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“Top-2 Primary” initiative declared unconstitutional; off ballot
Citing a violation of the Arizona Constitution’s “single-subject” rule requiring ballot initiatives to focus on a single subject, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Mark Brain has issued an injunction against the cunningly titled Open Elections/Open Government Act. The scheme is nothing more than a ruse to gut the influence of conservative Republicans in Arizona politics.
Judge Brain ruled that the section on the rights of political parties should have been a separate amendment from the initiative, which seeks to create a “top two” primary election system, effectively abolishing political parties in Arizona by prohibiting them from organizing and nominating candidates for virtually all public offices. The lack of political affiliation would serve to mask candidate’s actual political positions, an overt attempt to confuse voters.
The court’s ruling can be read here.
Attorney Mike Liburdi, represented the Save Our Vote committee which sued to block the initiative. Liburdi praised the ruling saying, “Not only does Top-Two severely limit voter choice, but as the court found, it is in direct violation of the Arizona Constitution. This decision can only be viewed as a major victory for Arizona voters.”
Democrat Paul Johnson, a onetime Phoenix mayor chairs the initiative backed by a stunning assortment of liberals. He says the committee is prepared to raise and spend $2 million on the campaign. And to underscore the deception, Johnson has reregistered as an Independent to promote this sham against Arizona voters.
Although the state’s left-wing newspaper the Periódico de la República de Arizona (Arizona Republic) has been relentless in pushing this ruthless political charade, columnist Robert Robb has been a lone standout exposing the farce. We recommend his excellent column linked in this post.
The Maricopa County Republican Executive Guidance Committee has not been conned. Read the group’s protest to the resolution here.
2012-08-07 11:58:01
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