Arizona Political Report Volume 2 Issue 2 ArizonaPoliticalReport.com March 7, 2014 Vernon Parker Jack Biltis Mario Diaz Cathi Herrod Frank Riggs In this issue of the Arizona Political Report In this issue, we talk to Cathi Herrod for civility in the wake of the Giffords is the most impressive candidate that about SB 1062, Vernon Parker about shooting—refers to Conservatives as you’ve never heard of. Riggs is a his race for the Arizona Corporation slave holders. This serves as an encore former police officer from northern Commission and Democratic to the first act in which he compared California and in 1990 he defeated a Consultant Mario Diaz about the state Joe Arpaio to Hitler. Democratic Congressman in a heavily of the Democratic Party, the race to Also in this issue, Rep. John Kavanagh Democratic district. The California replace Ed Pastor and his race for the learns what happens to a Legislator Legislature carved up his district and Maricopa Community College Board. who tries to update the public notice he was defeated in the 1992 election. You’ve probably read about the latest rules. I talk to Jack Biltis about the He then moved to a different district scandal in which Don Shooter drives Checks and Balances Initiative. And and defeated another Democratic while Republican. We’ll have an Arizona Chamber of Commerce CEO incumbent. He’s been in Arizona for update on that story. Instead of Glenn Hamer points out a land mine about 15 years and is now running for “Drinking Kool-Aid” the folks at the that folks will have to account for if Governor. Republic are “Snorting Koch. ” they are going to fix Obamacare. Finally, Rusty Bowers gives us his You may enjoy reading the story in I continue my conversations with perspective on the SB 1062 kerfuffle. which Arizona Daily Star cartoonist Gubernatorial candidates and this David Fitzsimmons—who issued a call month I interview Frank Riggs who About the Author To Subscribe: Greg Patterson served two terms in the Arizona House The Arizona Political Report runs monthly of Representatives; he is also the former Director of and costs $25 annually. the Residential Utility Consumer Office and former Chief of Staff for the State Senate. In 2008, Greg was To subscribe, send a check for $25 to: elected to the Governing Board of the Maricopa County Hospital and resigned that position when Governor Arizona Political Report Brewer appointed him to the Board of Regents. Greg is a 916 West Adams Ste 3 CPA and Attorney. All of the opinions in this newsletter Phoenix, AZ 85007 are Greg’s personal opinions and do not represent the opinions of his clients….or even his friends and family Or you can subscribe by logging on to our for that matter. website at: ArizonaPoliticalReport.com For additional Commentary go to www.espressopundit.com · To subscribe go to www.ArizonaPoliticalReport.com Vernon Parker on the ACC, The Republic and Hip Hop Greg: Tell me what brought you to Arizona. when I read that article, and when Brahm Resnik Parker: When I went to law school I thought did a show too, and he had Corey on and the guy I would be there for three years but ended up who lost to Warren Stewart, both Democrats. I meeting a man named George H. W. Bush. may not be Brahm’s favorite person and I don’t care if he likes me or not. I respect him as a journalist. Greg: And remind me what you did in his I am perplexed that they rarely include African administration? American Republicans in the debate. But when I Parker: I was general counsel of the United States read that article I said to myself “are you serious?” Office of Personnel Management which handled There are a lot of Republican African Americans, all the personnel issues and health care issues not just me, but there are quite a few African and retirement for federal employees around the American Republicans who have run, Tony Bouie, world. I was special assistant to President George for example, played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, H. W. in the White House and then my wife and ran for office. There is Dr. C.T. Wright who was I practiced law together. Then we decided that the first president of Cheyney University, the we wanted to stay married so we didn’t practice oldest historically black university in America. He law together anymore. We moved here, and I was elected to the Fountain Hills School Board. did some consulting and then I was unanimously And here I am, in the state of Arizona, the man confirmed by the United States Senate as the first who got the Republican nomination for Congress ever Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil and there was not even a mention of it. And I Rights under George W. Bush, and so I did that think that feeds into the stereotype of Arizona. for three years. And here I am, once again, an African American Greg: And then ran for the Paradise Valley Town who was elected with 68, nearly 70 percent of the Council? Hop themed party on MLK Day.) vote in Paradise Valley, which is 99 percent white. And so I think articles like that lose all credibility Parker: Yep, a friend of mine who was already Woman: I read your article about the frat story with me. I was very troubled that a person who on the Town Council, Scott LeMarr, who is and I really liked it. is considered a journalist could write a story like the current mayor, talked me into doing it and I Parker: Thank you! that and not look to the accomplishments or the became mayor and we got 67 percent of the vote, Well, it blew up. It was just crazy because people people who represent a different point of view than which was at the time, and still may be, the highest asked me to put it on Facebook, which I did. the liberal point of view in the state of Arizona. It vote. And in the comments, I’ve never seen so many was just bizarre. Greg: And how long were you mayor? Four years? people comment in a well thought out way. And Greg: Yeah it was bizarre. Black Republicans don’t Parker: No. It’s a nonpaying job in P.V. so two one person said that “typical Vernon Parker, he’s fit the established narrative so I think you’re right years. I was on the council for about six years protecting the white kids,” and I’m like, are you that reporters just don’t even consider it to be the overall. So two as mayor, four as council. serious? This is not about color. I thought my reality point was very clear, which was that this is about Greg: That was during a difficult period… preserving our future by making sure this current Parker: I was very disappointed, not just with Parker: Yeah, when I was mayor, it was probably generation knows our past. the reporting but that the editors, or whoever during the most difficult time the town has ever approved it, wouldn’t look at it and say something Woman: but they don’t know… faced financially. We ended up cutting our budget to the contrary. They can be very responsive. I by 33 percent and cutting our staff by 32, which Parker: Right, and that’s what I’m trying to – and remember when I was elected mayor of Paradise was very difficult. We had plenty in reserve to then people criticize me for criticizing hip hop. Valley I got a call from a reporter who said “how operate, to make the town run but we had to And I’ve always been a huge critic of hip hop does it feel to be the first African American mayor be good stewards of our Town’s resources. For because I don’t think women should be referred of Paradise Valley?” and I said “well, fine but I can example, if you’re building one home a month in to as “bitches” and I don’t like the “n-word.” tell you one thing I didn’t count on the African P.V., then you don’t need 10 building inspectors. And so when you have these kids who grew up American vote to take me over the top.” And that in that culture and buy these records and it’s got me one of the quotes of the year. Greg: Sure commonplace to call women “bitches” and the hip Parker: So how can a reporter write an article like Parker: But we didn’t just fire them. I brought in hop generation, I’m like “no.” that that just feeds into the stereotype? I believe consultants and helped them write their resumes Woman: and they don’t know how to draw the that journalists really want to perpetuate this and helped them train in new positions and line. stereotype about Arizona being this awful racist eventually we just whittled it down and yeah, state and I say to myself, “how does someone like it was really ironic Greg, because I had a lot of Parker: Right, exactly, because they are me become mayor of Paradise Valley?” It just former mayors who said, you know, “you have desensitized--and that was my point. So whether doesn’t happen, and with nearly 70 percent of the reserves to run the town for the next three years, they like it or not, you know, I don’t care what vote, and yet I was not interviewed for that article.