Right after this blog endorsed Jamie Aldama for the Glendale Ocotillo district council seat, I received the following information.
On October 1, 2014 former Ocotillo district city council candidates Bud Zomok and Michael Hernandez sent a formal letter to the following: Attorney General Tom Horne, Maricopa Supervisors Marie Lopez Rodgers and Clint Hickman, County Attorney Bill Montgomery, Glendale City Clerk Pam Hanna and County Recorder Helen Purcell.
They allege that Jamie Aldama, a current employee of the Glendale Community College Structures Department, is required to resign his position if he wishes to remain a viable candidate for the Ocotillo District City Council seat. Anyone, as does Mr. Aldama, who works for a governmental agency such as the Maricopa Community College district is a paid, public employee. A councilmember’s position is a paid, public office.
The Maricopa County Ethics Handbook on page 18 states, “A public employee, whether merit-covered or unclassified, may not be a candidate for nomination or election to any public office which is either paid or partisan. Upon filing for nomination papers or making a formal public declaration of candidacy, an employee shall be required to submit a letter of resignation.” See this link: http://www.maricopa.gov/InternalAudit/pdf/Controls/ethicshandbook.pdf . It is commonly referred to as ‘Resign to Run’.
If after further investigation by the above cited agencies this stricture applies, Mr. Aldama has only two options. One is to resign from his paid, public position with the Maricopa Community College District or two, immediately terminate his candidacy for the paid, public office of the Ocotillo City Council seat.
Is Aldama waiting to see if he captures the Ocotillo council seat before resigning? That can’t be kosher, can it? Not according to the Ethics Handbook which says upon filing nomination papers one is required to resign.
So, Mr. Aldama, which is it to be? Will you resign your paid, public employment or will you withdraw your candidacy? Those of you planning to vote for Mr. Aldama may want to hold off for a bit to see how this situation plays out.
On yet another front…JMC Irrigation. It’s public address and phone number is that of Jamie Aldama’s residence within the Ocotillo district. Hmmm…either Mr. Aldama has a side business or someone else living at his residence has the business. Either way, in checking the Arizona Corporation Commission, it is unregistered. In checking the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, it is also unregistered with that agency. Is anyone from JMC paying required licensing fees and taxes?
© Joyce Clark, 2014
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which is in accordance with Title 17 U.S. C., Section 107. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democratic, scientific and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law and who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use,’ you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Once again, Norm looks like she will back her way into office. Now if only the residents of Ocotillo will hold her accountable for her attendance, etc. I suspect it will be four more years of Norma the puppet.
Joyce, where do I start? First, let me say the “policy” is grossly unfair. It was probably developed and pushed by some small minded politician to prevent a county employee, who may know a little too much about the antics of their political bosses, from running for office without resigning from their job. Why, I ask? To make it financially impossible to run for office? Talk about oppression!! A congressman can run for President without resigning from Congress. Is not Sam Chavira a paid employee of the City of Phoenix? Not a problem for him! Apparently, not a problem for either City. Then why is it OK to subject county employees to an unfair and unnecessary ethics policy. Like politicians are known for ethical conduct? Hummmmm let me think….?
Second, could the two complainants be paving the way for one of them to step in as the official runner up in the primary and therefore one of the candidates in the run off? Nice try fellas. How about you just admit the public was not interested in you as a councilman? I know, it’s a hard pill to swollow but it happens. Hell, it happened to me. I’m OK. I’ll survive. You will also.
Truthfully, I have little or no respect for those who attempt to get their nose in the door by exploiting a little known or obscure provision of an ethics policy for personal or political gain. I say stand on the merrits of your campaign and let the public decide. You did. The public did. You lost. You’re out. Just like me.
Rgarding the business that operates out of Aldama’s house. If the business is a sole propritorship or a partnership it does not have to be registered with the AZ Corporation Commission. Also, the business may fall short of the requirements that says they have to be registered with the Registrar of Contractors. We realy don’thave the facts. However, I view this issue, a possible violation of actual law, with a lot more importance than some ethics policy violation.
