Fountain Hills Councilman Allen Skillicorn says he has filed a report with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) alleging that signs supporting a school district budget override are blocking signs opposing the measure.
In an Oct. 9 news release, Skillicorn criticized the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce for supporting the override.
“I have filed an incident report with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office regarding the signs,” Skillicorn said. “The Chamber is free to advocate for higher taxes. But voters should be allowed to see both sides of the debate,” he added.
The release did not identify specific sign locations, who installed them, or any law enforcement determination that a violation occurred. AZ Free News requested more information from MCSO about the incident report but received no response by publication.
Responding to AZ Free News, Chamber President and CEO Betsy LaVoie rejected the allegation that the organization intentionally obstructed opposing signs:
“The Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce stands firmly behind its support of the Fountain Hills Unified School District override, and we categorically reject Councilman Allen Skillicorn’s suggestion that our signs were intentionally placed to obstruct opposing viewpoints. If Councilman Skillicorn claims our signs are blocking his, I challenge him to produce photographic evidence showing exactly where that obstruction exists. We support everyone’s right to express their position, whether they agree with us or not.
“It is deeply disappointing to see an elected official devote law enforcement resources and taxpayer dollars to what appears to be a politically motivated and baseless complaint in his ongoing campaign against our local school district. Our deputies have far more important responsibilities than refereeing political disagreements over campaign signs.
“The Chamber’s position has always been about supporting our schools, protecting the quality of education in Fountain Hills, and maintaining a strong community that attracts families, businesses, and investment. Rather than manufacturing controversy over signs, perhaps Councilman Skillicorn should focus on the very real challenges facing our schools and the students who depend on them. We will not allow political distractions to overshadow what this election is actually about: the future of education in Fountain Hills.”
Skillicorn cited A.R.S. § 16-1019, which makes knowingly removing, altering, defacing or covering qualifying political signs a Class 2 misdemeanor during the statutory election period. For ballot measure signs, that period begins 71 days before the election and ends 15 days afterward.
The statute includes exceptions for actions authorized by the candidate or ballot measure committee responsible for the sign, actions by private property owners or their authorized agents, and other specified circumstances.
The dispute concerns Fountain Hills Unified School District’s maintenance and operations override election. The official voter pamphlet describes the proposal as a seven-year continuation of the district’s existing 15% override, financed through property taxes within the district.
The district estimates the full override would provide $1,198,017 in fiscal year 2027–28. Its estimated tax rate is $0.1675 per $100 of net assessed valuation, approximately equal to the existing override rate. The pamphlet estimates an annual cost of $78 for an owner-occupied home with a limited property value of $467,130.
Without approval, the existing override would decline by one-third in 2027–28, another third in 2028–29, and expire in 2029–30. The first-year difference between the proposed budget and the budget without renewal is estimated at $399,339.
The district describes the measure as a continuation of its existing override, with an estimated tax rate approximately equal to the current rate. Rejection would allow the existing override and its associated tax to phase out.
Skillicorn described the proposal as a “$6 million tax hike.” An AZ Free News calculation using the district’s estimated 2027–28 override amount and the ballot’s seven-year schedule puts the additional cumulative funding from renewal at about $5.99 million over a seven-year period compared with allowing the existing override to expire, assuming the district’s revenue control limit remains unchanged.
Source: AZ Free News calculations using the annual estimate on page 4 and ballot provisions on page 10 of theofficial voter pamphlet. Assumes the district’s revenue control limit remains unchanged; these are illustrative calculations, not district-issued seven-year revenue projections.
“Looking at the Chamber’s track record, the question is simple: Has the FH Chamber ever seen a tax hike it didn’t support?” Skillicorn said.
“The Chamber has supported the Town’s primary property tax, the last failed bond tax hike, high-density Daybreak apartments, and Sandor’s urban style single-bedroom apartments. At this point, the pattern is hard to miss: if it raises taxes or increases high-density/section 8 housing, the Chamber seems to be there.
“Now there’s another issue. Numerous pro-override Chamber signs appear to be blocking signs opposing this $6 million tax hike. Arizona law, A.R.S. § 16-1019, makes knowingly covering a political sign supporting or opposing a ballot measure a Class 2 misdemeanor.”
