As with most things, asking the right questions is often more important than getting the answers. This is especially true for parents and grandparents who want to protect their children. We need to ask, then ask some more, to get to the truth at our kids’ school and public libraries.
If you value children, here’s what you should be asking, some important answers, good news of progress, and what YOU CAN DO to protect yours (and others’) kids:
4 Questions (with answers):
1 – Are there actually bad materials in schools and libraries, or is this just ‘pearl clutching’?
Besides the profits for activists and the porn industries, it’s ignorance. Common-sense people are not becoming aware. (This is a reason to subscribe to AZ Women of Action’s weekly Call To Action Update!) Most people have no idea what children see in schools or access in libraries, but we keep them informed.
3 – Isn’t this simply ‘sex-ed’? Is there evidence of the harm on kids when they see sexual material?
4 – Do parents have a say on what their kids see at public schools and libraries?
YES–but only if they speak up! Arizona has some of the strongest parent rights laws. (See ‘What You Can Do’ for specifics.)
Some Good News!
AZ Women of Action has made progress with Maricopa County Libraries: We asked questions of the MC Library office who told us that no one had ever complained about children’s books (obviously because nobody knew). So, we created a citizen petition, shared the facts with our followers, and presented hundreds of names to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. They listened. We emphasized that parents, not libraries, should have the ultimate authority over the type of content their children are exposed to. We argued that the current arrangement, where explicit books are freely available to children, violates parental rights and endangers children’s emotional and mental well-being.
We also met with Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and her team. Overall progress is being made, though slowly.
We’re seeing widespread support from parents, teachers, faith-based organizations, and local activists who share the same concerns. Our message is clear: books are not being ‘banned’ but moved to adult sections for parents to decide. It’s not about censorship but protecting childhood. It’s restoring the family’s role in deciding how to protect and nurture each child.
What YOU CAN DO:
1. Ask schools for their opt-out forms for any material you deem inappropriate for your child. Sex education is supposed to be opt-IN (meaning they require your permission before kids see it). Ask to see your school’s curriculum first.
2. Ask your local libraries for a form that limits what their child can check out or access online. If they don’t have one, contact the city, county, or state library office and file a request to change parent-rights policies.
3. Report any concerning material found in schools to the ADE Empower Hotline at 602-771-3500, or submit their online form.
5. Promote Cleaner, Safer Libraries. Join Arizona Women of Action for a fun, family story hour with positive, wholesome books for kids! We’ve partnered with Brave Books to host “See You At the Library Story Hour” on Saturday, August 16th from 1–2PM at the Phoenix Public Library – Mesquite Branch. Families will enjoy uplifting and wholesome stories read by Arizona Women of Action and special guest Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools Shelli Boggs. Click here to register.
Kim Miller is the President and Founder of Arizona Women of Action. You can find out more about their work here.
Robert Warshaw, the court-appointed monitor over the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), found himself challenged by Republican state and county-elected officials and over 100 attendees at a community forum with Sheriff Jerry Sheridan on Wednesday night.
GOP leaders, including Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Galvin, Supervisor Debbie Lesko, gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson, and Maricopa County Republican Committee First Vice Chair Shelby Busch, joined the meeting with a large group of supporters of the Sheriff’s Office. The group demanded an accounting from Warshaw for the $311 million in taxpayer dollars spent over the past 11 years on the court-mandated monitoring in the racial profiling case Melendres v. Arpaio.
Supervisor Galvin shared a series of posts to X, laying out the case presented by Lesko and himself. He wrote, “Last night Supervisor @DebbieLesko gave eloquent speech at Maricopa County’s west valley meeting on federal oversight of MCSO[:] *$350 million in costs since 2007[,] *Compliance goalposts keep moving[,] *Monitor paid $2.9M last year[,] *4 sheriffs have served since lawsuit filed[.]”
“Maricopa County pays for these meetings, with taxpayer dollars, and thanks to all who showed up to participate in the public process. High turnout at any public meeting is always a good thing!”
Supervisor Mark Stewart shared video of Galvin’s remarks, initially posted by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, suggesting a concerted effort by the Board of Supervisors and County Attorney’s Office to pushback against the Melendres ruling.
Stewart wrote, “The time to end this decade long oversight. The men and women of the @mcsoaz Sheriffs office deserve recognition as a top tier law enforcement organization. The taxpayers expect their hard earned tax dollars to be invested in their safety. Thank you @Rachel1Mitchell for speaking out and to Chairman @ThomasGalvin for leading this effort.”
The time to end this decade long oversight.
The men and women of the @mcsoaz Sheriffs office deserve recognition as a top tier law enforcement organization.
— Mark Stewart Maricopa County Supervisor District 1 (@MarkStewart_AZ) July 17, 2025
During his remarks Galvin quipped, “Mr. Warshaw, you’re a tough man to find! In fact, this is the first time we’ve met.”
