Outside groups continue to pour money into this summer’s Tucson City Council primary.
In total, the independent campaign spent more than $168,000 for candidates in the Democratic primaries for Districts 1 and 2, which will be decided by voters on Tuesday, Aug. 1.
Earlier this week, the Tucson City Clerk’s Office launched an investigation into spending by one of District 1’s political action committees.
The Arizona Prosperity Initiative PAC is spending an unknown amount of money in District 1, including sending mail and running $2,000 ads on Spanish radio to try to oust second-term Santa Cruz City Councilman Lane. In response, Santa Cruz made a $2,000 ad buyout at the station.
Santa Cruz is facing Miguel Ortega, one of three candidates who lost to Santa Cruz in the 2019 District 1 Democratic primary.
The Arizona Prosperity Initiative’s corporate filings with the state list three key players. According to public records, Donald Justin Harris is registered as an independent voter in the Third District and runs various data security businesses. 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’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and Kari Lake’s efforts to overturn the 2022 election.
The Arizona Prosperity Initiative PAC had not submitted documents to the Tucson City Clerk’s Office to conduct campaign activities as of Thursday. In response to a complaint filed by former City Council Third Ward Representative Karin Urich, City Clerk Suzanne Messick sent a letter dated July 25 to the principal of the Arizona Prosperity Initiative and La Sota. I sent various forms. She asked the group to register as a political action committee and submit independent spending forms as required by city ordinance.
“Failure to comply with applicable campaign finance laws may result in enforcement action by the city attorney,” Messick wrote.
La Sota did not respond to a request for comment from the Tucson Sentinel, but Holden said he had nothing to do with the campaign in District 1 and intended to support a ballot that asked voters to approve Arizona.・He stated that he was involved in the Prosperity Initiative. Ward-only elections. The effort did not result in a vote.
Ortega previously told Sentinel that he had nothing to do with the Arizona Prosperity Initiative.
“Obviously, I’m not a Trump supporter,” he said.
The city of Santa Cruz has received at least $79,200 in outlays from outside organizations.
The nonprofit Migente spent more than $40,000 on mail, palm cards, publicity and staff time to support Santa Cruz. Migente, a nonprofit focused on political organizing for Latinos, illegal immigrants and other marginalized people of color, has previously hired Santa Cruz.
The nonprofit Arizona Working Families Party also funded Santa Cruz’s support, spending more than $37,000 on mail carriers, campaigns, phone banks and text messages to voters.
A third independent committee, Rural Action Arizona, spent $2,200 on Facebook ads.
By July 15, Santa Cruz had raised $66,557 in donations and received $55,420 in public matching funds, bringing the total to $121,977. Santa Cruz spent $85,960.
City council candidates can receive public funds for their campaigns if they agree to limit their spending. If you are eligible to collect at least 200 donations of at least $10 from city residents, your fundraising will match the City’s funding. This year, city council candidates can spend no more than $167,950 on campaigns and no more than $125,963 on primaries.
Independent campaigns are not constrained by spending limits, so while Mr. Santa Cruz stayed within the cap, he spent more than $165,000 to keep his incumbent in office.
The Arizona Prosperity Initiative’s spending on postmen remains unknown, but Ortega’s latest report, filed four days after the deadline, said he had raised $16,690 by June 30, and spent 1 on the campaign. It is shown to have spent $893.
Combined with $2,000 from the Arizona Prosperity Initiative and Ortega’s spending, Ortega outspent Santa Cruz and its allies by more than 12 to 1.
The Ortega campaign missed the July 27 deadline to submit its latest campaign finance report.
“We don’t have a $100,000 budget to pay people for that,” he told The Sentinel.
The winner of the District 1 primary will face Republican Victoria Lem in the November 7 general election. Lem’s latest report, filed after the city’s deadline, showed she had raised $1,943 for her campaign, spending $84.69 by June 30. . She missed the deadline for submitting the report on Saturday, July 22nd.
Ward 2: Apartment Lobbyists Continue to Help Challengers
The Arizona City Multifamily Association, which continues to lead the way in external spending, will extend its support to real estate agent Lisa Nutt, who is seeking to oust Congressman Paul Cunningham in the Democratic 2nd primaries, from June 28 to July. By the 25th, it had lost more than $52,000.
AMA chairman and CEO Courtney Gilstrup-Levenus said that Nutt “would see how he could address the need for more affordable housing and regulations that would reform zoning laws and push up housing costs.” He said the organization is helping Mr Nutt because he understands how much he has to cut back.
The National Association of Realtors spent $35,249 on behalf of Nutt on June 30, according to a report filed with the city.
Both groups reported that the dollars were spent on mailers, text messages and digital advertising.
Nat himself raised $16,620 and spent $12,800, according to the latest report covering campaign activity through July 15.
Cunningham reported raising $39,925 and received an additional $31,935 in public matching funds for a total of $71,860. He spent $67,410, including $35,311 between June 30 and July 15, after the AMA and the National Association of Realtors launched a campaign in support of Mr Nutt. .
The winner of the District 2 primary will face Republican Ernie Shack, who reportedly raised $2,175 for his campaign. As of July 15, his bank account balance was $1,204.
Libertarian M. Pendleton Spicer reported raising $771, but spent nothing on her campaign.
Challengers struggling to raise funds
Incumbent Regina Romero continues to lead other candidates in the mayoral race as of July 15. She had raised $102,363 and had $46,272 left in her bank. Romero participates in a matching fund program, but she had not yet requested public funding.
Romero also has the backing of an independent election commission, Living United in Change. LUCHA reportedly spent $53,000 on solicitations and text messages on Romero’s behalf.
Romero faces three challengers in the Nov. 7 general election.
Independent Ed Ackerley, who lost to Romero in 2019, reported raising a total of $17,894. As of July 15, he had a balance of $5,551, according to a report filed with the city.
Republican Janet “JL” Wittenbreaker raised $12,326, including $2,741 that she lent for her first political campaign. As of July 15, she had $9,585 left.
Libertarian Arthur Kirshen raised zero money for his campaign.
In South East Side District 4, Democratic incumbent Nikki Lee raised a total of $20,193 and $4,922 at the end of the reporting period. She had not yet received the matching funds.
Her opponent, Republican Ross Kaplowich, had raised $2,804, leaving $1,175 in his campaign accounts.
opinion Click here for the campaign finance report.
Early ballots for the primary were sent to voters in Tucson on July 5. City officials are advising voters to drop off their completed ballots at the City of Tucson Clerk’s Election Center, 800 E. 12th St, or any election center if they have not already returned their ballots. Office of the Pima County Registrar. Recorder offices are located downtown at 240 N. Stone Ave., Southside at 6550 S. Country Club Rd., and at 6920 E. Broadway.
Voters can cast their ballots in person or turn in their ballots on Election Day at vote centers in each district of the city.