Press Release: Apparently, the Fountain Hills Chamber Has Never Met a Tax Hike It Didn’t Like
I’d like to welcome the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce to the $6 million override tax-hike campaign—with its new political signs. I guess they must have missed the Orange & Blue… pic.twitter.com/5psBbIkFEr
The chamber’s argument supporting the measure, signed by President and CEO Betsy LaVoie and Board Chair Julie Jones, says its board of directors supports continuing the funding.
“This measure continues existing, voter-approved funding,” the argument states. “It is not a new tax or a new program. Continued M&O funding is critical to maintaining the quality, stability and success of our local schools.” The chamber argues that strong schools help attract and retain families, support property values, and strengthen the local workforce.
The district’s statement in the pamphlet identifies teacher and staff salaries, campus safety, all-day kindergarten, career and technical education, and extracurricular activities among the services supported by the override.
Skillicorn also submitted an opposing argument in the pamphlet, contending that renewal would prevent anticipated property tax relief. He called for the district to demonstrate how it uses proceeds from property sales and reduce the cost of maintaining underused campuses.
Under the ballot language, approval would continue override authority at 15% of the district’s revenue control limit through 2031–32, followed by 10% in 2032–33 and 5% in 2033–34. A no vote would allow the existing authorization to phase out.
Attorney General Kris Mayes is styling her campaign to show bipartisan support; her latest endorsement comes from a “lifelong Republican” former mayor who misused the 911 system.
Mayes opened her latest campaign ad with the endorsement of Sam Campana, the former mayor of Scottsdale from 1996 to 2000.
“I’m voting for Kris Mayes because Arizona deserves better than politics as usual,” said Campana.
Mayes has encouraged a public perception of nonpartisanship on the campaign trail and the debate stage.
During her debate against Republican nominee Warren Petersen last month, Mayes presented herself as apolitical. Petersen disagreed with that characterization and revisited actions by her office that he claimed were evidence of political lawfare, such as her refusal to defend a state law banning boys from girls sports.
“Whether it was a Republican president or a Democratic president, our criteria is the same: has the Constitution been violated? Has the state been harmed?” said Mayes. “And that has happened all too often over the past two years.”
“Kris Mayes is the most political and partisan AG that this state has ever had,” replied Petersen. “She’s got [more than] 50 lawsuits against her political opponents. She has weaponized the office.”
In furtherance of that goal to present herself as nonpartisan, Mayes this week featured an endorsement from Campana, Scottsdale’s first female mayor who previously identified as a Republican.
Some Arizona voters were quick to point out that the chief law enforcement officer had chosen an endorser who misused 911 on more than one occasion.
While mayor, Campana repeatedly called 911 for directions to city functions when she couldn’t get an answer in time from non-emergency lines.
Campana continued calling 911 despite being asked by local police leadership to cease calling the emergency line for driving directions.
Campana eventually relented from calling 911 for directions according to reports, but stated at the time that she continued to call police for navigational assistance.
“I only use it under duress,” said Campana.
The only "Republican" @KrisMayes could find to endorse her in her new ad?
A former mayor who abused police resources by repeatedly calling 911 "to get driving directions." The police chief had to send out a memo telling her to stop 🤡 pic.twitter.com/p9lBWG2BQj
The former mayor also told the Arizona Progress Gazette in a 2020 interview that she helped to ensure that women were hired over men during her tenure, giving the implication that she participated in sex-based hiring discrimination.
“It was an exciting time on the Mezzanine of City Hall when all the mayor and council staff were women! Mostly it was because we hired the most capable person for the job, but in a case or two it was a nudge to give a woman an opportunity who otherwise wouldn’t have gotten it,” said Campana.
Campana was among several self-identified lifelong Republicans in this latest campaign ad who said they viewed Mayes as one of their own, since the attorney general was a registered Republican until 2019.
Although Campana described herself as a lifelong Republican, she has endorsed Democratic candidates for years and was a member of Republicans for Harris.
Campana endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020, Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2022, and Kamala Harris in 2024.
This year, Campana supported Solange Whitehead and Raoul Zubia for Scottsdale City Council, and Marlene Galan-Woods for Congress — all Democrats.
“Principled, public policy-minded, cares about Arizona, steady at the wheel and a proven statewide candidate who has delivered every time,” said Campana of Hobbs in her 2022 endorsement.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Arizona State Representative Gail Griffin (R-LD19) is raising concerns over the state’s continued failure to meet federal auditing requirements, warning that billions of dollars in federal funding supporting health care, long-term care, and other assistance programs could face penalties.