Mitchell described the scene in a post writing, “@ThomasGalvin speaking truth to the federal monitor—oversight of our elected sheriff has cost Maricopa taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Brandon Hiller, Chief of Staff to the Maricopa County Attorney, shared an image of Warshaw resting his head on his hand during the proceedings, which reportedly became raucous at times. He wrote, “The federal monitor was not pleased with all the support for @JerrySheridan24 and @mcsoaz. Time to end the court orders. 350 million dollars later… 30 million to the federal monitor alone…”
According to KJZZ, the overall cost to the Maricopa County taxpayers to meet the ruling’s 360 requirements for the agency, related to traffic stops and internal affairs, is projected to reach $350 million this year. Warshaw told the audience that the reforms ordered by Judge Snow are not complete yet.
“This agency has made a lot of progress. A lot of progress. We’ll get to the money in a second,” Warshaw told the forum. “Is this thing going to go on forever? No, no, no.”
The monitor told attendees that an independent firm recently did a traffic-stop study of the Sheriff’s Office and found that the bias alleged in Melandres has continued and that oversight will only end after the Sheriff’s Office complies. Warshaw said that the MCSO is still facing a major backlog of internal misconduct investigations, required to be resolved within 180 days with many exceeding that timeline. Warshaw’s most recent report indicated that the department is in “full and effective compliance” with 92% of the 360 requirements in Judge Snow’s order while the misconduct investigation backlog “remains one of the biggest hurdles affecting MCSO’s ability to reach overall completion.”
Lesko was unconvinced however, and said, “I ask the judge, the federal monitor, (and) all the stakeholders to please end this madness.”
Many critics cited the cost of the federal monitoring as their chief concern. Court records show that of the $311 million cost of the lawsuit to date, $31 million has covered the monitoring fees. Warshaw defended the cost, stating that he has 13 full-time staffers monitoring the department.
Galvin was incredulous, referring to the monitoring effort’s 2025 year to date cost of $2.9 million. “We have to spend $2.9 million—you have to spend $2.9 million on Mr. Warshaw. You have to pay for this meeting tonight,” Galvin said. “Debbie and I cut the check, but you, the taxpayers, are paying for this meeting.”
Arizona State Senator Shawnna Bolick’s recently introduced bill to combat animal cruelty in Arizona was greeted with widespread support from prosecutors and the state’s law enforcement community on Monday.
Letters from Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller, the Arizona Police Association, and the Arizona Association of Counties, all urging the passage of SB 1658, were received by members of the Arizona House of Representatives. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell also expressed her support in a recent press conference.
In a post to X, Bolick asked supporters to engage House Leadership in support of the bill which is expected to be voted on this week. She wrote, “The most recent disturbing case of animal abuse, where several dogs were left without food, resorting to feeding on the remains of deceased canines on a property in Gila Bend, highlights the significance of this bill. It’s disheartening to see misinformation clouding a straightforward measure that simply aims to do right by our animals.”
The most recent disturbing case of animal abuse, where several dogs were left…
— Shawnna LM Bolick (@ShawnnaLMBolick) June 3, 2025
“Under current law, vague definitions can limit our ability to hold offenders accountable in animal cruelty cases. SB 1658 would address some of these shortcomings by providing law enforcement with the legal clarity needed to take action in cases where animals are in need of protection,” Sheridan wrote. “This bill represents a vital step forward in combating the growing issue of animal cruelty.”
The proposed bill, if enacted, would expand the legal definition of animal cruelty “to include failing to provide medical attention and broadens the definition of cruel neglect,” establishing this form of animal cruelty as a class 1 misdemeanor. The new law also expands the definition of cruel neglect to include “failure to provide a domestic animal with:
a) food fit for consumption, as appropriate for the species;
b) water suitable for drinking, as appropriate for the species;
c) access to shelter, except for a dog that primarily resides outdoors; and
d) access to shelter that meets specified requirements, for a dog that primarily resides outdoors.”
Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio offered a similar sentiment saying, “As Sheriff of Maricopa County, I saw many egregious animal cruelty cases while fighting crime and working to make our communities safer. We seized a lot of animals during my 24-year tenure as sheriff. I always told my deputies, if they find people breaking laws against animals, there is always room for them in my jails. Let’s not allow people to treat animals in a way that causes them to suffer. Please vote yes on SB 1658 when it comes to the House floor for a vote.”
“Animal abusers are more likely to commit crimes like assault, property offenses, drug offenses, and they do so at higher rates than other defendants,” Mitchell said in a press conference livestreamed to Facebook in February.
Miller added in a statement, “Tougher animal cruelty laws give prosecutors the tools we need to hold offenders accountable and send a clear message: cruelty of any kind has no place in Arizona or in a just society.”
The Phoenix law firm of Timothy La Sota issued a complaint to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell on Wednesday requesting that her office launch an investigation into Attorney General Kris Mayes for allegations of illegal use of public funds on campaign activities.
In the complaint, La Sota cites A.R.S. § 16-192(A) which states that a state official “shall not spend or use public resources to influence an election, including the use or expenditure of monies, accounts, credit, materials, equipment, buildings, facilities, vehicles, postage, telecommunications, computer hardware and software, web pages and personnel and any other thing of value of the public entity.”
