Tempe leaders have met with politicians who took gifts Fiesta Bowl officials to from the Fiesta Bowl. ensure that the $6.9 million "If there's any lesson to be the city spent to lure the learned from this experience Insight Bowl to Tempe from it is that when great Phoenix in 2006 is not being organizations that do good misappropriated. works are squeezed by The Insight Bowl is managed politicians to do untoward by Fiesta officials and since things in order to ensure moving to Tempe has grown their success and their from a lesser-known bowl to survival - they are tainting securing ESPN television and great community organizations college-bowl contracts that like the Fiesta Bowl," he put it on par with first-tier said. college football faceoffs. A complaint filed by the The meeting came last week Citizens for Responsibility after a Fiesta Bowl and Ethics in Washington asks investigation released late the Federal Elections last month revealed the bowl Commission to investigate the gave a host of Arizona bowl for violating the politicians free football Federal Election Campaign Act. tickets. Included was Ben The complaint asks the FEC to Arredondo, a longtime Tempe impose sanctions or fines councilman who now is a state against the bowl. legislator. The investigation Although the complaint lists also alleged that bowl 13 Fiesta Bowl employees who employees were illegally were reimbursed $28,500 for reimbursed for campaign their contribution, there has contributions. been no indication that the City Manager Charlie Meyer recipients of those donations met with Alan Young, the knew of the illegal Fiesta Bowl executive reimbursement. committee's immediate past Tempe Councilman Joel Navarro chairman and its recently was listed among Arizona named chief of staff. politicians who accepted At a Tempe budget forum this contributions from the bowl. week, residents decried the He said that he took $50 from bowl's recent actions. Meyer Gary Husk. Husk was a told residents that Tempe has lobbyist for the bowl who has asked bowl officials for come under scrutiny for assurances that it is allegedly misleading an instituting rules that will investigation last year into restore the public's faith in the bowl. the organization. Navarro said he was neighbors The Fiesta Bowl report named with Husk and that he met Arredondo among the biggest with him to ask for his recipients of gifts. support for during his 2008 Arredondo did not return council run. calls for comment. "I knew Gary for a while . . . According to the bowl report, but I never took any gifts. I Arredondo, who began serving can't tell you why others did, this year as a Democratic but I know it's wrong," he House representative for said. District 17, received Super At a Tempe budget forum this Bowl tickets in January 2009 week residents railed against valued at more than $4,000 politicians who would take and attended an Air money from a non-profit that Force/University of Minnesota has received millions in game at the Fiesta Bowl's public funds and subsidies. expense in summer 2009. "As a citizen of this city State law has long required are you going to try and claw elected or appointed state back any of that money?" A.J. officers, legislators and LaFaro asked Meyer. judges to file financial- Meyer said that he understood disclosure statements each residents' frustration, and year. The forms are signed, that he had met with Fiesta sworn statements and must Bowl officials. include information about "We are making a large cash employers, debts, gifts from contribution," he said. "We non-family members, raised the very issues you're involvement in non-profit raising," organizations, businesses and Meyer said he asked investments. officials: "How do we justify Since 2000, state statutes to the community that we're have included an paying this kind of money and "entertainment ban," which they're doing these kinds of prohibits state employees and things?" elected officials from Following the meeting, Meyer accepting tickets or said the Insight Bowl "admission to any sporting or contract is up in 2013 and cultural event" for free. that Tempe hopes to negotiate State officials have said a deal that would ease public there is an exception to the concern. ban when broad categories of He said that Fiesta Bowl lawmakers are invited. officials assured him that However, some legal experts, they are putting rules in including Tempe Mayor Hugh place to ensure that illegal Hallman, have argued that the and unethical activities will exception may not hold up in never happen again. court. When the Insight Bowl Since the report was released, contract was approved, it many Arizona Democrats and drew the fury of Phoenix Republicans, from Arredondo leaders who said Tempe was to Sen. John Nelson, R- wrong to pay such a large Litchfield Park, have amended amount of public money to their personal financial- lure the bowl from a fellow disclosure statements to Valley city. reflect gifts received from The Tempe City Council the Fiesta Bowl. On Monday, approved the contract 7-0. Secretary of State Ken On Thursday, Rep. Ed Ableser, Bennett said he also would D-Tempe, said he thinks that amend his statements to add each politician, regardless free trips he accepted from of party, must be held to the the Fiesta Bowl. same scrutiny. Hallman said Thursday that he "If they broke the law, then, found "it peculiar that yes, they should be dealt anybody thinks they can just with," he said. "Right now, repay for tickets they the public's trust needs to accepted a year ago, two be regained." years ago, five years ago. If John Zidich, CEO and you've stolen something and publisher of The Arizona get caught you don't just get Republic , is a former to go back and give it back member of the Fiesta Bowl's and say, 'Here you go.' " board of directors and was on Hallman has long maintained the bowl's five-member that he would not accept executive committee from campaign contributions from January 2010 to April 2011. "people doing business with The Arizona Republic is a the city." He said he was Fiesta Bowl advertising gravely disappointed with sponsor.
Tags: Bowl, executives, Fiesta, leaders, Meet, Tempe