Arizona has missed the federal Single Audit deadline for four consecutive fiscal years, from 2022 through 2025, under Governor Katie Hobbs’ administration.
The Single Audit is an annual financial and compliance review required by federal law to account for how states spend federal funding and ensure compliance with federal regulations.
Arizona’s fiscal year 2025 audit was due March 31, 2026, but remains incomplete. The Arizona Auditor General has projected that the report may not be released until March 5, 2027, less than a month before the fiscal year 2026 audit deadline.
According to state officials, Arizona spent approximately $28.6 billion in federal funding during fiscal year 2024, including $18.3 billion from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The funding supports several programs, including the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), which administers Medicaid services, and the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), which provides nursing home and long-term care assistance to eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Federal funding also supports behavioral health services, child care assistance, food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other public assistance programs.
“Governor Hobbs has allowed Arizona to remain out of compliance year after year, and now the health care and benefits Arizonans depend on are exposed to federal penalties,” stated Rep. Griffin. “We are talking about $18.3 billion in HHS funding and services that seniors, people with disabilities, and vulnerable families rely on. These Arizonans should not have to worry about losing benefits because the Governor has failed to meet basic federal accountability requirements.”
🚨Hobbs’ Noncompliance Could Cost Arizona Billions in Health Care Benefits Federal government warns continued Single Audit failures put $18.3 billion in Medicare and other federal funding at risk, including services for seniors and Arizonans with disabilities
During a September 21 hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), HHS Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources Gustav Chiarello criticized the state’s response to its overdue audits, calling it “inadequate.”
Under federal regulations, agencies have several enforcement options when recipients fail to comply with funding requirements, including withholding payments, disallowing costs, and suspending or terminating federal awards.
The federal government previously notified Hobbs of Arizona’s noncompliance in a July 14 letter, citing a “consistent pattern of noncompliance” and requesting corrective action.
On July 31, the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) proposed completing the overdue audit by December 30, 2026, and shifting portions of the federal compliance auditing process to outside accounting firms.
The Auditor General subsequently disputed that timeline, calling it unrealistic and identifying March 5, 2027, as a more achievable completion date.
Arizona’s delayed audits have already resulted in financial consequences for the state’s public universities. Federal agencies have reportedly withheld or frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, including approximately $154 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Shortly after, the universities separated their federal audits from the statewide Single Audit process to protect their access to federal funding.
During the September hearing, Chiarello also testified that neither Hobbs nor her office had directly contacted him or his staff to address the state’s noncompliance following the July notification.
“For four years under Governor Hobbs, this problem has gotten worse instead of better,” Griffin said. “Arizona has missed four consecutive federal deadlines, the number of audit findings has grown, and HHS is now warning about federal enforcement. Even after HHS formally notified the Governor that Arizona was not in compliance, her office did not have a direct conversation with the federal official responsible for addressing the delinquency. Four years is more than enough time to get this under control.”
State officials have attributed the continued delays in part to late financial reporting from multiple agencies, including the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). The Auditor General also reported that agency submissions were arriving later than in previous years, further complicating efforts to complete the required audits.
At the hearing, ADOA acknowledged that the delays were unacceptable but did not commit to completing the fiscal year 2026 audit by its federal deadline.
Griffin called on the Hobbs administration to establish a realistic timeline, improve communication with federal officials, and implement corrective measures to bring Arizona back into compliance.
“Governor Hobbs needs to take responsibility and fix this,” said Griffin. “Arizona needs a credible timeline, direct engagement with the Department of Health and Human Services, and an immediate plan to bring the State back into compliance.”
“Seniors, families, and Arizonans with disabilities should not have their health care and other essential benefits put at risk because the administration cannot get its financial reporting in order,” added Griffin.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes and Republican challenger Warren Petersen each received 45% support among likely voters in a newly released Equis Research survey, while Gov. Katie Hobbs led Republican Andy Biggs, 49% to 43%.
The Oct. 6 memo also showed Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes at 46% against Republican Alex Kolodin’s 44%. The generic congressional ballot stood at 45% for each party.
