Category Archives: Elections

Official list of write in candidates for Coconino County

Posted on by

UPDATED: August 8, 2012

FLAGSTAFF—The list of write in candidates is final and following is that list. We tried to find the web sites of the candidates to add. If your web site is not listed, please leave a comment on this article.

At the TEA party meeting on Monday, the campaign manager for Gary Robbins explained the procedure for writing in a candidate is to write in the name of the candidate and darken in the oval.

Patty Hansen of the Coconino County Elections office advised in an email that it does not matter if you write first name last or vice-versa, or even if you misspell the name. If the write in board can determine the intent of the voter, it counts as a vote for that candidate. It is helpful, however, to be as accurate as possible.

She also notes that you can request to have an early ballot be mailed to you by going to www.coconino.az.gov/elections or call 928-679-7860 or toll free 800-793-6181. The deadline to request an early ballot be mailed to you is 5 pm on August 17th.

This applies to writing in all candidates for office. Ensure you write their name in the appropriate slot on the ballot and darken in the oval.

This list applies to current write in candidates for the primary only. Write in candidates must have registered with the Coconino County Elections office by July 18th. A write in vote for a person who has not registered and is not on this list will not be counted. Anyone wishing to vie for an office in the General Election in November may still register as a write in for that election.

OFFICIAL WRITE-IN CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL, STATE & COUNTY OFFICES

AUGUST 28, 2012 PRIMARY ELECTION

U.S. Senate

Libertarian
VICTOR, MARC

Republican
ACLE, LUIS
LYON, JOHN

U.S. Representative in Congress – District No. 1

Libertarian
ALLEN, KIM

Corporation Commissioner

Green
MEADOWS, THOMAS
POUT, DANIEL

Libertarian
GOHL, CHRISTOPHER

Sheriff

Republican
DAVIS, GLEN

Judge of the Superior Court – Division V

Libertarian
HAUSER, STEVE
LODGE, JOE

Republican
ROBBINS, GARY

Open Primaries will not make the ballot in November

Posted on by

UPDATE: This article should have stated that the Open Primaries legislation MAY not make the ballot in November. The ruling in this article is a Superior Court ruling and the backers of the Open Primary initiative could take it to the Arizona Supreme Court and obtain a ruling in their favor.

Save Our Vote Arizona has announced that the Arizona Superior Court has ruled against the organizers of the Open Primaries initiative.

The Open Primary system would have put all candidates, basically, on one primary ballot with everyone being able
to vote with only the top two being on the ballot in November. That would mean, perhaps, two Democrats or two Republicans as a choice for the major offices.

The primary system started about the administration of Andrew Jackson and has been used to select the required number of candidates from the major parties to run for offices. The Open Primary system virtually eliminates the chances of parties such as the Green Party and the Libertarian Party from having candidates on the ballot.

In Arizona, Independent and Non-Partisan voter can go to their normal polling place for the primaries on August 28th and ask for the ballot of a major party and vote.

You can download the decision here: PDF

Sales tax increase initiative to go before Supreme Court.

Posted on by

PHOENIX—Secretary of State Ken Bennett will appeal a lower court ruling on the Quality Education and Jobs initiative to the Supreme Court of Arizona. This initiative would continue the 1% sales tax increase placed on the ballot by Governor Brewer three-years ago and which has ended. The tax increase was promoted to save jobs—union government jobs—and several were cut anyway after the measure passed.

The initiative was denied by the Secretary of State because the official copy of the initiative did not match the copy attached to the petition assigned by voters.

The chairman of the Quality Education and Jobs committee—Ann-Eve Pederson—complained that Secretary Bennett’s decision was “really unfortunate” and charged that he was bending to the will of groups opposed to education. It is more likely that there are no groups opposed to education as much as they are opposed to the quality of education provided no matter how much money is thrown at it.

It is reported that 71% of eighth graders are below proficiency in math which seems to prove that the 1% sales tax does not add up. Many schools do not properly teach civic duties and rights under the Constitution of the United States of America.

Ken Bennett originally wrote in an op-ed that he would abide by the lower court ruling which violates the laws on initiatives. He decided to fight the decision because he felt that leaving this decision in place would lead to future abuses. He claims that his office follows the laws exactly.

The initiative passed three-years ago by approximately 24% of the voters. In Arizona a majority of those who cast a vote is all that is necessary to pass an initiative, not a majority of the registered voters. Only about 35% of registered voters cast a vote in that election. This is why it is important to vote to offset the union vote.

More write in candidates for August 28th

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF—Flagstaff Attorney Gary Robbins announces his write-in candidacy for Division 5 of the Coconino County Superior Court as a Republican. Republican write in candidates need at least 361 voters to write in their names on the ballot to be listed on the November election ballot.

Mr. Robbins joined the race because he is outraged that Cathleen Nichols would use a technicality to have incumbent Judge Joe Lodge removed from the primary ballot, leaving herself as the only person on the General Election ballot. Mr. Robbins states that the voters of Coconino County deserve a choice, and right now, the voters don’t have a choice.

