closed between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 from 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5.   Traffic will detour on westbound Happy Valley Road to northbound Lake Pleasant Parkway and use eastbound Loop 303 to return to I-17. The northbound I-17 on-ramps at Deer Valley and Pinnacle Peak roads also will be closed. ADOT offers these additional tips:

• Northbound I-17 drivers should avoid attempting to use local streets as alternate routes. This is a recipe for longer delays and inconvenience for all. The posted detour, which will be monitored by off-duty officers and project staff, is the most efficient way to move through the area near the closure.   
• Lengthy traffic backups are unavoidable during freeway closures like this one, so drivers should plan ahead. Those with weekend plans to use northbound I-17 through the north Valley can consider traveling before Friday night’s closure begins. Traffic on northbound I-17 also generally is lighter during the early morning hours or later at night and is expected to be especially busy on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
• ADOT will be placing local-only closures at neighborhood entrances on a number of streets near I-17 to help direct detour traffic away from local roadways. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at intersections throughout the area to assist with traffic flow.
• ADOT also is taking steps to reduce the chances that navigation apps will direct drivers to other local roads. Staying on the detour route regardless of what a navigation app may suggest is the best way to reduce delays for yourself and others.  

Crews are continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on 6 miles of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74. Additional I-17 closures or lane restrictions will be needed as the work proceeds. ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/i-17HappyValleySR74 . Following the initial removal of an old, worn top layer of asphalt pavement along the freeway, crews have been replacing bridge deck joints and have started smoothing the freeway’s remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202. The I-17 pavement work between Happy Valley Road and SR 74 is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For more information about that larger project visit improvingi17.com . Drivers are reminded that the speed limit within that project’s work zone is 65 mph.  Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov , the az511 app or by calling 511.

The Arizona Restaurant Association has filed a lawsuit asking a Maricopa County Superior Court to block qualification of the so-called “One Fair Wage” initiative from the November ballot.   ARA paid for a line-by-line analysis of signature petitions filed by the initiative group. The finding: One Fair Wage petitions fall far short of the minimum 255,949 valid signatures required by State law.   “After an exhaustive analysis, we are very confident the initiative is tens of thousands of signatures short of the minimum number required to qualify for the November ballot,” said Steve Chucri, President & CEO of the Arizona Restaurant Association. “These petitions are rife with errors –unregistered voters, improperly notarized petitions and much more.   “We look forward to Arizona tipped workers and small-business owners breathing a sigh of relief when this measure is formally blocked from the November ballot.”   Among petition discrepancies and issues identified by the ARA analysis:  

•         One Fair Wage collected and submitted approximately 28,000 fewer bulk signatures than the 354,000 it claimed upon filing with the Secretary of State’s Office earlier this month;
•         Many of the petitions were signed by individuals who do not appear to be registered Arizona voters, as required by State law;
•         Numerous petition circulators were not timely registered with the Secretary of State, as is required;
•         Petitions were improperly or inaccurately notarized and dated, circulators did not disclose whether they were paid or volunteer, and more.

  Arizona law requires that citizens groups attempting to change the Arizona Constitution or State Statutes must “strictly comply” with ballot qualification requirements.    “One Fair Wage is based in Massachusetts,” Chucri said, “and Arizona is just another state they seek to conquer on behalf of their Big Union benefactors. We’re fighting to hold them accountable because, if this ill-considered initiative becomes law, Arizona tipped workers, small-business owners and families will pay the price.”

PHOENIX (July 30, 2024) – Judicial officers – the judges and court commissioners of the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County – are taking steps to strengthen connections between the Bench and the communities they serve.   Through R.O.B.E.S. (Reaching Out and Building Engagement Through Service), the Judicial Branch in Maricopa County is helping those in need and establishing valuable connections.   “Whether it’s helping the less fortunate or strengthening ties with organizations in Maricopa County, community engagement, for those of us in the judiciary, has transformative power,” said Commissioner Elizabeth Bingert. “These experiences enrich our understanding and empathy, allowing us to bring not just legal expertise but also a deeper human insight into our courtrooms.”   Commissioner Bingert, along with Judge Joseph Kreamer, Judge Robert Brooks and Commissioner Joshua Boyle, are spearheading the R.O.B.E.S program. Since its creation more than a year ago, the program has cooked dinner for families with sick children at Phoenix Children’s Hospital through the Ronald McDonald House; collected hundreds of gifts and several thousand dollars for children aging out of the foster care system; prepared sack lunches for the Honor Flight Network (a group that sends military veterans to Washington, D.C.), and spent a Saturday with Tempe Community Action Agency at Dia de los Ninos hosting a carnival for children whose families are experiencing food or housing insecurity.   “R.O.B.E.S allows us to make a difference in our community,” Commissioner Bingert said. “Behind the robes and the rulings, we are individuals committed to justice and to the well-being of those we serve.”   “Our community service efforts are making a difference.  But we know that there’s still a great need, and we will continue looking for ways to connect with and help the people we serve,” Judge Kreamer said.

