The Nov. 8 recall election of eventuality." Senate President Russell Pearce did not return calls Pearce will go forward, at for comment. least for now. Last month, Gov. Jan Brewer Maricopa County Superior called a Nov. 8 election in Court Judge Hugh Hegyi on Mesa's Legislative District Friday denied a legal 18 after Maricopa County challenge of the recall elections officials certified petitions filed by Pearce's that 10,365 of the 16,949 attorney Lisa Hauser. But signatures submitted by Hauser said she will appeal Citizens for a Better Arizona the ruling to the Arizona were valid. Supreme Court. The group needed at least 7, If Hauser can get more than 2, 756 for the recall to qualify 609 of the 10,365 certified for the ballot. signatures thrown out, the Citizens for a Better Arizona election would be canceled. supporters have said they do If she cannot, the state will not believe Pearce reflects see the first recall election the goals of District 18. of a state lawmaker in They said residents want to Arizona history. see their leaders bring more Hauser's legal challenge jobs and improve education alleged several problems with and health care, not push the signatures, including more legislation on illegal- that none of the petition immigration enforcement and forms complied with state loosening gun restrictions, requirements that a petition as Pearce has done. gatherer sign an oath that Attorney Thomas Ryan, who the signatures are "genuine" represented the recall group, and that the recall statement said Hegyi struck down all was misleading and did not eight of Hauser's allegations. clearly explain that signing "I'm pleased that the judge the petition would support a understood our arguments and recall election. accepted them," he said, "As the Supreme Court has adding that he also likes his stated, recall petitions are chances with the Supreme 'not a judicial (proceeding) Court. but political in nature,' " Group co-founder Randy Parraz Hegyi wrote in his ruling. called the appeal a sign of "The voters may recall a desperation. public official for any "They are trying to obstruct reason or no reason at all." the voters," he said. "This Hauser, in an e-mailed shows how far Pearce will go statement, said the ruling to undermine a legally was expected. sanctioned election." "As the court indicated in Candidates interested in the ruling there are several running against Pearce in the questions raised which election have until Sept. 9 require the Supreme Court's to collect the 621 signatures review," she said. "We look required to qualify for the forward to our opportunity to ballot and submit them to the present our case to Arizona's Secretary of State's Office. highest court." So far, Mesa Republicans Ed Phillips, communications Jerry Lewis and Olivia Cortes, director for Citizens Who as well as independent Tommy Oppose the Pearce Recall, Cattey, have filed paperwork said the Supreme Court could to begin collecting hear the case by the end of signatures. this month. Cattey has since announced he "We'll hope for the best," he will not run. said. "We're prepared for any
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