“Although the Governor, Coconino County voters and Coconino County Superior Court judges have rejected Cathleen Nichols’ quest for Coconino County Superior Court judge on four prior occasions in 2010, Ms. Nichols is again attempting to become a Superior Court Judge. However, this time, to ensure her success, she has successfully knocked the incumbent opponent off of the primary ballot on a technicality,” his press release stated.

A July 13 article in the Arizona Daily Sun, indicates that Joe Lodge, a Democrat, may be running as a write in candidate on the Libertarian ticket.

Lodge would need only 15 write in votes, but unlike the Republican primary only Libertarians can vote in the Libertarian primary. An independent or non-partisan voter may go into the polls August 28th and ask for the ballot of any of the other major parties and vote in that primary. Thus, independents can write in Gary Robbins on the Republican ballot.

“A candidate for judicial office should not take the position to take away the voter’s choice,” Lodge said of Nichols. Cathleen Nichols is currently serving as Justice of the Peace in Flagstaff.

Mr. Robbins, a resident of Coconino County for almost 20 years, has been practicing law for 35 years. Instead of hearing traffic tickets in the Flagstaff Justice of the Peace Court for the last seven years, Mr. Robbins has practiced law in the Arizona Superior Court as a trial attorney for the last 31 years, appearing in thousands of hearings, after serving for nearly two years as a Staff Attorney for the Arizona Court of Appeals where he wrote draft opinions for the Court to issue.

The only other Republican candidate in the county is Glen Davis who is running for the office of Sheriff of Coconino County as a write in candidate.

Tampering with political signs illegal

Posted on by

WILLIAMS—Election time seems to bring out the prankster or just plain viciousness of people. That can probably be traced in part to the campaign ads that declare a candidates qualification for office is that they are not as bad as the other guy and not what they intend to do for the country or their knowledge of the Constitution.

During the campaign for Justice of the Peace in Williams some years ago, someone drew lewd objects on the signs of one of the candidates. In Williams recently two signs of Will Cardon were discovered in a trash can.

Arizona Revised Statute makes it illegal to remove or tamper with political signs for candidates and propositions except in certain instances. If a sign is placed on your private property without your permission, for example, you can remove the signs.

The period of effect for this law is from 45 days before a primary to 7 days after the general election.

The Law does not specify, but as a courtesy you could call the number on the sign and ask to have them picked up. In addition, a candidate, or organization supporting or opposing a proposition, should make every effort to ensure their signs are retrieved and properly disposed of after the general election. Signs can sometimes be found months after a general election cluttering up our land and forests.
Continue reading →

Williams Independence Day parade takes over Route 66

Posted on by

Crowd lines Route 66 in Williams waiting for the parade.


WILLIAMS—Dark clouds cooled off the small City of Williams, but did not damper one of the best parades in a number of years. The American Legion Cordova Post #13 led the parade which included local groups, the 108th Army Band and—it must be an election year—politicians. Smokey made an appearance and the Williams Fire Department brought out their fire trucks.

The American Legion Cordova Post #13 carries the colors to begin the parade.


Continue reading →

Candidates Sought for County’s School Boards

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Up to three seats each on school boards throughout Coconino County will be open for voters to fill on Election Day, Nov. 6.

County Superintendent of Schools Robert Kelty invites residents from throughout the County to consider serving their communities by seeking offices that help shape policies impacting our children’s future. All current terms end Dec. 31 and those elected serve four-year terms.

The following school districts will hold elections Nov. 6 to fill governing board openings:

• The Flagstaff Unified School Board will have three open positions, which are currently held by Chris Bavasi, Sarah Ells and Paul Kulpinski. A minimum of 201 nominating signatures must appear on a potential candidate’s petition forms and a nomination paper must be filed to seek one of these seats.

• The Fredonia Moccasin Unified School Board will have two open positions. Two of the positions are currently held by Jim Goodnow and Lamar Heaton. A minimum of five nominating signatures must appear on a potential candidate’s petition forms and a nomination paper must be filed to seek one of these seats.

• The Grand Canyon Unified School Board will have three open positions, which are currently held by Clarinda Vail, Peter Shearer and Luis Garcia. A minimum of six nominating signatures must appear on a potential candidate’s petition forms and a nomination paper must be filed to seek one of these seats.

• The Page Unified School Board will have three open positions, which are currently held by Sandra Kidman, Martha Natonabah and William Justice. A minimum of 39 nominating signatures must appear on a potential candidate’s petition forms and a nomination paper must be filed to seek one of these seats.

• The Williams Unified School Board will have three open positions, which are currently held by Herman Nixon, Thomas Ross and David Nenne. A minimum of 15 nominating signatures must appear on a potential candidate’s petition forms and a nomination paper must be filed to seek one of these seats.

• The Tuba City Unified School Board will have three open positions, which are currently held by Judy Begay, Linda Honahni and Marie Wheeler. A minimum of 46 nominating signatures must appear on a potential candidate’s petition forms and a nomination paper must be filed to seek one of these seats.

• The Chevelon Butte Elementary School District #5 School Board, will have three open positions, which are currently held by Richard Eng, Linda Blosser, and Trina Cooper. A minimum of three nominating signatures must appear on a potential candidate’s petition forms and a nomination paper must be filed to seek one of these seats.
Continue reading →