Press release from Arizona Secretary of State’s Office:

State certifies General Election, is granted court order for Prop 112 recount

Counties prepare for first recount of statewide ballot proposition in Arizona ’s history

PHOENIX: Secretary of State Ken Bennett has been granted a court order allowing an automatic recount to proceed regarding the results of Proposition 112.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Oberbillig issued the order Monday afternoon. A recount was mandated under state law due to the close margin in the race for Prop 112. Out of more than 1.5 million votes cast in that race, “no” votes are leading “yes” votes by just 128 – well within the 200-vote margin that would necessitate a recount.

County elections officials are preparing for the recount now, and will shortly begin re-running ballots through optical-scan machines in order to again tabulate the vote total for Prop 112. Only that contest will be recounted. Judge Oberbillig has ordered the counties to complete their recount activities by Dec. 15. He is scheduled to certify the new results for Prop 112 at a hearing on Dec. 20.

“Together with county elections officials, we’ve been in preparations for this recount since the days following the Nov. 2 General Election when it became apparent that a recount may be necessary,” Secretary Bennett said. “I’m confident that the recount can be conducted quickly and accurately, bringing finality to the Proposition 112 results.”

The recount is expected to cost $150,000-$200,000. As outlined by state law, the counties will be reimbursed for their costs by the state.

The Secretary of State’s Office sought the recount court order immediately following Monday afternoon’s completion of a statewide canvass certifying state and federal results for the Nov. 2 General Election. A signing ceremony for the canvass included Secretary Bennett, Gov. Jan Brewer, state Attorney General Terry Goddard and Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch of the Arizona Supreme Court.

More than 1.75 million ballots were cast in the General Election, equating to statewide voter turnout of 55.6 percent. Turnout was strongest in Yavapai (67.9 percent), Pima (65.5 percent) and Gila (60.2 percent) counties. About 54 percent of Maricopa County ’s registered voters cast a ballot in the General Election.

“Every General Election is a massive undertaking,” Bennett said. “But I’m pleased to report that our Nov. 2 election was conducted safely, smoothly and without major incident.

“My gratitude for that goes out to members of my office and county officials who coordinated the election, the more than 14,000 poll workers who manned polling places on Election Day and – of course – the more than 1.7 million Arizonans who cast a ballot.”

NOTE: Official 2010 General Election Canvass results are available here: http://www.azsos.gov/election/2010/General/Canvass2010GE.pdf

Note: In case you’re wondering, Proposition 112 “would amend the Constitution to require that initiative petitions be filed at least six months before the date on which the measure will be voted on. Under current law, initiative petitions must be filed at least four months before the date on which the measure will be voted on.” (from League of Women Voters of Arizona Education Fund Voter Guide).

So, all this time & expense to recount in all the counties is about reducing the process by 2 months. But congratulations to Pima County voters for their high turnout (65.5 % mentioned above.)

Most of the 18 citizens who testified tonight expressed outrage over the past Rio Nuevo mismanagement to the new Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District Board in a public hearing at the Tucson Convention Center’s Greenlee room. Many expressed anger that there has been no accountability for the $230 million spent of tax payer money over a 10 year period, and asked questions about whether a full fledged “forensic” audit could be performed. Several speakers asked for an “accounting” of the spending, to see who signed the “canceled checks” and that research be done on the major contracts which were not performed. Only 2 of the 15 Rio Nuevo projects were completed (the Fox Tucson Theatre and the Presidio wall).

Most of those who spoke tonight:
1. James Kelley (“The Cholla Jumps” blogger)
2. Mikki Niemi
3. Bud Foster, KOLD 13 reporter
4. Ally Miller, Pima County Tea Party Patriot organizer
5. Steve Kozachik (Ward 6 Councilmember)
6. Michael Tony
7. William Beard
8. Sherese Steffens, Pima County Tea Party Patriot organizer
9. Lillian Lopez Grant, neighborhood activist
10. Barney Brenner, candidate for District 3 Pima County Supervisor in 2008
11. Dick Bayse, Pima Assn. of Taxpayers
12. John Kromko, Pima Assn. of Taxpayers
13. Joe Sweeney, recent Republican candidate for CD 7 U. S. House
14. Ken Scoville, historian

Several speakers called for an investigation by the F.B.I. of any criminal behavior, and a state investigation by Attorney General-elect Tom Horne. The Pima County Tea Party has called for such a criminal investigation today (click here). Some speakers did emphasize the need to move forward in developing downtown, despite this negative report.

For Arizona Daily Star reporter Rob O’Dell’s original article on this audit (click here). In yesterday’s Star article O’Dell wrote:

The audit found that the city’s Rio Nuevo downtown redevelopment district was beset by mismanagement and a lack of financial oversight and internal controls that left a majority of its projects incomplete after more than $230 million was spent.

The audit, conducted by Crowe Horwath of Los Angeles for the state auditor general, said much of Rio Nuevo’s money was spent on planning or projects that stalled.

Unfortunately what was revealed tonight was that the recent audit released at the end of October was only a “financial analysis” and not a full audit (financial statement, performance, or forensic). And the Rio Nuevo Board heard tonight from Crowe Horwath representatives that a full forensic audit may cost in the neighborhood of $1 million, since it would span several years.

The Pima County Tea Party Patriots will be holding a protest rally about this “Rio Nuevo Waste” prior to the Tucson City Council meeting on Tuesday December 7, 4:30 p.m. at Mayor/Council chambers, 255 W. Alameda.

Pima Association of Taxpayers is holding a meeting on “Rio Deceivo” at the Woods Library on December 16, 3455 N. 1st Avenue, 6 to 8 p.m.

The Rio Nuevo board has to prepare a “response” in 10-12 days based on tonight’s public hearing for the legislature.

For more: read O’Dell’s article in the Star about this public hearing attended by about 80 people: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_3a598e2d-e572-5eae-93a6-39b4f3c6d969.html

“Meet Me at the Library: Conversations with Arizona Leaders”

UA President Robert Shelton

Meet Robert Shelton, the 19th President of the University of Arizona. Previous to his inauguration in 2006, Dr. Shelton was Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and served on the Space Telescope Institute Council and the Research Triangle Institute Executive Committee. His professional experience also includes serving as professor, writer, and editor. Join the conversation to talk about the future of the University of Arizona, science, research, and more.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. in the Himmel Park Branch library large meeting room.

Himmel Library is in the NE section of Himmel Park, at 1035 N. Treat (SW corner of E. 1st Street, south of Speedway), and will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next year 2011. It is now the oldest branch library in the Pima County Library system.

Drop by to ask President Shelton those questions you’ve been pondering about the University of Arizona’s budget and economic cut backs. Or just ask him about his goals for the UA system. If you want to reach him otherwise, his contact info is:
Telephone: (520) 621-5511
Fax: (520) 621-9323
robert.shelton@arizona.edu.