Tucson’s Aug. 1 Democratic primary has caught the attention of outside groups spending tens of thousands of dollars on mail, phone and digital campaigns.
Multiple independent expenditure committees were launched in District 1 this week, dropping mail targeting both incumbent Lane Santa Cruz and challenger Miguel Ortega.
Arizona Corporation Commission records show that the postman raid on Santa Cruz was funded by the Arizona Prosperity Initiative, a nonprofit founded in April 2023.
The funding for the effort remains shrouded in secrecy, but documents filed with the state by the Arizona Prosperity Initiative list three key people: Donald Justin Harris, who is in the Third Ward. Registered to vote as an independent, public sources say he runs various data security businesses. For the record; Joel Rose is an Oro Valley Republican who, according to his online bio, has been involved in running real estate and healthcare companies. John Holden, a former Tucson Republican who now lives in Tennessee.
The group’s legal representative is Timothy La Sota, a well-known Phoenix attorney and lobbyist in Republican circles. He has represented Donald Trump in an effort to overturn the 2020 election, Kari Lake in an effort to expose fraud in the 2022 election, and Kanye West in an effort to get on the ballot as a presidential candidate. rice field.
The Arizona Prosperity Initiative did not submit the paperwork to the Tucson City Clerk’s Office before mailing or delivering a copy to Santa Cruz.
La Sota did not respond to a request for comment from the Tucson Sentinel.
Santa Cruz said it was surprised Ortega was backed by its own spending campaign, but said, “It’s like he’s been running a smear campaign from the beginning.”
Ortega said he had never heard of La Sota.
“Obviously, I don’t support Trump’s policies,” Ortega said.
He said third-party mailers “show interest in racing.” It’s the only place in town that’s truly competitive. It’s a race to watch. “
The email contains a photo from police body camera footage taken during riotous protests in downtown Tucson following the death of George Floyd in 2020. provoked nationwide protests against the atrocities of In the video, Mr. Santa Cruz can be heard asking officers where the inspector in charge of the police is.
“Where’s Captain Dennison?” Santa Cruz asked in a video uploaded to YouTube. “I am your city council member.”
“Young people are being separated from the crowd and the conditions I encountered were pretty grim,” Santa Cruz told Sentinel.
The city of Santa Cruz said it called then police chief Chris Magnus and was told to speak to the police chief at the scene.
The flyer also claims that Santa Cruz is “spending the people’s tax dollars on vacations!”
The allegations relate to a complaint filed by Barrio Hollywood resident Scott Egan, who writes political newsletters that frequently criticize Santa Cruz and Mayor Regina Romero.
Mr. Egan donated 12 air tickets and hotel rooms for the 2022 Lanzate Conference in Philadelphia, hosted by Miente, a nonprofit organization involved in politically organizing and supporting illegal immigrants and other marginalized groups. budgeted approximately $15,000 to cover the 1st District Council Office. colour.
The city of Santa Cruz said the funding came from a $50,000 grant from Miente to the city, not from taxpayers. They used most of the grant money to cover the cost of door-to-door activities in Ward 1 to learn more about residents’ priorities.
With funds remaining after the work was completed, Santa Cruz obtained permission from the Miente authorities to use the grant to send people to the group’s meetings, he said.
Santa Cruz has worked for Miente in the past, and the organization has paid for them to attend conferences in Massachusetts, Chile and Argentina.
Migente also represented Santa Cruz in the first division race. The organization reportedly spent just over $13,200 on mailed items urging voters to support incumbent Democrats, according to records filed with Tucson city officials.
Mailmen from Migente applauded Santa Cruz’s efforts to increase housing, improve streets and expand childcare opportunities.
Another organization, the Arizona Working Families Party, sent an email criticizing Ortega for “silly talk” about Santa Cruz and urging voters to support the incumbent.
The Arizona Working Families Party spent $16,624 to revitalize Santa Cruz, according to documents filed with the city officials’ office. We have warned the Ortega camp about the sender of this email as required by law.
Ward 2: Big money from realtors and apartment lobbyists
In East Side 2, the Arizona Multifamily Housing Association and the National Association of Realtors are jointly spending about $75,000 on behalf of Lisa Nutt, who is seeking to oust incumbent City Councilman Paul Cunningham.
The AMA spent $39,416 and the NAR spent $35,249, according to a report filed with the City Office.
AMA had already sent at least one email and text message on Nat’s behalf early in the campaign.
Nat is a local real estate agent who is running for office for the first time.
AMA CEO Courtney Gilstrup-Levinus said the organization is helping Nat because her experience as a real estate agent allows her to understand “the depth of the crisis and its solutions.” Told.
“We support Lisa because we support her building more homes to help families in Tucson,” Levinas said. “She understands the need for more affordable housing and the need to reform zoning laws and cut regulations that drive up house prices.”
Cunningham said he wasn’t worried about additional spending.
“I think we all know what’s going on here,” Cunningham said. “Anyone who changes their registration date before announcing their candidacy is completely disconnected from key voters. That’s why right-wing special interests out of town are campaigning.” “Stand with her. I know their only chance to win against me is to flood District 2 with external spending. Good luck. Personally, I think primary voters will be fooled by that.” I don’t think so.”
Early ballots for the campaign were sent to voters in Tucson on July 5. City officials recommend July 26 as the last day to return ballots for the primary election. Voters can also cast their ballots in person at a polling place between now and August 1. Tucson City Clerk’s Election Center, 800 E. 12th St.
Vote centers will open in each borough of the city on Election Day, allowing voters to vote in person. Voters may return their completed ballots to the Pima County Registrar’s office through August 1st. Registrar’s offices are located downtown at 240 N. Stone Ave., south at 6550 S. Country Club Rd., and at 6920 E. . Broadway.