Reflecting on the powerful stories shared at last night’s Community Impact Hearing on federal firings and DOGE funding freezes. I won’t stand by while billionaires in D.C. cut jobs and services—I'll keep fighting for the funding Arizonans deserve. pic.twitter.com/VKjTp10K0F
— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) March 6, 2025
La Sota describes two specific incidents in which he alleges Mayes violated the law, drawing from posts by Mayes to social media and reporting from The Arizona Republic.
He wrote, “We have more facts about the one in Phoenix at Central High School last month…This event was nothing more than a thinly veiled political rally hosted by people who hate Donald Trump, and organized by Kris Mayes. The event featured three other far left Democratic Attorneys General, including Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Raul Torrez of New Mexico, and Dan Rayfield of Oregon. Mayes used it as an opportunity to boost the electoral chances of Congressman David Schweikert and Juan Ciscomani’s opponents, according to The Arizona Republic: ‘Where is (Rep.) David Schweikert? Where is (Rep.) Juan Ciscomani? If I have to, I’ll go hold the town hall in David Schweikert’s district, or Juan Ciscomani’s district, if that’s what it takes to give his constituents the right to speak out about this,’ Mayes said, taking aim at Arizona’s most vulnerable GOP House lawmakers.”
I will keep fighting to hold the Trump administration accountable and ensure they follow the law.
— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) March 7, 2025
La Sota alleged that Mayes’ staff “clearly helped put this event together.” Further the complaint states that, though he wasn’t listed on the invitation, Ellison attended the March 5th event as shown in a Democratic Attorneys General Association livestream.
WATCH:
The attorney then contends that Mayes “returned the favor by flying to Minnesota, with taxpayer money, and participating in another political rally hosted by Ellison, this one also featuring scary, radical left-winger New York Attorney General Letitia James.”
La Sota concludes, “We support Ms. Mayes’ right to associate with whoever she wants to, no matter how extreme their political views are. Likewise, she has the right to say what she wants, no matter how far out of the Arizona mainstream she is. But she may not use taxpayer resources to amplify this message. And the law reflects the principle that public schools are not to be used for politicians to host political rallies. We ask that you investigate this and ensure that Mayes is held accountable.”
A Maricopa County man was indicted for falsifying signatures for last year’s ballot petition to legalize abortion.
53-year-old Anthony “Tony” Lee Harris — who appears to be registered as a Democrat per voter records — was charged with two felonies and eleven misdemeanors for falsifying the signatures: one count of aggravated taking identity of another, one count of fraudulent schemes and practices, one count of circulator registration violation, and ten counts of petition false signature.
Harris falsified the signatures to help qualify Proposition 139 for the November ballot, or the Arizona Abortion Access Act (AAAA). The proposition passed with over 61 percent of the vote (over two million voters for the measure versus over 1.2 million against).
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell clarified in a press release issued Tuesday that the “dozens” of falsified signatures submitted by Harris weren’t large enough to disqualify the initiative from the ballot.
AAAA activists submitted over 823,000 signatures to qualify the petition for the ballot last July. The secretary of state’s office verified about 578,000 of those signatures. The initiative required just shy of over 384,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Harris was ineligible to work as a petition signature gatherer “despite past convictions,” per the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO). Yet, last April, Harris registered as a circulator for AAAA.
Past arrest records show another individual with the same name and birth date as Harris previously faced charges for armed robbery and kidnapping over a decade ago.
Arizona law prohibits individuals from registering as a circulator if they: have a civil or criminal penalty imposed for violating petition circulation law; have a conviction for treason or a felony and have not had their civil rights restored; or have a criminal offense conviction involving fraud, forgery, or identity theft.
Before the secretary of state considers a circulator to be properly registered, the applicant must submit a notarized affidavit of eligibility.
According to the secretary of state’s circulator portal, Harris worked as a paid circulator for Fieldworks LLC under circulator ID AZ89842. Harris was one of over 2,300 petition circulators paid by Fieldworks for the AAAA petition.
Per his circulator registration, Harris was added to the system on April 19 of last year. The indictment alleges Harris forged the signatures just days after his registration, between April 22 and 27 of last year.
Harris wasn’t the only one indicted this year for falsifying signatures for the abortion ballot initiative. The MCAO indicted another Democrat, Michele Brimmer, 52, with five felonies and nine misdemeanors in association with her alleged crimes. Again, the MCAO said Brimmer’s signatures didn’t impact the qualification of the proposition for the ballot.
“I want to make it clear that the number of signatures we are talking about would not have made a difference as to whether this proposition got on the ballot,” said Mitchell in the February press release announcing Brimmer’s indictment. “That said, we are talking about a case that involved fraudulent signatures placed on an election petition. That is a crime, and it undermines public trust in elections. It will not be tolerated and those who engage in such conduct will be held accountable.”
Brimmer was also a paid circulator for One Fair Wage Action’s initiative, Raise the Wage AZ. The signatures for this initiative were withdrawn following challenges to their validity in August.
AAAA received and spent over $36 million on their initiative, respectively. Over $9.2 million went to Fieldworks for signature gathering.
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