Taxpayer-funded resources should not be used to tilt the scales of any election. This isn’t a difficult concept to understand. So, when Arizona State University (ASU) and PBS were exposed for colluding to help Katie Hobbs in the 2022 governor’s race against Kari Lake, we demanded accountability. We called on Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell to launch a full investigation. After all, Arizona law is clear that universities must remain impartial and neutral in election-related activities.
In a ridiculous decision, both Mayes and Mitchell refused to take action on our complaint. But this battle is far from over.
The Illegal Use of Public Funds
This all began back in 2022 when Katie Hobbs was ducking just about everyone during her campaign for governor, most especially Kari Lake. It culminated in Hobbs’ refusal to debate Lake on Arizona PBS. From there, the process should’ve been simple. According to long-standing Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission (AZCCEC) rules, Kari Lake should have been provided with airtime, and the AZCCEC planned to do just that. But hours before Lake’s interview was scheduled to take place, the AZCCEC learned that Arizona PBS went behind their back to schedule an exclusive interview with Katie Hobbs—moving them to postpone Lake’s interview.
Then, last month, a series of emails came to light revealing that ASU leaders including President Michael Crow, former Arizona Republic publisher Mi-Ai Parrish, and Arizona PBS leaders allegedly colluded to jettison the debate rules to help Hobbs. This was a blatant and illegal use of taxpayer funds, and that’s why we filed a Hatch Act complaint with Mayes and Mitchell against ASU. But in a shocking and shameful decision, both decided against taking action…
New campaign signs appearing in the Chandler area are claiming a ballot amendment would keep term limits — but it actually rolls them back.
The signs advocate for the passage of Proposition 410 this November with phrasing that includes “Keep Term Limits.” In reality, the passage of Proposition 410 would amend the city of Chandler’s charter to expand term limits.
Under the proposition, individuals may serve 16 consecutive years — eight years as a council member, eight years as the mayor — before triggering a four-year waiting period.
The proposition seeks to clear away confusion resulting from myriad interpretations of current term limits within the city charter, namely one interpretation which declares that the present charter’s provision for two consecutive term limits on the council applies to the council members and the mayor together.
Additionally, the proposition clarifies that individuals elected to be mayor or elected to the council would be limited to two consecutive terms with a waiting period of four years after those terms. Again, nonconsecutive terms wouldn’t trigger the four-year waiting period.
The four-year waiting period can be waived, however, by the council to fill any vacancies on the council including for the office of the mayor.
The city charter amendment on the November ballot stands to benefit at least one council member: Councilman Matt Orlando, who filed a statement of interest to run for mayor in next year’s election. Orlando is serving his second consecutive term on the council. Under the one interpretation of the current charter, Orlando would not be eligible to run for mayor in 2026.
The council introduced the proposition following challenges to the interpretation of term limits within the current language of the charter, which puts limits on a “consecutive combination” of terms served as mayor and on the council.
“No person shall be eligible to be elected to the office of councilmember for more than two consecutive terms, or to the office of mayor for more than two consecutive terms or to more than a consecutive combination of the same,” states the current charter. “A person elected to two consecutive terms as a councilmember or two consecutive terms as mayor or a combination of the same as above set forth shall not be eligible to hold either office again until four years have elapsed.”
A lawsuit over the current charter language prompted Mayor Kevin Hartke to cease his 2026 campaign for a council seat.
“The City Council desires to propose amendments to the City Charter to clarify certain ambiguities in the Charter regarding the term limits for councilmembers and mayor,” stated the resolution passed earlier this year.
Hartke faced a lawsuit from a former opponent, Ruth Jones, who ran against him in 2022. Jones contended in her lawsuit, filed in May, that the city charter’s term limits invalidated Hartke’s election in 2022. Hartke served on the city council for nine years, twice as vice mayor. Under the one interpretation mentioned above, Hartke would not have qualified to serve as mayor.
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Arizona Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) sharply admonished Sen. Mark Kelly on social media Tuesday after the Tucson Democrat announced his Monday night appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Some critics online are accusing Kelly of angling for a 2028 White House run while neglecting his Senate duties, echoing similar concerns about Senator Ruben Gallego’s Iowa town hall this summer.
In a post to X, Kelly wrote, “Always a privilege to be on the @ColbertLateShow! Tune in tonight on CBS to see my conversation with @StephenAtHome.”
This move followed Colbert’s trivializing of the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC after that host made offensive remarks following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and amidst a tense congressional standoff that could lead to a government shutdown.
Sharing Sen. Kelly’s post to X, Ciscomani openly admonished him, writing, “Or, how about actually doing some *real* work, Senator? Avoiding a disastrous government shutdown is in the hands of Senate Democrats. Late-night TV interviews aren’t going to help make sure our border agents get paid, or keep the Grand Canyon open.”
Or, how about actually doing some *real* work, Senator?
Avoiding a disastrous government shutdown is in the hands of Senate Democrats. Late night TV interviews aren’t going to help make sure our border agents get paid, or keep the Grand Canyon open.
He added, “This guy is AZ’s Senior Senator,” before following up with a reminder of Kelly’s duty to Arizona with a stern command: “Do. Your. Job.”
Nick Field of PoliticsPA pointed to Democrats feeling out a 2028 presidential run by “guesting” on Colbert throughout the week, writing, “Three potential 2028 Democratic candidates are guesting on Colbert this week: Mark Kelly on Tuesday, Gavin Newsom on Wednesday and Chris Murphy on Thursday.”