The survey interviewed 1,214 registered Arizona voters Sept. 1–9, including 400 Latino registered voters, using equal shares of live telephone interviews and text-to-web responses. Equis reported a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points for the full sample and 4.9 points for Latino registered voters. The candidate results were reported for likely voters; the memo did not separately identify that subgroup’s sample size or margin of error.
Equis describes its work as researching Latino voters and increasing civic participation. The organization also identifies itself as a resource for the progressive political ecosystem.
The findings differ from earlier Arizona surveys that showed larger Democratic advantages in the attorney general and secretary of state contests.
An August poll from Noble Predictive Insights placed Mayes ahead of Petersen, 44% to 38%, with 16% undecided. Fontes led Kolodin, 41% to 35%, with 20% undecided.
That survey also showed Republican Kimberly Yee at 40% against Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz’s 37% in the superintendent of public instruction race, with another 20% undecided.
Noble conducted its survey Aug. 10–13 through an opt-in online panel of 1,040 registered voters, including 923 classified as likely voters through screening questions. The firm reported a margin of error of approximately 3.2 percentage points for its likely-voter results and weighted that group to its projected electorate.
A separate HighGround survey conducted Aug. 15–18 showed Mayes ahead of Petersen, 48.3% to 40.3%, and Fontes ahead of Kolodin, 43% to 35.3%.
HighGround also found Democrat Nick Mansour at 41.8% against Republican Elijah Norton’s 39% for state treasurer. Leyba Ruiz received 42.3% against Yee’s 41.2% for superintendent.
HighGround sponsored its survey of 400 likely voters, using live interviews and a turnout model with an eight-percentage-point Republican partisan advantage. It reported a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.
The surveys used different respondents, interview methods, and turnout assumptions. Their results alone do not establish how much individual voters’ preferences changed between August and September.
Recent national coverage has also highlighted past differences between polling and election results. During a Sept. 30 CNN segment, chief data analyst Harry Enten said Republicans outperformed September polling in major 2024 races by nine percentage points in Iowa, six in Ohio and five in Michigan.
Dems have had a lot of very good polls from Iowa, Mich & Ohio.
But are polls underestimating the GOP again? In all 3 states, GOP did better by 5+ pt in 2024 than polls had at this point.
Enten also cited the 2018 midterms, when Republicans outperformed September polls in major statewide races by six points in Iowa, six in Ohio, and eight in Michigan. He cautioned that another Republican overperformance could alter the outlook for Senate control. Enten’s comparison concerned Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan and did not assess Arizona results.
Beyond candidate preferences, the Equis memo identified the economy and cost of living as the leading concern for 33% of likely voters, followed by water at 23%.
Although released in October, the survey’s voter-preference findings reflect interviews completed Sept. 9 and do not measure reactions to subsequent campaign developments.
A law firm with close ties to Gov. Katie Hobbs has benefited from a series of government contracts within her administration totaling over $6 million.
Coppersmith Brockelman PLC has been awarded legal counsel contracts for multiple state agencies, according to initial reporting by FOIAzona.
The law firm, which has been a go-to for top Democrats, is also providing legal counsel to Hobbs’ secretive inaugural fund. The firm has disclosed its defense of Hobbs’ inaugural fund as one in a list of conflict-of-interest matters considered adverse to state interests.
Two of the firm’s partners have been appointed to high court positions in recent years. In 2022, Roopali Desai was appointed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; she administered Hobbs’ oath of office months later in January 2023. Earlier this year, Hobbs appointed Andy Gaona to the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Last year, one of Hobbs’ general counsel members, Bo Dul, joined Coppersmith Brockelman. Prior to joining the Hobbs administration, Dul had been senior counsel at States United Democracy Center, where she represented Hobbs pro bono.
Coppersmith Brockelman has contracts to provide counsel to the Department of Health Services (DHS), Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).
For all of the agencies, contracts were listed as “competition impracticable” — meaning the state didn’t undergo the competitive bidding process to award those contracts. For example, ADOA designated Coppersmith Brockelman in a 2024 competition impracticable procurement authorization form as having “specialized expertise” with DHS contracts.
The law firm received two contracts in 2024, two contracts in 2025, and one so far this year.
The two contracts in 2024 were for DHS and ADOA.
One of the 2024 contracts was for DHS litigation claims related to Sober Living Assisted Facilities at the request of Hobbs’ office; that contract has an initial estimated cost of up to $3 million, with listed counsel rated at anywhere from $350 to $500 per hour, paralegals listed at $150 per hour, and a legal assistant listed at $50 per hour.
