Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Arizona Daily Star published its congressional endorsements today.
For U.S. Senate, the Star edorsed Dr. Richard Carmona. Carmona's bipartisan views will benefit all.
For Congressional District 3, the Star endorsed incumbent Congressman Raúl Grijalva. Grijalva shows best command of issues.
For Congressional District 2, the Star endorsed incumbent Congressman Ron Barber. Southern Arizona's concerns and people are paramount for Barber.
And then there is the Star's "Jim Click Pick" -- they had to throw a bone to one of the Star's top advertisers and GOP bundler, auto dealer Jim Click. For Congressional District 1, the Star endorsed Jonathan "Payday" Paton.
In order to do so, the Arizona Daily Star had to ignore much of its own reporting over the years highly critical of Paton.
You will recall that in April 2006, Dolores Huerta, co-founder with Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers, was an invited guest speaker at a special assembly at Tucson High Magnet School the day after student walkouts in support of immigration law reforms. During her speech, Huerta made the observation that "Republicans hate Latinos." Dolores Huerta was right:
Then Rep. Jonathan Paton got his panties in a bunch and threw a hissy-fit in the media about this "outrage." He became a bit of a celebrity on the FAUX News Fraudcasting Network at the time. Paton sent a letter to TUSD demanding changes in TUSD policies regarding political speakers (screw the First Amendment). He eventually got what he wanted.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne saw all the celebrity attention that Paton was receiving from the conservative media and decided he wanted attention too, so he went on a crusade against the "La Raza" ethnic studies program at TUSD with a vengeance. He succeeded with HB 2281 that banned ethnic studies programs, er sorry, "classes that are racially divisive, promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, and those designed solely for students of specific ethnicities or advocate ethnic solidarity."
Paton was a driving force behind the state legislature voiding the rights of the citizens of Tucson to govern themselves by imposing a Rio Nuevo Board appointed by Maricopa County Republicans. Their appointees proved to be as incompetent as the board members they replaced. State of Maricopa appointed Rio Nuevo District Board is costing taxpayers for litigation.
Then Star editor Josh Brodesky was highly critical of Paton, who got himself appointed to the Board he helped to create. Josh Brodesky: Rio Nuevo is troika's plaything. I guess the Star forgot about that.
Paton also tried to dictate to the citizens of Tucson how they must conduct their mayoral and council elections, voiding the Tucson City Charter. The Arizona Supreme Counrt ruled he violated the Arizona Constitution. Arizona Supreme Court unanimously rejects 'Paton's Law'. The Arizona Daily Star editorialized Tucsonans should decide how city is run. I guess the Star forgot about that.
After being beaten by political neophyte Jesse Kelly in the GOP primary for Congress in 2010, Paton went back to lobbying and "consulting." Paton most recently worked as a consultant for the town of Marana, a Dallas pension fund, The Symington Group and groups in Tucson and Phoenix -- including groups that have lobbied for or against legislation at the Arizona Legislature. Paton record covers House, Senate.
Paton represented the Town of Marana and convinced his buddies in the Arizona legislature to confiscated a wastewater treatment facility from Pima County to hand over to the Town of Marana without just compensation to Pima County. Disputed treatment plant goes to Marana. The Court of Appeals later invalidated the law. Marana's seizure of sewage plant owned by county is ruled invalid. I guess the editors do not read their own newspaper.
Paton was one of the consultants behind a bill that would have created a new authority that would give Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita, together, veto power over new borrowing for roads and other projects in Pima County. Panel would let 3 towns veto county bonds. The Arizona Daily Star editorialized GOP bill sidelining Huckelberry unfair to 89% of voters. I guess the Star forgot about that.
CD 1 takes in a number of tribal governments that rely heavily on gaming. The Star ignored this at the time and continues to ignore it. Jonathan 'Payday' Paton opposed to Tribal sovereignty on gaming.
For a comprehensive review of Paton's record, I highly recommend the Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff) report, which is far more comprehensive than anything you have seen in our sad small town newspaper, the Arizona Daily Star. Paton record covers House, Senate.
Jonathan "Payday" Paton is a political opportunist who is always looking for the next gimmick to exploit. He has worked against the interests of residents of the City of Tucson and Pima County for years. The Star is wrong to endorse Paton in light of his record. The residents of Southern Arizona rejected Paton in 2010, we should not impose him on our neighbors to the North in 2012.
Recent Comments