So Sheriff Joe is offering a reward (Aug. 5 Tribune) to catch whomever is vandalizing his “Elect Arpaio” signs he placed everywhere on taxpayer-owned public right-of-way. Who’s responsible for fining Joe for violating state laws ARS 9-500.14 and ARS 15-511, which forbid ALL electioneering on government-controlled property? One law forbids all election signs on city-controlled easement, where most of his signs are. The second with a per sign fine, forbids such signs on school district-owned easement, where politicians love to put their sign graffiti. Doesn’t anyone care about the annual sign mess?
Ron Burda
Gilbert
chatmandu002 posted at 7:51 am on Thu, Aug 9, 2012.
Ron,
So you want to fine Sheriff Joe and all the other candidates or just Sheriff Joe? Come on show us your bias, we understand. I'm sure you would be calling for the sign vandals to be caught if they where vandalizing your favorite candidate's signs.
Dale Whiting posted at 10:09 am on Thu, Aug 9, 2012.
chatmandu002,
The more interesting question is "Who do you want prosecuted and by whom?" I say, "Book em all Daniel!"
Engaged Voter posted at 10:10 am on Thu, Aug 9, 2012.
Oh the irony!
So only illegal PEOPLE are bad...illegal signs are a-okay.
What's the slogan Joe supporters like to use?
Enforce all the laws all the time?
Now would be a good time to start.
Accuracy posted at 11:36 am on Thu, Aug 9, 2012.
Ron Burda’s question is . . . Does Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s signs violate state laws; ARS 9-500.14 [Use of city or town resources or employees to influence elections], or ARS 15-511 [Use of school district or charter school resources or employees to influence elections]?
Sheriff Joe Arpaio's campaign signs did not violate ARS 9-500.14 or ARS 15-511 during his re-elections in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008. And Paul Penzone (who is one of Arpaio’s political opponents) has not advocated that this year.
Meanwhile, 200 of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's campaign signs have been damaged and stolen in Phoenix and across the Valley.
Arizona Willie posted at 11:49 am on Thu, Aug 9, 2012.
Yep, there are police cars just driving down the street doing nothing. Why not have them look for and remove ALL illegal campaign signs?
Officers video almost everything these days, so have them video the illegally placed sing and take it down. Put it in the trunk of their patrol car.
Have a contest and the officer who brings in the most illegally placed signs gets a week off with pay.
And fine the campaigns of the politician(s) $50 for each illegal sign the officers brought in.
Have every candidate for office put up $1000 in escrow for paying the fines for illegally placed signs. Return any unused portion after the election.
Also require the candidates to put up a $5 deposit for each sign they have made and after the election their campaign workers have two weeks to collect signs and turn them in. After 2 weeks -- anyone can turn signs in and collect the deposit.
Actually I would like to see campaign signs outlawed. They are a remnant of days gone bye and are totally un-necessary considering the constant non-stop barrage of campaign commercials on tv and radio.
A long time ago, before tv and radio, campaign signs beside the road got the candidate's name before the people.
We see so many commercials now for candidates during political season that everyone knows who is running for offices. The signs are totally unnecessary.
I bet if a candidate announced in his commercials that he was not going to litter the streets with campaign signs ... he would get a 15 point bump in the polls and possibly win the election.
I think everyone hates those things.
Engaged Voter posted at 11:57 am on Thu, Aug 9, 2012.
"Sheriff Joe Arpaio's campaign signs did not violate ARS 9-500.14 or ARS 15-511 during his re-elections in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008."
How do you know this? Just because someone is not prosecuted under the law does not mean they didn't violate it. (not saying he did, but claiming he did not without evidence to support it is specious at best)
I cannot find any evidence that there has ever been a case involving Sherrif Joe and his election signs, period.
And while I agree that damaging/stealing the signs is a crime, I don't think they should take priority over more serious crimes...for example the hundreds of sex crimes left to gather dust by MCSO.
VofReason posted at 12:47 pm on Thu, Aug 9, 2012.
