The office of Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly has become the center of the latest election controversy in Arizona. On October 19th, the county’s online portal to request vote-by-mail ballots was shut down when voting officials claimed the site was overwhelmed with the quantity of requests. The shutdown occurred a week prior to the Oct. 25th deadline.
According to the Tucson Sentinel, as an alternative, the county office posted a notice at the top of the disabled form page instructing voters to call-in to the office in order to request a mail-in ballot.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senator Wadsack Launches Investigation into Pima County Recorder's Office Following Apparent Elections Violations
Arizona Senator Justine Wadsack announced Wednesday that she is launching an investigation into the allegations against Cázares-Kelly’s office “following potential violations which may have suppressed thousands of Southern Arizona voters.”
“I was truly shocked to learn our County Recorder’s Office had done this,” Senator Wadsack said in a statement. “These actions are absolutely unacceptable, undermine the integrity of our elections, and raise serious questions regarding voter suppression. This has affected my current constituents and my community, and I want to make sure their votes are protected as well as votes for all candidates involved. I’m here to make sure there’s accountability for the laws that appear to have been broken. My message to voters is to get out today and vote in person to ensure your vote is not suppressed.”
In a letter of inquiry sent to the County Recorder, Wadsack wrote, “You certainly know that, under Arizona law, ‘an elector may make a verbal or signed request to the county recorder’ for an early ballot. Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16-542(A) (emphasis added). Further, your office must mail voters the early ballot ‘within forty-eight hours after receipt of the request.’ Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16-542(D). It appears clear that your office violated both requirements.”
Arizona Reps. Rachel Jones and Cory McGarr issued a similar inquiry on Oct. 24th to Cázares-Kelly following allegations that the Recorder’s office, on receipt of undeliverable ballots or those returned due to an outdated address, sent notice that the voters mailed ballot was “received,” creating confusion.
We’re still waiting for answers to the questions asked in our below letter. Received an email yesterday that says they’ll get us those answers asap.
Is asap going to conveniently be November 6th? Maybe never? Why is the Pima County Recorder’s office not already following the… pic.twitter.com/mAcmfUfhZP
Per the Sentinel, Cázares-Kelly’s office sent alerts to approximately 4,000 voters in a mass email to notify them that their requests for a mail-in-ballot were canceled and instructed them to contact the office by phone to request a ballot, citing Marion Chubon, chief deputy to the Pima County Recorder, who ordered the shutdown. Chubon told reporters that the office didn’t inform the press as they “didn’t think it was a story.”
Chubon, responding to the outlet, explained that although the state law requiring ballots be sent within 48 hours of a request (as referred to by Sen. Wadsack), “was a consideration, obviously, and we weren’t going to fulfill those requests in that time. So we chose the more effective option – bottom line, getting those people their ballots that they needed.” However, the state law doesn’t allow for the County Recorder to make such a determination and cast aside requests that have already been submitted.
Subsequently, over 3,000 phone calls were fielded by the office on Oct. 21st and some 1,858 new requests were processed. Between that Monday and Friday another 2,829 requests were handled to the tune of approximately one every four minutes. Chubon told the outlet that she was confident that most of the voters whose requests were thrown out had received one. However she noted that, “We can’t guarantee that every single person called us to get a ballot, but we’re pretty confident that the majority of those were second requests… and those who didn’t fit into that category may have had a hold on their record and wouldn’t have gotten a ballot.”
“We just didn’t think it was a story,” Chubon added. “We were literally just trying to meet our statutory obligations and serve the voters. Like I said, over the weekend, we were processing unprecedented amounts of ballots. We have staff working 12-hour days, seven days a week, including the recorder and myself. We’re all working every day. It was just, ‘Let’s get these people their ballots.’ That was our focus. We would never, intentionally, not try to alert the media.”
A border security champion is seeking to return to the Arizona Legislature for her second term in office.
State Senator Justine Wadsack, a Republican, is running for reelection in Arizona Legislative District 17, which covers Pima County, north of Tucson, including Marana and Catalina. She has resided in Pima County for more than four decades, living in several of its cities throughout this time.
Wadsack is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, and a member of the Government, Health and Human Services, Judiciary, and Senate Ethics Committees. Previously, she served as a member of the Director Nominations and Elections Committees.
On her campaign website, Wadsack lists “border security” as her number-one issue. She writes that, “Pima County is on the front lines of America’s immigration crisis. The Democratic Party is allowing our people to become dispossessed from our own nation as it allows hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens to violate our sovereignty every month. Arizona’s border is the largest crime scene in the United States, and so many of our domestic problems are symptoms of this core crisis. Until this invasion is stopped and the rule of law upheld, the border must be every Americans’ first priority.”
To that end, Wadsack sponsored SB 1608, which “classifies the unlawful use of an electronic device to smuggle human beings as a class 2 felony and prohibits a person from being released from confinement, if convicted” – according to the purpose provided by the Arizona State Senate. The bill passed with a 16-13 vote (with one member not voting). All Republicans voted in favor of the proposal.
