Russell Pearce couldn't win the recall election with a shill candidate, so he decided to be the shill candidate.
On Saturday, the Arizona GOP held its annual meeting and election. Chairman Tom Morrissey put together a slate of "conservative" candidates. The slate candidate for first vice chairman was Stephen Kohut, tea partier from Pinal County.
His opponent was long-time party loyalist and activist Diane Ortiz-Parsons.
Over the holidays it became obvious that Ortiz-Parsons was going to win this election. The only way the slate was to win is if they brought in a big gun like Pearce last minute. It worked; Pearce won the election and carried the slate. But 48 hours off a fresh victory, he filed paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office to run for the new Senate seat in LD25, Mesa.
So why would Pearce run for this state party position if he never planned on serving his full term?
According to Arizona Republican Party Bylaws: "In the case of a vacancy in an elective office... the state chairman shall... appoint a successor." With Pearce vying to win his old seat back, will Morrissey "appoint [as] successor" his original slate candidate? Welcome to the "new" AZGOP.
Stephen Viramontes
Mesa
Rational Human posted at 12:08 pm on Mon, Feb 6, 2012.
Politics isn't just for liberals wanting to use the recall laws to oust a great American conservative and father of SB1070. Conservatives know how to play the game too.
Ben F posted at 5:56 am on Mon, Feb 6, 2012.
V, Parsons lost because she is not and never has been a team player. She refused to be a part of the Team last year in the MCRC elections. Every piece she put out this year talked about what SHE was going to do, even though the By-Laws are specific that the Vice Chairmen duties are designated by the Chairman. She tried to kneecap the Chairman in October, then, when she figured out she was on the losing side with a couple of bitter harpies, she tried to jump sides. Sooner or later those who are focused on self-aggrandizement instead of advancing the principles of the party come to the end of their rope. You just came to the end of yours sooner than Parsons.
BlueAZDog posted at 6:42 pm on Sun, Feb 5, 2012.
Stephen, I seem to recall that you were dispatched easily by a lady from Tucson who is not a household name. That happened in spite of your narcissistic prattling about how successful you are and how much you have raised for charities and .. and... and.. Doesn't that make you feel good that no one felt that you were worthy of spending any attention on your candidacy in order to open the can of whup-derriere.
As to Russell Pearce, he has served the conservative cause for decades before you or your fellow running mate Oritz-Parsons, became infatuated with yourselves.
Loco posted at 12:50 pm on Sun, Feb 5, 2012.
awe. Is someone still licking their wounds from losing the vice chair position? I wonder when Steve will get over his demeaning Russell Pearce infatuation.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 12:45 pm on Fri, Feb 3, 2012.
Viramontes....Ortiz............hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....could there be any..."symbiosis" here.
Is that the "real" reason for the letter ?????
Accuracy posted at 12:13 pm on Fri, Feb 3, 2012.
Stephen Viramontes, who is surprised that Russell Pearce filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office on Jan. 30 to run for the Senate in the new District 25…wrote: “So why would Pearce run for this State Party position if he never planned on serving his full-term?”
Because, unlike the “Open Borders” Liberal Democrats . . . Russell Pearce is the brand of politics that “Conservative” Arizona Republicans are looking for.