Non-partisan group looking to oust state Sen. Pearce

Ryan McCullough

Russell Pearce, the author of SB 1070, could potentially be the first ever state senator to be recalled from office. Citizens for a Better Arizona, a non partisan group, are attempting to collect 7,756 signatures from registered voters in West Mesa, legislative district 18. The group must have 25 percent of votes cast in the last election to recall Pearce.

“We’re trying to recall Senator Russell Pearce because he’s voted to terminate health care for hundreds of thousands of Arizona families and senior citizens and kids. He slashed public education . and he’s just had a general disrespect for the United States constitution,” said Geoff Esposito, a member of Citizens for a Better Arizona, while collecting signatures in front of the Mesa Public Library.

If enough signatures are collected, a month long evaluation period follows. Then, if the signatures are valid, Pearce has five days to resign or a special election is held.

“We think it’s our right as citizens under the Arizona constitution to recall legislators at any time. So, that’s what we’re trying to do,” Esposito said.

Every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, Citizens for a Better Arizona sets up in front of the Mesa Public Library and sends out volunteers to collect signatures around the community. Lilia Alvarez, a student at the Phoenix School of Law, is one of those volunteers.

“I got on board right away,” she said.

Alvarez has seen a diverse community of people in district 18 while collecting signatures.

“(One member of the local LDS community) straight up told us, ‘I hate Russell Pearce.’ But with his big house and very comfortable set-up, he said, ‘I can wait. We can wait until the next election.’ Then the next household people are clapping at the fact that we stopped at their door and they’re having a yard sale and they get everybody there to sign the petition,” Alvarez said.

Bob Unferth is another volunteer with grievances against Pearce.

“This business of pandering to hate and xenophobia and racism has gone too far. It’s not longer productive. The tide is coming out and people are going back to being sane and reasonable,” he said.

Unferth has been surprised about how many people need convincing to the sign.

“I never thought that there would be people in Russell Pearce’s district who are not completely aware of what’s going on,” he said.

Citizens for a Better Arizona are keeping silent about the number of signatures they have so far. They are trying to keep under the media radar as much as possible.

“This is a fight right now and the best thing about it is he’s not expecting it,” said Randy Parraz, a founder member of the group.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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