Greg Stanton, Phoenix Mayoral Candidate, Called 'Front-Runner', 'Candidate to Beat', and 'Enemy' By Tea Party, GOP Leaders

Greg Stanton, Phoenix Mayoral Candidate, Called "Front-Runner", "Candidate to Beat", and "Enemy" By Tea Party, GOP Leaders

By Monica Alonzo Mon., Jun. 20 2011 at 4:18 PM

Phoenix New Times Photo Illustration

Greg Stanton is the people's newest "enemy." Coming soon. This film is not yet rated.

The Republicans won't invite Phoenix Mayoral Candidate Greg Stanton to their candidate forums. And they, along with Phoenix Tea Party-types, are branding him as "the real enemy of the citizens of Phoenix."

Why?

It's because Stanton is "the candidate to beat for Phoenix mayor" and the "front runner" in the race for the Mayor's Office. At least that's how the chair of the Republican committee in Legislative District 20 and the head of the North Phoenix Tea Party describe Stanton.

The two political leaders sent out e-mails intended to rally the troops to show up at Stanton events and ask him "some real questions, maybe even shoot a little footage where possible."

Shooting footage? Got covert ops going? But that's just how it goes given that the Stanton camp got its mitts on these internal e-mails.

Jeni White, Chair of the LD 20 Republican Committee, sent out this e-mail on June 16:

Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:04:38 -0700

From: townhall@principlesinaction.com

To: bill.baxter@freescale.com; lemonsplash1@gmail.com; wwharris@msn.com

Subject: Action Opportunity: Greg Stanton's scheduled appearances

As I'm sure you've heard, multiple Republicans in the race notwithstanding, Greg Stanton is the candidate to beat for Phoenix mayor. He's a liberal Democrat, he's Union-owned, and he's the frontrunner. Below are a link to his schedule of events and a list of the next few that don't charge at the door. If anyone you know is interested in showing up and asking him some real questions, maybe even shooting a little footage where possible... it looks like he's going to be a very busy boy this Saturday. Please pass this along if you're so inclined -- preferably without my contact information on top since the subject is him, not me. :)

What kind of candidate is Greg Stanton?

- Endorsed by police union.

- Endorsed by LGBT special interest group.

- Proudly says he would have voted for the food tax.

- Waves away criminal charges when the perpetrator is connected enough.

- Protested SB1070 in the parking lot of the Heard Museum last year.

- Tagged by the DLC in 2003 as one of the country's 100 "Rising New Democrat Stars".

The next day, Wes Harris, chairman of the North Phoenix Tea Party, responds with this e-mail:

From: WES HARRIS <wwharris@msn.com>

Date: Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 9:02 AM

Subject: FW: Action Opportunity: Greg Stanton's scheduled appearances

To: WES HARRIS <wwharris@msn.com>

Cc: Jennifer Wright <jenniferwright74@gmail.com>, Wes Gullett <wes@wesgullett.com>

Hi,

Here is the schedule of the real enemy of the citizens of Phoenix...Greg Stanton. If you can show up at any of these events to respectfully ask the appropriate questions, please do. Jenni is right on...he is a front runner and must be forced to voice his true stand on the issues which have been revealed by his past actions. Remember, he left his City Council elected seat to take a high paying job with the then Democrat Attorney General Terry Goddard. He is a liberal professional politician and nothing more...interested in advancing his career and not us. I would recommend Saturday June 25th as the event we should attend.

Wes

Wesley W. Harris

wwharris@msn.com;

http://www.originalnorthphoenixteaparty.ning.com;

Go to http://www.wethepeopleaz.com; and sign up to be informed.

visit our blog: http://www.harristimes2011.blogspot.com

It seems that GOP and Tea Party leaders are so worried about how well Stanton's campaign is going that they are on a mission to expose him for the "real enemy" that he is -- endorsed by the police, supported by Equality Arizona, a civil rights organization defending the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals; and named one of the country's top 100 rising new stars in the Democratic party.

White's reference to Stanton's waving "away criminal charges when the perpetrator is connected enough" is about Mindy Shields, daughter of high-powered lobbyist Billy Shields and Stanton's former campaign treasurer.

Mindy Shields allegedly ripped off Stanton's campaign of nearly $80,000. Stanton went to the cops in October 2010 and reported Shields, but told the Arizona Republic in February that he was "not desiring to pursue further prosecution."

But that didn't wave away the criminal charges, as White suggests.

Mindy Shields, who lost her job at the University of Arizona, was indicted on May 17 on a felony-theft charge, an offense that carries, at minimum, a three-year prison sentence.

