Ongoing shame of the Maricopa Supervisors
The East Valley Tribune has done an overview of the ongoing dispute between America's worst sheriff and the activist group called Maricopa Citizens for Safety Accountability (MCSA).

Even though many will find MCSA a little too aggressive for their tastes, what should be of concern to every democracy-loving citizen is the ongoing efforts of Maricopa County leaders to deny the group reasonable ways of making their case. It amounts to surpression of public debate.

MCSA leaders have repeated requested an opportunity to be on the county Board of Supervisors' agenda so they can present issues they have involving Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The board's four Republican supervisors repeatedly have blocked this basic right of access. Shame on them.

Meanwhile, Arpaio continues bathering about this as yet another conspiracy against him.

Now that the election is over, and Arpaio has another four years to hoodwink the public, the supervisors have no excuse -- not even a political one -- not to hear what these citizens have to say.

Put them on the agenda!

Sheriff, Treasurer balk on budget priorities
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Treasurer Charles Hoskins are balking at a county Board of Supervisors request for suggestions on how they could cut their departmental budgets by up to 20 percent.

Of the two, Hoskins has the flimiest reasoning. According to the Arizona Republic, he sent supervisors an brief e-mail saying "until I have a better feel for how the current investigation of the Board and its employees might go" he won't submit anything.

What's he talking about? The Stapley charges? Supervisors' alleged pushback at Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas? Hoskins' remark smacks of a political end-run in the style of Arpaio. Hoskins, who has zero public recognition, needs to seek election if he wants to continue serving as Treasurer. Aligning himself with Arpaio's bravado could be his path. But, as Treasurer, he should be in the thick of finding ways to bridge the county's budget crisis. Instead he's playing politics.

Arpaio has an easier case to make, in theory. Law enforcement and jail supervision should be among the county services cut least. Unfortunately, Arpaio has a very public record on wasting manpower and money on his publicity crusades. He's not immune to belt-tightening. A 20 percent cut would almost certainly impact public safety. But supervisors aren't asking for a 20 percent cut; they're asking for priorities with a mind toward worst case scenarios.

Every county department head should already have been doing that. If Arpaio and Hoskins can't identify ways they could cut budgets while minimizing impact, they're guilty of dereliction of duty.

Maricopa County Supervisor Indicted
Veteran Supervisor Don Stapley has been indicted on more than 100 felony and misdemeanor counts largely involving failure to make required financial disclosures. He vows to fight the charges.
Read the Arizona Republic and East Valley Tribune stories here and here.

Stapley, a Republican, was easily reelected a month ago. His district includes Scottdale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Gilbert and parts of Phoenix. He was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1994.

The charges are an embarrassment to the National Association of Counties. Stapley is president of the organization, which represents more than 2,000 counties.

Arizona has one of the nation's toughest financial disclosure laws for public officials and candidates. A copy of the law is here, and an example of the financial disclosure form is here.