Randy Parraz in his 2010 campaign

Citizens for a Better Arizona is a newly formed organization of concerned citizens committed to improving the quality of life of all Arizonans – better schools, better health care, better jobs, better government and a better, more civil tone of respect and decency when it comes to solving Arizona’s problems.

This is the group whose President/organizer is Randy Parraz, former candidate for U.S. Senate in the Democratic primary of 2010, which collected over 18,000 signatures in Legislative District 18 in Mesa, Arizona, to recall Republican State Senator (and sitting Senate President) Russell Pearce. Only 7,556 valid signatures were needed for the recall (read my previous blog from May, 2011, click here). Senator Pearce was defeated in the recall election on November 8, 2011 by Republican Jerry Lewis, a political newcomer. This was apparently the first time in U.S history that a sitting state Senate President has been recalled.

Parraz said recently at a house party in mid-town Tucson that he was motivated to begin this recall effort against Senator Pearce only last January, after Pearce was elected to be Senate President. Parraz stated that this Citizens for a Better AZ group was a true “grassroots” non-partisan effort of people of all ages, with about 35 core, committed volunteers, lead by his unflagging belief that despite what others said, the recall could succeed.

To read more about how Parraz ran this successful recall effort, read the Nov. 17, 2011 issue by Stephen Lemons in the Phoenix New Times (click here).

Randy Parraz will be coming to Tucson on Monday January 23, to speak at high noon to the Democrats of Greater Tucson (DGT) at a their weekly luncheon meeting at Dragon’s View restaurant, 400 N. Bonita Avenue (between St. Mary’s Rd. and Congress Ave.)
Cost of the Chinese lunch buffet is $8.50 which includes the tip and a drink.

Citizens for a Better AZ is now raising money on their latest campaign, which is calling for the resignation of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who has served since January, 1993. He has been re-elected four times, and is seeking re-election this November. Arpaio has been under attack for abuse of power & funds, racial profiling of Hispanics, uninvestigated sex crimes against children (wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Arpaio.

For more info or to donate: www.citizensforabetteraz.org. Checks can also be mailed to Citizens for a Better AZ, 1615 N. 36th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008.

Radio talk show host (and former Arizona Public Media Channel 6 talk show host) Bill Buckmaster has moved his radio show to KVOI, 1030 AM “The Voice”. He started this radio interview-driven show, The Buckmaster Show, earlier this year in January on KJLL 1330 AM. His new show on KVOI started on June 1 and will be at high noon, weekdays and simulcast in Globe and Douglas, Arizona.

His first guests were three Republicans — Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce, facing a historic recall with over 18,000 signatures submitted by the Recall Pearce campaign, then District 4 Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll and Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik–the latter two were interviewed about the County and City budgets. They were followed by General John Wickham on Libya. Listen to the interviews (click here).

On June 2 Buckmaster interviewed Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup (who is in his 3rd term and not running for re-election), Congresswoman “Gabby” Giffords’ staffer Mark Kimble (former Associate Editor of the Tucson Citizen), RTA Executive Director Gary Hayes, and lastly legal advisor Donald Loose, Esq. about the new medical marijuana laws. Listen to these interviews (click here).

And if you want to hear previous interviews when Bill Buckmaster was on KJLL radio, log onto www.buckmastershow.com. If you miss any of his upcoming interviews on KVOI, log onto the same website.

To call in to this radio talk show, the phone # is 520-790-2040.

Citizens for a Better Arizona headed by their Co-founder & former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Randy Parraz met in Tucson today to report on the Recall State Senator Russell Pearce campaign. About 1500 more signatures from LD 18 Mesa voters are needed by the May 31 deadline.

Parraz spoke before a group of about 40 Southern Arizonans about how he started up the campaign in February. He said that this would be “historic times” if the recall does occur. About $25,000 have been raised to assist their campaign to date.

The meeting was held at the home of Mohur Sidhwa, former candidate for LD 28 House. In attendance were LD 28 State Senator Paula Aboud, LD 29 House Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales, former Assistant Attorney General Vince Rabago, former LD 25 House Rep. Pat Fleming, and Jim Marsh (election integrity advocate for the Libertarian Party). A previous fundraising meeting was held by LD 29 State Senator Linda Lopez in Tucson.

Here’s info from the Citizens for a Better Arizona website of this recall petition process:

•DAYS 1-120: Gather Petition Signatures of District 18, Mesa Citizens, 25% of Votes Cast in Last Election = 7,756, plus safety margin. 2. Must be collected by any US citizen aged 18+ and eligible to vote in Arizona 3. Petition Forms must be up to code, notarized by circulator. 4. Submit Petitions to Secretary of State on Day 120 (May 31, 2011).

•DAYS 120 – 135 (June 22nd)

•Signature Validation: Within fifteen days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and other legal holidays, County recorder and Secretary of State shall determine validity of signatures.

•Russell Pearce has five days to resign excluding Saturdays, Sundays and other legal holidays.

•Governor must call a special recall election within fifteen days of filing.

RECALL ELECTION PROCESS: 1. Similar to any other election–The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (November 8th). 2. Recall ballot has list of candidates running against Russell Pearce. 3. Russell Pearce will be on the ballot for reelection.

Republican Russell Peace won the November, 2010 general election for State Senator by 17,552 votes, and 7,556 signatures are needed to recall him. Read my earlier blog on his election (click here). Pearce was elected State Senate President shortly after his November election. This is his 2nd term in AZ State Senate, having served before in the Arizona House of Representatives.

The campaign also lists the reasons for the recall:

Four Reasons to Recall and Remove Russell Pearce
1. Voted to terminate health care for seniors, struggling families and people with a disability.
2. Opposes the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
3. Voted to require American citizens show a Government ID for emergency care.
4. Opposes access to public education for all Arizona children.

If you want to help by making a donation or have time (Wed. or Sat.) to walk the petitions in Mesa, contact:

Citizens For A Better Arizona, www.recallpearce.com
P.O. Box 41232
Mesa, AZ, 85274-1232

Phone: (480) 748-8991

Email: info@recallpearce.com