Question, does Joe need to put signs up to ensure people know he is running or to create name recognition- doubtful. So why put a bunch of signs up in the first place. Question 2, has any sign for an individual swayed you to vote for that individual? For me no. I don't know why Politicians trash up street corners.
Arizona Willie posted at 3:14 pm on Thu, Aug 9, 2012.
Engaged Voter ... those sex crimes you refer to were committed in the jurisdiction ( most of them ) of one of the cities in the county.
The PRIMARY responsibility for them rests on the police department of that jurisdiction -- NOT Arpaio.
When the cities don't solve them they get passed to him but only so he can keep an eye out for the offenders in the people who come through his facility.
The police department of Phoenix or Mesa or Sun City or where ever has first responsibility for solving those crimes.
Unless it occurs in one of the county island a local police force is responsible.
Why aren't people screaming that the Chief of Police of Mesa hasn't solved the sex crimes committed in Mesa?
Funny bout that ... they want to blame Joe instead of the people directly responsible.
samkat posted at 8:39 pm on Thu, Aug 9, 2012.
Actually, it was "Book em Dano."
Willie: folks like voter are so biased they are unwilling to listen to reason.
Bingo6 posted at 5:12 am on Fri, Aug 10, 2012.
Better be careful Ron, this is Maricopa County "All Blow No Go" Sheriff Joe's private little fiefdom, and you may get a visit from his MCSO goon sqad to arrest your gardner.
Godfather Joe does no wrong here so be careful, very careful, don't believe me ask all those blue-haired littld old ladies and their old fart white bigotted husbands in Sunlakes and every other senior citizen compound in the county, this guy to them is their white blue-eyed Jesus with a gun.
Accuracy posted at 11:14 am on Fri, Aug 10, 2012.
Keep stirring Liberal media controversy, keep blaming Sheriff Joe concerning the hundreds of sex crimes in the cities, keep finding fault with campaign contributions from out-of-state donors . . . But half of voters in Maricopa County still approve of him, despite the negative criticism by Democrats.
Just like the re-elections in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008, voters believe Sheriff Joe Arpaio will not lose his re-election this fall.
downtownresident posted at 11:26 am on Fri, Aug 10, 2012.
Lots of campaign signs violate the law. Most are too close to the roadway and many are placed on public land. This violates Mesa's sign code, for sure!
Arpaio's goons should at least comply with the various sign ordinances.
This guy's a real piece of work!!!!!!
downtownresident posted at 11:31 am on Fri, Aug 10, 2012.
Accuracy ,
You don't have a clue. Please don't spread LIES and MISSTATE facts!!!!!
In addition to the ARS, codes Mesa Municipal Sign Code 11-19-7 specifically prohibits campaign signs on city property, city ROW's and within 15 feet of any street or roadway.
Try some faccts for a change.
Accuracy posted at 12:02 pm on Fri, Aug 10, 2012.
downtownresident posted: "In addition to the ARS, codes Mesa Municipal Sign Code 11-19-7 specifically prohibits campaign signs on city property, city ROW's and within 15 feet of any street or roadway."
Where you can find a lot of the Democrat's campaign signs.
downtownresident posted at 7:53 am on Sun, Aug 12, 2012.
Accuracy ,
You are a blind fool. Worse, you LIE and spout the party line, instead of the truth.
Pick a spot, anywhere and count the signs. I assure you that more Reps' signs will be in violation of the codes.
You can count, can't you?
pansies1136 posted at 8:16 am on Mon, Aug 13, 2012.
I have not researched whether or not his signs break political rules, but given his propensity to break rules, and his do as I say not as I do mentality, I suspect they do
Masterrogue666 posted at 2:10 pm on Tue, Aug 14, 2012.
Did Joe place those signs there himself? Does he have direct control over such a thing? That's why ALL those running for office can "get away" with it.
I get door hangers on my door despite the fact I have a sign POLITELY requesting none be left. And since it is posted, it is against ARS laws. However, the business "hired someone else" broke the law. So, I take their garbage, turn it into confetti, and drop by their place of business, telling them they can have their garbage back....