From the AZ Rep...
The latest to be indicted: outgoing State Mine Inspector Doug Martin, for three counts each of theft, fraud, and procurement fraud.
It seems he has a penchant for ignoring state procurement rules when it comes to buying new vehicles for his office, and for making a"charitable donation" of an old vehicle.
To a group that Martin was an officer and director of.
We can save the discussion of why the State Mine Inspector is still an elected constitutional officer in Arizona, instead of an office under the auspices of the Industrial Commission or Attorney General's Office (or something else, though I like the AG's office for this one) for another day.
And this may be the partisan cynic in me talking now, but when are the Reps going to realize that if they are going to position their party as the "law and order, traditional values" party, they should actually have candidates that follow the law.
Unless, of course, they consider corruption and arrogant contempt for the law to be "traditional values."
Note: They've been pretty quiet so far about the indictment of Martin (and the indictment of Maricopa County School Superintendent Sandra Dowling and indictment and plea bargain of outgoing Treasurer David Petersen earlier this year), but I fully expect the Republicans to find a way to voice their righteous indignation and outrage if/when a Democrat steps out of line in the same way as these others.
1 comment:
I support any warranted skepticism of government officials. I don't think any of the mentioned parties: Martin, Dowling or Petersen ran on a platform of "I'm going to use this office to benefit myself and I am indifferent to the idea of follwing the laws and rules of Arizona." If those voters who did vote for Martin, Petersen and Dowling were suckered by (now evident) glib promises to do a good job, do keep in mind that, unfortunately, corruption doesn't cause a big "C" to appear upon one's forehead. (I didn't notice any on Mr. Petersen's forehead on election night 2002, but maybe I just wasn't looking closely enough).
Furthermore, while it seems unlikely to me that Martin or Dowling will escape conviction, is it to much to ask their chosen political party put off a tar and feathers event until they are actually convicted of something? I have from time to time heard that we live in America and that one principle that we live by here is called "presumed innocent until proved guilty". I am rather attached to that principle myself, I hope I am not alone in that belief.
And pardon me if I don't pass on discussion of why we have elected officials such as State Mine Inspector. You might as well use that same argument for the AZ Corporation Commissioners, the AZ Attorney General, the AZ State Treasurer or the AZ Superintendant of Schools. Why allow the taxpayers any choice at all of who should rule? The answer is that they are forced to pay for it and they deserve input on that question.
Post a Comment