PHOENIX — LUCHA will host a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) event followed by an election night party to celebrate the culmination of our efforts in this pivotal election season. Our team, alongside dedicated volunteers, canvassers, and supporters, has worked tirelessly to engage voters and ensure a strong turnout at the polls. This election will be a defining moment for our community, and we invite members of the press to meet with voters, canvassers, and organizers on the ground. As the polls close, join us for an evening of celebration, reflection, and anticipation. This night marks a significant moment in the history of the organization. Led by Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), our grassroots movement invested over $1 million to support Terán’s campaign, empowering a coalition of passionate canvassers, volunteers, and community members who knocked on nearly 100K doors, made calls, and mobilized voters in support of long-serving community member Raquel Terán. Election Night Phone Bank and Watch Party Who: LUCHA, Canvassers, and Community Members  What: Election Night Party and Results Watch Where: 5716 N 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015 When: 630 PM – 830 PM Please RSVP with César via email at [email protected] or by phone at 602-921-4923. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Matt Gress is responding to newly released reports that highlight the misuse of taxpayer funds by Arizona school districts for out-of-state travel.   A report released last week by the Goldwater Institute ( bit.ly/3Yg6Bew ) revealed that the Phoenix Elementary School District Governing Board had approved the use of taxpayer dollars to send a school board member to the 2024 Local Progress Conference in Oakland, California. The conference agenda focused on promoting far-left radical political ideologies and activism with minimal relevance to educational development. Under public scrutiny, district officials subsequently canceled the trip.   Additionally, the Auditor General’s Office released a report ( bit.ly/4ddaeWS ) last week documenting that the Baboquivari Unified School District spent nearly $500,000 on travel, much of which was unnecessary and wasteful. This included approximately $342,000 for a two-day out-of-state conference, with some expenditures exceeding state guidelines and lacking required approvals.   Representative Gress expressed his concerns over this misuse of public funds:   “These are troubling reports about where our education dollars are going. As a former teacher and school board member, and someone who is passionate about the value of a public education, it’s important to me that the dollars taxpayers invest go to classrooms, students, and teachers.   “These education dollars should not be used on lavish trips and conferences, especially when we are dealing with a teacher crisis and are told that districts don’t have the dollars necessary to raise salaries. This kind of irresponsible behavior further erodes public trust and makes it harder for those of us who are advocating for more dollars for education to make our case.   “I’d like to acknowledge the Goldwater Institute’s efforts in bringing more attention to these concerning expenses. Unfortunately, there are even more examples being uncovered. I will continue to monitor this issue and call upon leaders to be better stewards of public dollars. Classrooms are where these dollars belong — not on junkets for school board members and administrators to attend conferences pushing extreme and political agendas.”

PHOENIX – ADOT MVD today will enable mobile ID acceptance on iPhone with the Smart ID Verifier app. By using the Smart ID Verifier app, Arizona retailers can easily and securely accept mobile IDs in person to verify the ages of customers purchasing alcohol directly on their iPhones, no additional hardware needed. This new feature will bring Arizonans another way to use their mobile driver licenses.

 

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is partnering with the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control to enable Mobile ID Acceptance on iPhone with the Smart ID Verifier app , available in the App Store. Participating retailers selling age-restricted beverages have an efficient and secure way to verify a customer’s age. Retailers using the Smart ID Verifier app will only be provided the required information necessary for age verification, such as a customer’s age and ID photo. The information is encrypted between devices, so customers do not need to hand over their smartphones.   

 

“ADOT MVD is proud to once again provide new ways for Arizonans to seamlessly conduct business,” said Eric Jorgensen, ADOT MVD Director. “This digital verification process is a more secure and private way to present identification.” Mobile IDs, including IDs in Apple Wallet and IDs in Google Wallet, as well as the physical MVD-issued ID card can be accepted using the Smart ID Verifier app. Starting today, businesses will be able to verify age and properly record the verification for compliance with alcohol sales laws. Neither MVD nor Apple have access to users’ personal information and neither can see when or where users present their mobile IDs.

 

“The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control is excited to partner with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division in the announcement of Mobile ID Acceptance on iPhone with the Smart ID Verifier app,” said Ben Henry, Department of Liquor Licenses and Control Director. “With this new capability, establishments can securely verify patrons’ identification and determine they are of legal drinking age – right on iPhone. This will provide additional ease while maintaining compliance with Arizona Liquor Laws.”

 

Participation in the acceptance of mobile IDs is optional. Arizonans should continue to carry their physical driver licenses or state ID cards for those retailers who don’t yet accept the digital option.

 

For additional information about the Smart ID Verifier Ap, please visit azdot.gov/smart-id-verifier-app

 

Arizona was the first state to offer four options to keep your digital license or ID in your smartphone. Arizona first offered the Mobile ID (mID) in 2021, then in 2022 was the first state to add Apple Wallet. Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet for Android devices became available for Arizona driver licenses or ID cards in 2023. 

 

To learn more about mobile options for Arizona driver licenses and state IDs, please visit azdot.gov/DigitalIDs .