A non-profit organization Save Phoenix Taxpayers must created by a former spokesman submit 7,104 signatures by for the Phoenix Mayor's Aug. 5 to force a recall Office is bankrolling the election against DiCiccio. political committee aiming to Save Phoenix Taxpayers has recall Phoenix Councilman Sal not returned calls from The DiCiccio. Arizona Republic for The group, Protect Voters' comment. The committee chairs, Rights, has contributed $50, Mark Warren and Kevin Scearbo, 000 to the anti-DiCiccio list their occupations as group called Save Phoenix "labor" in committee filings. Taxpayers, according to DiCiccio says between the campaign-finance reports money he has left from his filed with the Phoenix city City Council campaign clerk. The contributions from committee and the committee Protect Voters' Rights make that was formed to fight the up all but $100 of the recall, he has more than $200, funding Save Phoenix 000 to use in a possible Taxpayers reported earning recall election. since the group formed to Phelps wants the non-profit launch its recall campaign involved in several political against DiCiccio in April. fronts, including at the Scott Phelps, a retired state Legislature to oppose Phoenix employee who served lawmakers such as Senate as the spokesman for four President Russell Pearce, R- different mayors during his Mesa. Save Phoenix Taxpayers 19-year tenure, said he received the first check formed Protect Voters' Rights because some of what DiCiccio to protect the city from has been doing is an example being destroyed by partisan of what Protect Voters' politics. Rights aims to fight. "One of the things I find Phelps specifically cited discouraging and destructive DiCiccio's lobbying of a bill is the rush by folks to make during the last Legislative city government more like session that would have Congress and the state required Phoenix to Legislature," Phelps said. "I competitively bid out city can't think of a single soul services that cost more than who looks at the partisan $250,000. Gov. Jan Brewer bickering there and says we vetoed the bill. can use a little more of that "It's not the right thing to at City Hall." do to run down to the But DiCiccio worries the Legislature and try to get group was created simply to that group's leadership, hide who is trying to oust which isn't being filled by him from office. the deepest thinkers that "It's a front for the unions, have ever held those " DiCiccio said. "They're positions, to impose the will laundering money and keeping of one or two council members the contributors in hiding." on the entire city," Phelps Public-employee unions have said. protested DiCiccio for his DiCiccio, however, has said views on limited government he's being targeted for his and push to privatize more attempts to reform city city services. government and reduce waste Ben Lane, Phoenix deputy city at City Hall. He and Mayor clerk, said because Protect Phil Gordon have been butting Voters' Rights is registered heads over the issues for the as a non-profit with the past two years, and in recent Arizona Corporation weeks, they have had publicly Commission, it can contribute antagonistic exchanges at to ballot measures without council meetings. having to disclose who "Mayor Gordon probably has individual donors are or something to do with it needing to register as a without a doubt," DiCiccio political-action committee. said. But Tim La Sota, an attorney Gordon, however, said he is representing DiCiccio, said not involved in Protect Phelps' group appears to have Voters' Rights, even though no other purpose than to Phelps most recently retired funnel money into the recall as the mayor's spokesman. effort against DiCiccio and "The councilman sees bogeymen, should disclose where the " said Gordon, who noted money is coming from. Phelps was a spokesman for "This has all the markings of mayors Paul Johnson and Skip a classic front group Rimsza. "If there is a recall, designed to disguise I would get involved in a contributions," La Sota said. very open, transparent and "The public has the right to public way that shouldn't know who is funding this anti- come as a surprise to anyone." Sal recall." Phelps said he hasn't talked Phelps formed Protect Voters' to Gordon at all about the Rights on April 11, according matter and is working on his to paperwork filed with the own. Arizona Corporation "Candidly, I never had a high Commission. Save Phoenix regard for the councilman and Taxpayers officially launched he is my councilman," Phelps recall efforts against said. DiCiccio on April 8.
Tags: DiCiccio, funding, organization, profit, recall