Julie Erfle, a community leader and wife of slain Phoenix Police Officer Nick Erfle, spoke out on Stanton's behalf.

"This type of rhetoric is irresponsible and counter to respectful debate," she says in a press release issued by Stanton's camp. "We should be more interested in the content of one's speech and the direction of one's policies."

Tags:

equality arizona, greg stanton, jeni white, julie erfle, ld 20 republicans, lgbt, phoenix mayor, tea party, wes harris

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Sitbackandrelax2

Phone call from a boiler room last week, asking me if I knew he was running for mayor. Well, now I do, and I'll be sure not to vote for him. How much is he paying these people? And how do I get my number delisted from voter registration records?Gregory Office Chairs

Sitbackandrelax2

Wow -- what a surprise -- overheated rhetoric in a political campaign! As usual, NT is selective about who they takea bead on. Stanton, like him or not, is just as guility of promoting the typical Democratic rhetoric thrown at candidates. And hey, let's face it -- he is a big D. His campaign is being run by other big Ds. He's up to his eyeballs in union support. If it walks like a duck.....Gregory Office Chairs

NENA

GO MR. "D" Greg Stanton. THANK GOD I CAN VOICE.

Jane Boyle

I understand why the Republicans won't invite Greg Stanton to their debates. I went to the one downtown two months ago. Other than Peggy Neely who I have voted for two times, I didn't know any of the other candidates. They were all asked the same questions. He blew them all out of the water with his command of the issues. He got my vote than night. I went home andgoogled him and was more impressed. I suggest you don't pay attention to the hate mail and look at this issues on his web site. Professional, well stated and needed. I now volunteer for him he has impressed me so.

Clif Freedman

Peggy Neely will NEVER be elected Mayor of Phoenix. As a trusted representative of District2 she violated her fiduciary obligation to her electors. She has "sold out" tocommercial interests like Westcor. She has a clear conflict of interest by having Paul Gilbert, a zoningattorney for Westcor on her campaign staff helping to raise money for herfailed bid for Mayor. As head ofTransportation for the City of Phoenix as a City Council member, Peggy Neelygerrymandered Sonoran Blvd, a road that was supposed to link the new 303-loopeast to Route 51. Upon informationand belief she was paid off by Westcor with the help of attorney Paul Gilbertto not only change the name of Sonoran Blvd but to actually build the road sothat it aligns with Westcor's property in Northern Phoenix and NOT Route303. This, of course, enhances thevalue of Westcor's 80 acre commercial parcel of property. Why is thisimportant? Because now motoristswho are traveling on the new extension of 303 won't be able to travel east ofI-17 to get to Route 51. Peggy Neely for political purposes "broke"the loop and has caused motorists irreparable harm. Not only that but because of her blind ambition to becomeMayor, the road Peggy Neely is building, the NEW Sonoran Blvd., will dead endin a Phoenix residential community causing massive traffic and confusion forNOT only the local residents but for the folks who will be traveling WEST fromNorth Scottsdale, Cave Creek Road area, and Carefree who think they are goingto I-17 or 303. They will dead endat the intersection of North Valley Parkway and the NEW Neely SonoranBlvd. This is called the Road ToNowhere. However, there a simplesolution, build the Road To Somewhere. The Road To Somewhere is where the road was originally supposed to bebuilt. This road is ONE mile southof the Neely-Westcor Freeway and perfectly aligns with the new Route 303. In fact, there is funding for this roadand not for the Neely-Westcor Road. I am President of the Sonoran Citizens Improvement Association. My name is Clif Freedman. See www.sonorancitizens.com

Clif@SonoranCitizens.org

Whatever

I guess if you are a democrat that's enough for the Tea Party to consider you the "one to beat" because Stanton is sure not the front runner.

J Curwen

If the nazis dislike him that much, that's good enough for me! He's got my vote.

Get Real Phx

Jeje Lin

tinyurl.com/3p4aqqw

Jeje Lin

tinyurl.com/3p4aqqw

efrer566

tinyurl.com/24n4nqb

WhoKnows

An example of what is REALLY wrong these days, especially in AZ. People are too lost to look ar candidates and compare their views. They only go with the (D) or (R) after their names, even in a race like for mayor of Phx, which is a non-partisan election.

Reading the emails in the story, not ONCE do they address the qualifications, or a view on any issue. They only attack using their skewed view of reality and politics. I'm hoping the TP soon goes the way of the John Birchers!

Ross

WhoKnows

Call the MC recorder to have your number removed. I did that after I got robo calls from the two TP backed candidates for Phx mayor. Based on the caller ID, both came from outside of AZ. Just like Pearce, they need out of state support, I guess, as they don't have it locally!