Three potential 2028 Democratic candidates are guesting on Colbert this week: Mark Kelly on Tuesday, Gavin Newsom on Wednesday and Chris Murphy on Thursday https://t.co/gk3iGoVaVG
During the interview with Colbert, Kelly used about half of his time in the spotlight joining the host in bashing President Trump, telling Colbert he wishes that a Republican would “grow a spine and do something publicly,” about “the President and how he conducts himself.” He even attempted to lay the blame for the likely upcoming shutdown at the President’s feet.
“Let me make this perfectly clear to everybody. This is a fight over the cost of your health care,” Kelly claimed. “That’s all this is about. The president says no. He says he would prefer a government shutdown.”
The conversation with Colbert quickly turned to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, framed in Sen. Kelly’s experiences surrounding the attempted assassination of his wife, former Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, in 2011.
Maricopa County has retained the highest possible credit rating. Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings affirmed its AAA rating with a stable outlook, signaling strong financial health amid broader economic challenges.
County officials say the rating reflects careful fiscal management and a solid economic foundation. According to Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Thomas Galvin, District 2, the AAA rating demonstrates that “Maricopa County is not only financially strong but fiscally responsible.”
The County operates well below its maximum property tax levy and carries no general obligation debt, a distinction rare for large counties. Officials note that these measures help reduce costs for residents while supporting strategic investments in infrastructure and public services.
The AAA rating reflects several factors, including:
Conservative budgeting and prudent financial management.
Healthy reserves that protect against economic uncertainty.
A diverse local economy, with strong employment in government, education, health care, and aerospace.
Taxpayer protection through levying nearly $270 million below the County’s maximum property tax capacity.
Absence of general obligation debt, limiting taxpayer liabilities.
Maintaining the AAA rating also allows the County to borrow at lower interest rates, which can save millions of dollars on capital projects such as public safety facilities, technology upgrades, and infrastructure improvements. Officials say these savings benefit residents through enhanced services and lower costs.
The affirmation comes at a time when many counties nationwide face economic pressures, highlighting Maricopa County’s continued focus on long-term fiscal stability.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona State University (ASU) received $115 million to establish a new school of conservation with a globalist drive.
The millions from the Rob Walton Foundation, a sustainability nonprofit, launched the Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures on Monday within the newly renamed Rob Walton College of Global Futures.
The new school will focus on global conservation science and workforce development. Though its main operations will be out of Tempe, the school emphasizes hands-on, real-world experience within “hubs” in “conservation critical” locations including Hawai’i.
Its namesake, Rob Walton, is the eldest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. He formerly chaired the company from 1992 to 2015 before retiring from the board last year and is heir to the Walmart fortune.
Walton said in a statement accompanying the announcement that globalist policies were necessary for conservation.
“Nature doesn’t recognize borders,” said Walton. “To protect ecosystems, we need international cooperation, innovative leadership, and a skilled workforce.”
Peter Schlosser, ASU vice president and vice provost of Global Futures, said the goal of the school is “transforming” conservation academia to yield globalist conservative outcomes.
Conservation International, a Virginia-based environmental nonprofit and one of the top beneficiaries of funding from Walton’s nonprofit, also assisted in the creation of the new school. Its chairman emeritus and founding CEO, Peter Seligmann, said globalism is the best approach for conservation.
“Solving the planet’s greatest conservation challenges requires the wisdom, innovation and leadership of people from all corners of the world,” said Seligmann.
Seligmann is a consistent donor for Democratic candidates. He sat on the the left-wing Council of Foreign Relations think tank, and served on former President Bill Clinton’s board of Enterprise for America.
The current board of directors includes Walton, GAP chairman Robert Fisher, former chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corporation Wes Bush, Hollywood actor Harrison Ford, Hollywood actresses Sabrina Elba and Shailene Woodley, Apple founder Jeff Bezos’ brother Mark Bezos, actress Heather Thompson’s daughter and Nest CEO Kristina Brittenham, former Columbia president Ivan Duque, Apple vice president and former President Barack Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson, fashion designer Stella McCartney, and Mars confectionary heiress Valerie Mars.
Past boards of directors included Walton as well as billionaire and Apple heiress Laurene Powell Jobs.
Walton has been heavily involved with ASU for several years. Walton co-chairs ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability and co-founded the Rob and Melani Walton Center for Planetary Health in 2022. The latter is a research facility housed at the Tempe campus.
The research facility focuses on sustainability research concerning food, water, and energy. It houses the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, the Global Institute of Sustainability, the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service (founded 2012), the College of Global Futures, the School of Sustainability, and the Institute of Human Origins.
The Rob Walton Foundation (RWF, also called the “Rob and Melani Walton Foundation”) uses its tens of millions each year to support large-scale conservation efforts, primarily in Africa. Supported projects include the African Parks, Conservation International, Blue Nature Alliance, and Legacy Landscapes Fund.
The new school named after Walton at ASU will be led by a chair, and include three professorships to supply research and education as well as full and partial scholarships through the Rob Walton Scholars Fund. On one section of the newly launched site on “expanding educational access,” the school indicates it will structure its admissions around diversity.
The page also includes an “indigenous cultures acknowledgment” recognizing prior inhabitation of the land by dozens of Native American tribes.
The school offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Three classes announced for the spring within the school cover an introduction to conservation taught by Sharon Hall (president’s professor in the School of Life Sciences), and two biocultural conservation field expeditions in California taught by Melissa Nelson (indigenous sustainability professor).
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