News Article

Tobin: "The governor did not commit to a ballot measure"

11/2/2011

Several Republican senators backed Baldo’s version, but the Governor’s Office and the top House Republican say that’s not what happened.

Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson “flatly” denied the accusation.

“The governor pledged to keep an open mind about the potential of a special session on Proposition 106 (the ballot measure that created the IRC), but at no time did she commit to carrying out a repeal,” Benson said.

And House Speaker Andy Tobin, one of the meeting’s participants, said the governor said she would consider asking lawmakers to call a special election for a repeal, but never pledged she would do so in exchange for the Senate supporting her removal of Mathis.

“The governor did not commit to a (ballot measure). She was open to it, but she did not commit,” Tobin said.

Incoming Senate President Steve Pierce, R-Prescott, also said he couldn’t “verify or deny” whether Pearce had told him or other members of the caucus about a pledge from the governor.

“It seems like it, but I don’t remember. Russell had met with them and had been talking with them and I wasn’t privy to any of that,” said Pierce, who was elected Senate president the following week after Pearce lost his Nov. 8 recall election.

The timing of the special election would ensure that far more Republicans go to the polls than Democrats – President Obama is not facing a Democratic challenger – which would likely boost the prospects of a ballot referral that even many Republicans believe voters would be hostile to.

Antenori said the governor now appears to be intentionally stalling so the Legislature will miss the Nov. 30 deadline it must meet to hold a special election on Feb. 28. Antenori said there is an “inherent desire” by Brewer to not refer Prop. 106 to the ballot.

If Brewer is hesitating on referring Prop. 106 to the ballot, recent polling could indicate why. Public Policy Polling, a North Carolina-based firm with Democratic ties, released poll results on Nov. 22 showing that only 31 percent of respondents approved of her removal of Mathis, while 43 percent opposed it.

And a poll commissioned by GOP legislative leaders last week showed just 36 percent of respondents supported overturning Prop. 106, according to a source familiar with the poll who was not authorized to discuss it publicly.

While repealing the Independent Redistricting Commission wasn’t popular among voters, Tobin said the poll he and other Republican leaders commissioned showed there is an appetite for making significant reforms to the system, including increasing the number of independents on the panel and bolstering rural representation.

“There are many of us who believe that repeal may be a high hurdle, but the opportunity for reform actually polled well,” he said.

Baldo said Klein told Pierce and House and Senate GOP staff this week that the governor wants to wait to call a special session to once again remove Mathis – and to set a special election – until she finds out why the Arizona Supreme Court overturned the chairwoman’s Nov. 1 ouster. Brewer and the Senate filed motions with the court on Nov. 21 asking the court for details on the ruling. If that request is denied, the court is not expected to issue its full opinion for six to eight weeks.

“I think they’re all very disappointed,” Baldo said of Senate Republicans.

Benson would not say definitively whether Brewer would wait for guidance from the court before calling a special session or attempting to remove Mathis again, but said getting that explanation was her “first priority.”

“Once we receive that guidance, then the governor can make an informed decision about what path to pursue,” he said.

For entire article in the Arizona Capitol Times, please click here.

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