Just tell me it isn’t so. I really can’t think of another term with watching “Negative Norma” at the Council meetings with completely unprofessional behavior for a public servant position. I was so excited when she first was elected thinking that there would be some good things coming for our Ocotillo District which I have lived in over 50 years. She had good ideas but then completely was taken over by her special groups and closer to home donations. I got a flyer from her for the general election saying she didn’t spend the publics “munny” (sic) on her own stuff but used her own. Then went on to say the money she spent with donations to who knows what in whatever amounts some friend or group wanted. I would be really curious to see what the amount was that she spent for her private donations. From what I can see, this is not posted on anything to view. Ocotillo does not have a spay/neuter help fund like Knaack did and it is truly needed in this district more than any other. Our street gets no assistance with anything, including safety provisions,. She could so help in this problem. So where did this money go and how much was spent? I shouldn’t be writing this when I see how a few can turn the masses against someone. I wish they would have gone after the right person instead of going after the only one that might have a chance to bring a more professional representative for the Ocotillo District. And by the way, I didn’t vote for Aldama in the primary. I voted for who I thought would represent all the people in this district, not just the chosen.
Would appreciate a copy of the flyer if you can get it to me. Can you scan it into your PC and email???
I would like to take the time to answer all three comments: First Mr. Eikost, Norma is far from being a puppet. You must be a Sherwood, Chavira, Martinez and Knack supporter. Norma has shaken the ground and there are issues that have been surfaced because of Norma. You need to be aware of what is happening with your money. Do you recall Mrs Clark’s statement before leaving office…”I am not afraid to gamble with your money”. That is exactly what is happening now and has been for over a decade.
Whether Mr. Aldama is qualified because of his position is not what I question. As I understand, the interested party must be a resident of the District for one year prior to seeking the position. Mr. Aldama claims in a Facebook posting that he moved back into the Ocotillo District in October 2013, now these are his own words, he pulls petitions in February 2014. Now basic math tells me that is 4 months as resident in the Ocotillo District. The re-districting ocurred in 2011, so does he qualify??? NO!!!
D. Carpenter, negative Norma is attempting to fight for her District, do you not clearly understand she votes against what is not good for Glendale. Do you not see the dirty deals made under the table? In reference to the “munny” Norma is not using your Tax money for her expenses. She is putting it back into her District. You obviously do not follow what she is and has been doing for the District. She is the first person with guts enough to stand up for the District. Remember there are 4 councilmembers under investigation at this time. I would do some more research and find out why there is negativity on Norma’s part. Norma has been nothing but transparent. There is no questioning Norma!
Dana and Bill, feel free to respond. She has given you much to work with.
My opinion doesn’t matter anyway, Rebecca. I watch every single council meeting on channel 11. I was a City employee before I retired quite a while ago. I AM embarrassed when she almost falls asleep and is negative about every single issue that comes up. I AM embarrassed when she isn’t there for so many meetings. It is true she questioned some of the issues that needed to be but there is a professional way of doing it. I see she answers to a lot of people in her support group and needs to make sure they are happy, but that does not make her a good representative of the whole district. It’s not just what she thinks is not good for Glendale. I think the casino is the biggest sellout for the City of Glendale there could be. Even for the “munny.” There will be undesirable people that will be drawn to this area to cause more crime and lower property values. I love casinos but that has nothing to do with having them in an area with schools and residences. The 20 million dollars promised over 20 years is nothing. Many families and government official families make that much a year. My question still is where are all the donations and help for families etc with City of Glendale taxpayer money going. Would you care to make that a report out for everyone to see? I have a feeling there is a lot of money that went out to a closed group of supporters in large amounts. Maybe I don’t research like you said but I still can read and try to stay as aware as time allows me. I guess I missed this report posted somewhere.
Rebecca is a relative of Norma’s. Enough said.