In a statement after the vote, Wadsack said, “Human smuggling is at an all-time high. Cartels are recruiting people, often our children, to participate in smuggling operations using various apps such as Snapchat and WhatsApp. The use of social media platforms to carry out these crimes has grown exponentially and contributes to the humanitarian crisis caused by Biden’s open border policies. Our children, our law enforcement, and our communities are being targeted, and it won’t be tolerated.”
Last year, Senator Wadsack had introduced the same bill, which passed out of both chambers. Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, vetoed the legislation, writing that it “is yet another attempt by the majority to criminalize organizations and individuals who aim to support immigrants and refugees.”
Over the years, law enforcement officials, including Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels and former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, have warned of the dangers on these social media platforms posed to American teenagers, who are highly sought-after targets by cartels and smugglers for illegal couriering activities. In a 2022 op-ed for Fox News, the two officials wrote that “drug cartels are now using SnapChat, Instagram, and other social media apps to recruit American teenagers from around the country to transport migrants and drugs from the border,” and that “high-speed pursuits between these teenagers and local law enforcement have become daily events.”
The two officials concluded their piece by sounding the alarm about the reality on the ground, saying, “As law enforcement officials in our state, we can say with full confidence that we have never seen anything like this crisis at the border and how it is affecting everyday Americans in their communities. While many media outlets have declined to show the American public the disturbing images of increasing high-speed pursuits and other border-related devastation here at home, the death and danger they present are very real; lives are at stake.”
Senator Wadsack, the first-term legislator, also voted for HCR 2060, the Arizona Secure the Border Act, in May. Thanks to its successful passage out of the state House and Senate, this measure will be on the November General Election ballot, giving voters an opportunity to take some border security options into their own hands and to empower law enforcement with more resources to protect Arizona communities.
In August 2023, the Arizona Republican Party named Wadsack as its “Freshman Senator of the Year.” The release from the political organization noted that Wadsack “has persistently fought for common sense laws that benefit all Arizonans, not just those in her district,” and that “Her achievements reflect her ability to work effectively across party lines, embodying the true spirit of bipartisan collaboration.”
The Arizona Coalition of School Board Members also selected Wadsack to be its “Elected Official of the Year” this past February. The group wrote that “While only one of her bills successfully made it through the legislature (later to be vetoed by the Governor), the effort cannot be denied as Senator Wadsack demonstrated a passion for parental rights in the education space. Her bills reflect the AZ Coalition of School Board Member values of academic excellence and transparency.”
Arizona Legislative District 17 leans Republican, with an 8.3% vote spread between Republicans and Demcorats in the past nine statewide elections, according to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. In those statewide contests, Republicans have won all nine of the elections.
Wadsack is running against former legislator Vince Leach for the Republican nomination in the upcoming July 30 primary election. She defeated Leach in a three-way primary two years ago. The winner of this primary race will face off against John McLean, who is running unopposed for the Democrat nomination. McLean is a third-generation Arizonan, who has lived in Pima County for more than three decades.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
A bill to enhance punishment for human smuggling in Arizona is advancing through the state legislature.
Late last month, SB 1608 passed the Arizona Senate. The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Justine Wadsack, “classifies the unlawful use of an electronic device to smuggle human beings as a class 2 felony and prohibits a person from being released from confinement, if convicted” – according to the purpose provided by the chamber.
The bill passed with a 16-13 vote (with one member not voting). All Republicans voted in favor of the bill.
In a statement after the vote, Wadsack said, “Human smuggling is at an all-time high. Cartels are recruiting people, often our children, to participate in smuggling operations using various apps such as Snapchat and WhatsApp. The use of social media platforms to carry out these crimes has grown exponentially and contributes to the humanitarian crisis caused by Biden’s open border policies. Our children, our law enforcement, and our communities are being targeted, and it won’t be tolerated.”
According to the fact sheet from the Arizona Senate, a class 2 felony carries presumptive prison sentence of 5 years, and a sentence to pay a fine for a felony must be a sentence to pay an amount fixed by the court of up to $150,000. With some exceptions, a “general” human smuggling violation and conviction carries a class 4 felony, which comes with a presumptive prison sentence of 2.5 years.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona signed in to oppose the bill, while former state legislator Nancy Barto indicated her approval of the measure.
Earlier in February, the proposal was approved by the Senate Committee on Transportation, Technology and Missing Children with a partisan 4-3 vote. The bill also passed narrowly out of the Senate Rules Committee.
SB 1608 now resides in the Arizona House of Representatives for consideration. If passed by that chamber, it will most certainly be vetoed by Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, who has opposed most – if not all – of Republicans’ solutions to help the state combat the border crisis at hand.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
A bill to protect Arizonans from harms created by artificial intelligence technology is making its way through the state legislature.
This past week, State Senator Justine Wadsack announced that she had introduced SB 1599 “to prevent fraud (from artificial intelligence) from impacting the lives of her constituents. Wadsack’s proposal would “establish artificial intelligence as a weapon, so that there may be legal consequences when this technology is used to commit crimes.”
The bill would amend Section 13-701 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which deals with “Sentence of imprisonment for felony; presentence report; aggravating and mitigating factors; consecutive terms of imprisonment.”