The other 2024 contract was for civil claims against ADOA following a disqualification notice filed by Attorney General Kris Mayes. The contract had an initial estimated cost of up to $2 million, with listed counsel rated from $350 to $400 per hour, a paralegal for $150 per hour, and a legal assistant for $50 per hour.
The two contracts in 2025 were for ADWR and AHCCCS.
One of the 2025 contracts was for ADWR related to two separate actions filed in Maricopa County Superior Court pertaining to groundwater rules and regulations. Counsel rates were $400 and $425 per hour, with an estimated cost of up to $120,000 per year.
The other 2025 contract was to provide miscellaneous legal counsel for AHCCCS, with an initial estimated cost of $100,000 that was extended earlier this year to $200,000. Counsel rates were listed as $350 to $475 per hour, and an associate for $275 per hour.
The contract this year concerned ADWR’s involvement in an appeal and special action lawsuit on the assured water supply program: Home Builders Association of Central Arizona v. Arizona Department of Water Resources. The contract listed an initial estimated cost of up to $600,000. The state justified competition in this contract as impracticable because ADWR’s in-house attorneys were handling other litigation as well as Hobbs’ policy priorities.
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A Tucson man charged with threatening to bomb the White House allegedly sent an earlier message threatening an anthrax attack in Tucson. The message also threatened a bombing at a federal building, according to reporting on the federal criminal complaint.
Jacob Aaron Hicks, 46, was arrested on Oct. 7 and charged with making an interstate threat to injure. He made his initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 8.
The investigation began after Tucson television station KGUN9 received an email on Sept. 23 threatening an imminent attack against the White House and other Washington, D.C., locations. The station said it forwarded the message to authorities. The FBI confirmed to KGUN9 that its referral prompted the investigation.
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jacob Aaron Hicks, 46, of Tucson, was arrested yesterday and charged by criminal complaint with Making an Interstate Threat to Injure. Hicks is accused of sending an email on Sep.23, 2026, threatening to commit mass bombings at the White House and around the…
The email claimed an attack would occur within 12 hours and that bombs were positioned around Washington.
“Be advised. In 12 hours, there’ll be a strike against the White House. There’s bombs all around Washington D.C. This is not a joke. Be advised. You Americans will pay. Allah, to Allah,” a portion of the email read.
Hicks claimed he had loaned his phone to a homeless person when the email was sent.
Federal investigators identified Hicks as the alleged sender and located additional unsent drafts in the same email account, prosecutors said. Those drafts, also dated Sept. 23, were addressed to other news organizations and contained similar threats against the White House and surrounding areas.
The investigation also uncovered a Sept. 2 text message allegedly sent by Hicks to a Tucson-area number. The message threatened an anthrax attack against Tucson, claimed possession of C4 for a federal-building bombing and specified Sept. 11, 2026, at 5 a.m.
An announcement from the Justice Department did not report the discovery of explosives or anthrax.
Investigators also identified earlier threats Hicks allegedly made while living in New York against the Wayne County Department of Social Services. Authorities there reportedly visited his address and warned that further threatening contact could result in charges. The account did not identify a conviction stemming from those earlier incidents.
“We must take threats of violence like this one seriously,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said.
“I am grateful to our local news station for referring this threat to law enforcement, and to the FBI for addressing the situation quickly, professionally, and with the level of commitment it required.”
The FBI is conducting the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Federal prosecutors in Tucson are handling the case.
The Justice Department identified the prosecution as part of the National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, describing it as a White House-directed interagency effort addressing political violence while protecting First Amendment rights. The department said Joint Task Force Vanguard leads the initiative.
Tucson Man Criminally Charged for Bomb Threat Against the White House
Jacob Aaron Hicks, 46, of Tucson, was arrested yesterday and charged by criminal complaint with Making an Interstate Threat to Injure. Hicks is accused of sending an email on Sep.23, 2026, threatening to… pic.twitter.com/peLomtfTWX
“The FBI remains steadfast in its mission to defend the United States against criminal and national security threats and will investigate them to the fullest extent of the law. We appreciate the community partner who reported the threat to law enforcement,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “Cooperation and partnership are essential to protecting the American people.”
