Lizarraga to be sworn in illegally!

Not satisfied with the long list of open meetings violations, open records violations and other assorted illegal and unethical acts, the Quartzsite Town Council appears quite eager to committ one more.

Although Town Code Section 2-3-1 states that elected officials are sworn in at the next "regular" council meeting following the election, an agenda was posted Friday, at 5 pm for a special meeting to do the deed.
http://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/2011%20Packets/090611%20Sp%20Mtg%20Adg.htm
There is no specific provision for swearing in an elected official at a special meetig. Of course, by 5 pm it was too late to make any inquiries, and this is a holiday weekend, with government offices closed on Monday. Surely, NOT a coincidence!

As of 5 pm Friday, the canvas of the vote had not been completed. One wonders what the hurry is all about? What does Ms. Graft have in mind that can't wait a week until the "regular" meeting?

Candidates file at last minute to run in mayoral recall election

It was a suspense filled day at Quartzsite Town Hall. Although several people had pulled packets to run, and three had filed campaign spending limit affidavits, no one had turned in nomination papers with only two hours to go...First,  Jose Lizarraga made it official. Then Republican Precinct Committeeman Michael Roth filed. Then, Desert Freedom Press Publisher Jennifer Jones reportedly made it, with only minutes to spare.

Both Roth and Jones share common ground with current Mayor Ed Foster, and blame Lizarraga for voting in lockstep with the town manager's other puppets on the council, thereby directly causing the current public safety crisis the town is in. According to Jones "He's the fireman that turned his back on the police. If he had done his duty, and voted to put Chief Gilbert on administrative leave when Ed (Foster) called the special meeting, I would have never been injured!"

"I'd like to thank the 'dirty laundry' Lukkasson's for collecting all those signatures and giving me the opportunity to be part of the political debate again", said Roth."The Lukkasson's wanted the taxpayers to fund another election, I think we should give them one they'll never forget!" said Jones.

Apparently, Jones and Foster nominated Roth. Roth nominated Jones. As the incumbent, Foster did not need to file any paperwork.

It's official - Lizarraga is in!

Quartzsite Councilman Jose Lizarraga 

has turned in paperwork which declares him as a candidate to run against Ed Foster in the August recall election. He has until July 1st to change his mind and decide that his job with the Fire Dept. is more important than $400 a month to be Alex Taft's mouthpiece.

Three other potential candidates have pulled packets, but so far, none have turned anything in.

Lizarraga can expect a knock down drag out battle, in light of his abysmal voting record. Citizens are outraged at his recent votes in favor of firing respected Town Prosecutor Matt Newman and replacing him with Martin Brannan (who is under investigation by the state bar), raising their water and sewer rate fees, assert property rights over the "emergency airstrip", and as of last Tuesday's meeting, convening yet another "ad hoc" committee at taxpayer expense to censure the mayor and then walking off the podium when AZCOPS Vice President Stair attempted to address the council. Read the speech Lizarraga refused to hear at:
http://www.azcops.org/userfiles/JS%20Quartzsite%2006-14.pdf

Mayor Foster has published an excerpt from the police department policy manual which clearly shows that Lizarraga and the others are willfully violating town rules by hiring a "private investigator" instead of a law enforcement agency to look into the criminal charges against the police chief.  The mentality that the rules apply only to us, and not to members of the council or to staff has been enabled for far too long.

A video has been circulating around town, which clearly shows Lizarraga motioning the other council members to walk out of the meeting. We've already had a mayor, Steve Bennett, turn his back on the voters and abandon them. Do we need another?

ED FOSTER AND SUPPORTERS BRAVE WIND AND POLICE HARASSMENT...