Under the amended statute, one of the aggravating circumstances for the court to consider, “use, threatened use or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument,” would include artificial intelligence.
In a statement, Wadsack explained why this issue was a priority of hers this legislative session, saying, “Artificial Intelligence technology is becoming more sophisticated, and criminals are taking advantage of it. Scammers now have the ability to create realistic audio that sounds like the voices of unsuspecting victims’ loved ones. Scottsdale resident Jennifer DeStefano testified on Capitol Hill in D.C. last year, shining a light on her disturbing experience with scammers cloning her daughter’s voice and demanding $1 million in ransom.”
Wadsack added, “I can’t imagine getting a call from who I believe is my child that’s been kidnapped. That type of encounter has lasting traumatizing effects that impact your sense of security and safety. Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. Having the legal tools to fight back is absolutely necessary.”
SB 1599 has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Technology and Missing Children. The bill is expected to receive a hearing on Monday, February 12.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
On Wednesday, Republican lawmakers held a press conference to announce their plan to “ease the financial burden hitting hardworking Arizonans when they fill their gas tanks…by addressing fuel blend requirements in Arizona.”
The fuel blend issue at Arizona pumps has long been a point of contention between legislative Republicans and the Hobbs’ administration, leading to this proactive attempt at a solution on the lawmakers’ side. According to the press release issued by the State Senate Republican Caucus, “Arizona is required to provide drivers in Maricopa County a specific fuel blend for cooler season months and a different fuel blend specific for warmer season months.” The blend employed by the state during spring and summer is “Cleaner Burning Gas” (CBG) – a boutique blend dictated by statute and procured from outside the state, which can lead to shortages and higher prices for consumers filling up their tanks at critical times of the year.
Faced with this issue of a very limited set of approved fuel blends, Arizona legislative Republicans announced that they had “identified eight comparable blends” in their free-market proposal to allow “as many fuel blends as possible.”
“We believe the EPA can and should approve those blends for use, as they provide nearly identical clean air benefits as CBG,” said Senate President Warren Petersen. “Providing multiple fuel options allows the market to compete during unexpected shortages and helps keep gas prices low for Arizona drivers.”
Senator Justine Wadsack, the bill’s sponsor, added, “The Legislature was not made aware of the shortage until after it had happened. As part of our plan, we’re proposing the Legislature be immediately notified if a waiver is requested by refineries, and that the Senate President and House Speaker are provided the authority to file a waiver request directly with the EPA. Hardworking Arizonans are struggling in this economy. Turning a blind eye to crippling gas prices is like throwing salt on their wounds. As lawmakers, we should do everything in our power to improve the lives of our citizens who elected us to represent them.”
The issues raised by Wadsack refer to previously induced information this year that the Governor’s Office was convinced by the EPA not to submit a waiver for an “alternative fuel type to provide an adequate supply for drivers and preventing a hike in gas prices,” despite oil companies warning state officials of significant refinery shutdowns and past Arizona Governors applying for and receiving that opportunity. According to Senate Republicans, “this catastrophe reduced the supply of the CBG (fuel blend).”
In an exclusive statement to AZ Free News, Representative Austin Smith said, “I applaud my fellow freedom caucus colleagues, Kolodin and Wadsack, for being the leaders on this issue. Every Arizonan, specifically in Maricopa County, has felt the pain at the pump under the Biden administration. Katie Hobbs could have led on this issue with requesting a waiver from the EPA, but failed to do so. As Vice Chairman of the House Energy committee, I look forward to seeing the proposals come forward this upcoming session. It’s the upmost importance to deliver real solutions to working Arizona families where we can.”
Earlier this year, Senator Jake Hoffman unleashed a blistering rebuke of Hobbs’ reported failure “to do the right thing by requesting this waiver to allow prices at the pump to drop.” Hoffman’s statement followed the aforementioned accounts of a letter that had been sent to Hobbs in March by independent petroleum refiner HF Sinclair, warning the state’s chief executive “of a critical supply shortage in Arizona due to an unexpected equipment failure stopping the production of CBG required by the Biden Administration in Maricopa County, as well as parts of Pinal and Yavapai Counties.”
At the time, Hoffman said, “Katie Hobbs’ incompetence as Arizona’s Governor continues to take center stage, and hardworking Arizonans are paying the price for it. The average price for a gallon of gas right now in Maricopa County is a full $1 higher than the national average. This is extra money that could help with groceries, medications and other necessities many of our taxpayers are having a difficult time affording because of the Biden Administration’s reckless policies leading to historic inflation.”
Senator Shawnna Bolick, who also attended the Wednesday press conference, told AZ Free News that “earlier this year, a proposed waiver that would have helped Arizonans save millions at the pump was rejected by an unelected government bureaucracy. During the critical supply shortage of CBG this spring it would have been invaluable to have this legislation to increase the availability of multiple gas blends instead of the current monopoly. It is time to remove unnecessary excessive red tape and open the market to competition to help Arizonans counter the Biden inflationary economy.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
