News
Supervisors to release RTA data; say ‘no’ to using federal agents
By Jim Lamb, Green Valley News
Pima County supervisors made two important decisions Tuesday after hours of wrangling—one to release voting data from the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority bond issue, and the other not to employ U.S. Border Patrol agents as deputy sheriffs.
More than 60 people spoke to the two issues. They were frequently interrupted by applause and even catcalls.
Supervisors chairman Richard Elias three times ordered one member of the audience to sit down and quit talking and even threatened to oust him.
That was the vote case.
The supervisors decided they wouldn’t appeal a court ruling releasing primary and general vote totals for the year 2006.
But then after close questioning by District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll, they voted unanimously to release the RTA figures.
The Pima County Democratic Party has challenged several 2006 elections, charging it was possible to manipulate the total of votes cast on some equipment, even “flipping” the results, changing them.
But the RTA figures weren’t to be opened. In May 2006 Pima County voters approved a half-cent sales tax for 20 years designed to raise $2.1 billion for a variety of transportation programs, including some transit improvements in Green Valley and Sahuarita.
At one time Tuesday, Supervisor Carroll spoke to the audience and, while waving his right hand aloft, said “hands up” and asked “how many would like to see the data released.”
Scores of hands were waved aloft.
County elections workers promised Tuesday they could provide the data to the Democrats within a week.
After ordering voter activist John Brakey to take his seat three times, chairman Elias made the motion to release all the voter records, including the RTA totals.
The idea of employing U.S. Border Patrol agents as deputies was somewhat unusual.
They would not be paid by the county, nor receive any employee benefits.
More than a year ago, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik created a border crimes unit of six deputies and one sergeant to investigate state and local crimes in the desolate desert of southern Pima County. Thanks to a grant from the state, a second unit has been added.
The Sheriff’s Department said if the agents could be deputized, they could enforce crimes such as robbery, shootings and violence that aren’t federal crimes.
But speaker after speaker opposed the idea, saying some poorer residents are wary of any federal law enforcement officers and may not go to them for help.
Sahuarita resident Harry Shaw who has announced he is running for sheriff said it could turn out to be a disadvantage and urged instead more deputies for the rural areas.
University of Arizona law professor Andy Silverman urged the local control over law enforcement be maintained.
George Heaney, chief of operations for the Sheriff’s Department, spoke for the idea of deputizing Border Patrol agents, saying more personnel is needed because “of the serious violent crimes in parts of Pima County.”
He described them as unbelievable in the “very, very remote areas” of the county.
He told the supervisors that the sheriff’s department would return with suggestions that might meet some of the objections.
jlamb@gvnews.com | 520-547-9749
More than 60 people spoke to the two issues. They were frequently interrupted by applause and even catcalls.
Supervisors chairman Richard Elias three times ordered one member of the audience to sit down and quit talking and even threatened to oust him.
That was the vote case.
The supervisors decided they wouldn’t appeal a court ruling releasing primary and general vote totals for the year 2006.
But then after close questioning by District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll, they voted unanimously to release the RTA figures.
The Pima County Democratic Party has challenged several 2006 elections, charging it was possible to manipulate the total of votes cast on some equipment, even “flipping” the results, changing them.
But the RTA figures weren’t to be opened. In May 2006 Pima County voters approved a half-cent sales tax for 20 years designed to raise $2.1 billion for a variety of transportation programs, including some transit improvements in Green Valley and Sahuarita.
At one time Tuesday, Supervisor Carroll spoke to the audience and, while waving his right hand aloft, said “hands up” and asked “how many would like to see the data released.”
Scores of hands were waved aloft.
County elections workers promised Tuesday they could provide the data to the Democrats within a week.
After ordering voter activist John Brakey to take his seat three times, chairman Elias made the motion to release all the voter records, including the RTA totals.
The idea of employing U.S. Border Patrol agents as deputies was somewhat unusual.
They would not be paid by the county, nor receive any employee benefits.
More than a year ago, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik created a border crimes unit of six deputies and one sergeant to investigate state and local crimes in the desolate desert of southern Pima County. Thanks to a grant from the state, a second unit has been added.
The Sheriff’s Department said if the agents could be deputized, they could enforce crimes such as robbery, shootings and violence that aren’t federal crimes.
But speaker after speaker opposed the idea, saying some poorer residents are wary of any federal law enforcement officers and may not go to them for help.
Sahuarita resident Harry Shaw who has announced he is running for sheriff said it could turn out to be a disadvantage and urged instead more deputies for the rural areas.
University of Arizona law professor Andy Silverman urged the local control over law enforcement be maintained.
George Heaney, chief of operations for the Sheriff’s Department, spoke for the idea of deputizing Border Patrol agents, saying more personnel is needed because “of the serious violent crimes in parts of Pima County.”
He described them as unbelievable in the “very, very remote areas” of the county.
He told the supervisors that the sheriff’s department would return with suggestions that might meet some of the objections.
jlamb@gvnews.com | 520-547-9749
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