On September 6 in a brief order, the Arizona Supreme Court rejected arguments by foes of the Open Government initiative or Top-Two Open Primary, that Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Rea should have given them more time last week to present evidence that many of the petitions were circulated by felons or others who had no legal right to seek signatures.
Justice Scott Bales said attorney Mike Liburdi, representing the Save Our Vote Committee, knew ahead of time he had only two hours to make his case. And Bales said Rea did nothing wrong in cutting him off when his time was up. Liburdi said this is the end of the line, at least for court fights, in the efforts to kill Proposition 121.
This fight also has resulted in some curious alliances, with business groups like Greater Phoenix Leadership aligned with the Phoenix firefighters union in support, and Republican Party leaders, some Hispanic Democrats and the League of Women Voters opposed.
Judge Rea did find in favor of the Open Government Committee, restoring 577 sample signatures which, given the 5 percent sample rate, added 11,540 valid signatures to the petitions, enough to push it over the top. And he said the number Liburdi managed to disqualify in the two hours he had was insufficient to again push the total below the legal minimum.
Independents Rising!
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
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