2/12/2010 6:00:00 AM Letter: Looks like misuse of taxpayer money
Much like the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights, Arizona Revised Statutes 11-410 is a list of the "shall nots" that restrict government from taking any type of action regarding certain inalienable rights, political processes or civil liberties.
A.R.S. 11-410 states that "A county shall not." This is directed squarely at the county government body, not at the citizens of the county. A.R.S. 11-410 goes on to state that the "county shall not use its personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections." This means that any employee of the county cannot redirect or misuse county resources to influence the outcome of an election.
If Mr. Zanna had been a county employee who was distributing literature while on county time, or using paper, toner or computers provided by the county to distribute literature about the dubious voting record of Sen. McCain, he would have been breaking the law. Since he is not a county employee, he was not breaking the law. His rights, and ours, were infringed upon.
Section C of A.R.S. 11-410 goes on to say that "nothing contained in this section shall be construed as denying the civil and political liberties of any employee as guaranteed by the United States and Arizona Constitutions." This demonstrates that 11-410 is directed at county employees, while on duty, and not at the citizens of the county. Even county employees who are not on duty and use their own personal equipment, materials, buildings (county buildings are public property) or other resources are allowed to partake in the political process as they see fit. You see, there can be no restrictions on private citizens, as it violates the Constitution.
But now comes the interesting part. I wonder if any of the articles submitted recently to the newspapers by our county officials espousing, supporting, and influencing the image of McCain and other elected officials, while at the same time seemingly defaming Mr. Luca Zanna for his defense of our lawful liberties, were written on county time, with county computers, in county buildings, using county resources? Homer Simpson said it best: "D'oh!"
Perhaps an investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's Office concerning the misuse of county resources is warranted. By the way, Mr. Walker, you're in Arizona now, not Tax-us.
Mervin Fried
Kingman
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Article comment by:
We Can Recall Sockwell
Folks, the recall is really charged up, we are raising money and getting signatures! This county has been under the corrupt thumbs of this BOS for too long, and they have gone too far. We can now remove Sockwell from office. Help us do this. Please go to RecallSockwell.com to help! We meet every week, we need your help, be part of history to clean up this county! RecallSockwell.com for info!
Posted: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Article comment by:
Please Step Up and Help with www.RecallSockwell.com
To help with RecallSockwell go to www.RecallSockwell.com or e-mail MohaveFreedom@Yahoo.com The cause is growing stronger every day, but we still need people to circulate petitions and we need donations. Now is the time for change and we can do it.
Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2010
Article comment by:
Gino Colletti
Fire them all for the audacity and disdain that they display against the public. Then arrest them for Constitutional violations. With these type of "leaders"? we don't need any enemies.
Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2010
Article comment by:
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
When are the recalls happening? It's time to stop talking and start taking action against County Administration bullies. Maybe we can get one or two other new supervisors who will side with Buster Johnson and kick Ron Walker out on his can.
Posted: Friday, February 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Paul
I submitted this to the Daily Miner as a press release and so far had no communication as to if they will print it.
Support Our 1st Amendment
Tuesday. Feb. 16th, 12:00
Residents of Mohave County unite to defend our Freedom of Speech at the Board of Supervisors meeting at our Mohave County Administration Building, 700 W. Beale St., Kingman, AZ.
Citizens are meeting at 12:00 outside the County Administration Building.
This is a spontaneous call to action.
Mohave County resident - Paul Frankfurter
This is not an organized event. This is a chance for citizens, especially those that prefer not to have comments published in print, to show their support for the First Amendment. It will be interesting to see a peaceful public showing of how people feel about this issue. Obviously, people attending are responsible for their own actions.
Please take a few minutes to attend if you are able and show your support. Feel free to express your point peacefully, and politely, using signs, T-shirts, etc. Be respectful of our county property by taking away with you anything you may have brought to express you point. It only takes a few minutes for a gathering to make their point. I'm sure the press will be present to document this. The Kingman Daily Miner has done well in providing coverage of this issue.
Posted: Friday, February 12, 2010
Article comment by:
PLL
to Wonderer,
To answer your question of 02/12/2010... Yes, we lunitics have sent letters to Attorney General Terry Goddard and his legal department responded to us. The letter says, "...contact your County Attorney, as our office represents the county, not the public. You may prefer to consider a civil action..." Since we explained to him in our letter that our "rules" were given to us by William Ekstrom, a county attorney, it was very obvious that Attorney Goddard does not want to get involved, as he has his sites on becoming Governor of the state.
If he can't help the taxpayers in an issue such as this, he probably wouldn't make a very good Governor, so please remember his response to our issues.
Posted: Friday, February 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Get off the Fence
It’s funny we have a County Attorney, Sheriff, 3 Board of Supervisors, County Manager, 2 Assistant County Attorneys and it took our State Senator to determine that the law has been abused, Why are we electing and paying these others? When will other County Employees stand up?
Posted: Friday, February 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Wonderer
Have these actions by the County Supervisors and their appointees been submitted to the Arizona Attorney General's Office? If not, why not?