As expected, "Quartzsite" Charlie Kukral split the reform vote, forcing a run off between incumbent "mayor" Wes Huntley and Ed Foster.

http://www.co.la-paz.az.us/Data_Folder/Elections/TOQ_2010/TOQ_30910_unofficial_results-1.htm

It looks like Foster will win by a landslide if Kukral's frustrated supporters fall in line behind the only viable (and educated) candidate. Yellow and red "Ed Foster for Mayor" signs seemed to be blowing in the icy wind all over Town, and at the polls, while signs showing support for the status quo were noticeably few and far between. Ed Foster and a group of supporters with signs for Foster, Hamilton and Moore, as well as "NO INCUMBENTS" were harassed repeatedly by Police Chief Jeff Gilbert (reportedly at the behest of the election sergeant). A source stated that Gilbert was later instructed to run off the protesters by Town Manager Alex Taft, or at least that's what allegedly came over the police scanner. Gilbert's bluff was called and the frustrated Chief was forced to back down by Elections Board Supervisor Donna Hale because the crowd was peaceably and legally assembled 75 feet from the door. Officers Yeomans and Star were assigned by Chief Gilbert to babysit the assembled reform supporters - bill to the taxpayers for about 8 hours...and the polls closed at 7pm without incident.

Final score: Free Speech 1 - Gilbert's "gestapo" tactics 0

The race for council seats was tight with only Jose "I did my homework" Lizarraga securing enough 50% +1 or more votes to keep his seat. (Imagine how well he might have done if his name had been marketed independently of the PAC funded election banners which touted an all incumbent ticket.)

Incumbents Patricia Anderson, Bob Kelley and Jerry Lukkasson will face top vote winning opposition candidates Chaunce Hamilton, Russell Sias and Bill Moore in the May run off.

Papers were filed to recall sitting councilpersons Joe Winslow and Barbara Cowell...

More election coverage here:

http://www.quartzsitenews.tv/

The evening was capped off with another drama filled meeting of the current Town Council. Holt Engineering Group and Kennedy Jenks tried to shake down the Town for more money on the contract for waste water treatment expansion. Perhaps feeling the pressure to please voters in the upcoming run off, the Council said "nay" to throwing more money into a project that has already cost taxpayers about a half million.

When Michael Roth tried to give input during "discussion"on a grant proposal for digital dashboard cameras placed on the agenda by Police Chief Gilbert, the packed room witnessed the Police Chief motion to "mayor" Huntley to cut him off by drawing his finger repeatedly across his throat. Huntley responded by ordering the Chief to physically remove Roth from the PUBLIC MEETING! All of this was caught on video...Since we are all pretty sure the "mayor" can't spell l-i-t-i-g-a-t-i-o-n, he may be surprised when their legal blunder comes back to haunt them. See:

http://www.youtube.com/user/qnewseditor#p/u/0/zxFwgxLOTcQ

http://www.justice.gov/crt/crim/241fin.php

In another fiscally irresponsible move, the council unanimously approved renewing a contract with Town Manager Alexandra Taft's "charity" Willpower Inc. for animal shelter services.

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/AZ294.html

It's no accident this website uses "Town of Quartzsite" and "Willpower Incorporated" interchangeably. Alex Taft runs them both. Can you say "conflict of interest"?
Although "discussion" pointed out that the contract requires the TOWN to provide a "certified" animal control officer, Ms. Graft, I mean Taft sidestepped potential cost issues by saying that her "no kill" shelter volunteer was certified in euthanasia. Taft and Council members ignored concerns that the length of the Willpower contract would encompass not only the current cobbled together "temporary" facility, but roll over into a planned future facility of undetermined expense.

It is a matter of public record that the original Willpower "Membership Invitation" states:

"We are negotiating with the Bureau of Land Management to lease land for a large, permanent facility."

The Town Council are on record discussing purchasing land for the animal shelter and a rodeo grounds at the east end of Town. And that the BLM representative discussed the upcoming land AUCTION, tentatively set to take place in a year or so...the real question to taxpayers is:

HOW MUCH OF YOUR MONEY HAVE TAFT AND THE INCUMBENTS EARMARKED FOR THE TOWN MANAGER'S DREAM "NO KILL" SHELTER, WHILE THEY CURRENTLY PAY THE COUNTY TO KILL QUARTZSITE'S PETS?