It has been 18 years and 141 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.
By May 4, 2016 I had turned in my nominating petitions with far more validated voter signatures than required. It didn’t take long for the opposition to ask for copies of my petitions. I received this email from the City Clerk on May 6, 2016: “I am sending this information to you as part of our neutrality and transparency with candidates. Mr. Allan Lira requested copies of your nomination petitions.”
This is nothing new. Almost every candidate will ask for copies of his/her opponent’s nominating petitions in the hope that they can prove that there are not enough valid signatures. If successful they can get rid of a potential opponent without ever having to run against him or her. Only occasionally does it prove successful. I’m afraid Mr. Lira won’t have any luck for we validated nearly 700 registered voter signatures before the petitions were submitted to the City Clerk.
We wondered who Mr. Lira is and why would he be asking for copies of my petitions. One of our group found this. Mr. Allan Lira is on Linked In and here is the information he provides:
Allan Lira Data analyst at Gallego for Phoenix Location: Glendale, Arizona Industry: Political Organization
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99
- Gallego for Arizona
- Marquez for Arizona
His listed previous work experience:
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99
November 2014 – January 2015 (3 months)
September 2014 – November 2014 (3 months)
January 2014 – August 2014 (8 months)
June 2013 – November 2013 (6 months)
It appears that Mr. Lira currently works for Ruben Gallego as a data analyst at Gallego for Phoenix. Ruben Gallego assumed office as Arizona’s 7th district U.S. Representative on January 3, 2015.
Thanks to the Arizona Republic we are all keenly aware of Sammy Chavira’s travel on your dime—taxpayer money. One of those infamous trips was for $2,075 to go back to Washington, D.C. to see his good buddy…wait for it… Rueben Gallego sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives.
Arizona Republic
March 4, 2016
It’s interesting to see how the links within Sammy’s web interconnect. Sammy spent your money to see Gallego sworn in. Sammy’s questionable travel expenses were exposed by the Arizona Republic and include the Gallego trip. Here is the link to Paul Giblin’s front page story of March 4, 2016 about Sammy’s travel: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2016/03/04/glendale-councilman-sammy-chavira-charges-24k-trips-3-years-taxpayers/78857734/ .
Sammy is now getting assistance from the very same good buddy, Gallego, in his current run for the Yucca district city council position. Could it be because Sammy is in trouble, politically…and his friend Ruben Gallego is trying to save him?
Special interests have a long history of influencing political outcomes. Union influence is one of those long standing components. The fire union, for years, has been able to manipulate election outcomes in urban areas, notably Phoenix, Glendale and several other cities in the Metro Valley. Do you believe the Food Workers Union should join the fire union in determining your councilmembers in Glendale? Across this country voters in droves are rejecting candidates under the influence of big donor, special interest money. Perhaps Glendale voters will do the same.
Just something for the voters of the Yucca district to consider…
© Joyce Clark, 2016
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Ms. Clark: It is obvious that any individual can request copies of a candidates nomination papers and that fact should not surprise you. You have made some sweeping assumptions that somehow Mr. Chavira and his alleged supporters are somehow connected to the recent inquiry. And worst yet is the fact they are connected to organized labor. You are assuming/suggesting this was perhaps a concerted activity on the part of the United Food & Commercial Workers and that to me is a stretch. To paint all Union members with the same broad brush is inappropriate and shortsighted. The fact you are not a fan of organized labor (Unions) is clear and you certainly are entitled to your opinion. Union members are hardworking, productive members of the community, possess common sense, have a moral compass and given the facts, make appropriate decisions. Do I think Mr. Chavira is an appropriate role model, absolutely not, it is time for change.
Hi Jack, Thank you for your comments. Now for some facts. You assume that I am not “a fan of organized labor (Unions).”
When I was a teacher, many years ago, I was a member of a teacher’s union. My husband, a retired electrician, was a member of IBEW Local 640, for many years. One son is a member of the International Fire Fighters Association (IAFF) and another, retired, was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and held a state office for several years.
By no stretch of anyone’s imagination am I anti-union. Me and my family are now (or were) proud union members. I agree with your assessment of union members.
I think what you have missed is that the gentleman who requested copies of my petitions (and I made clear that the practice is a normal one) is working for Ruben Gallego. The very same Ruben Gallego that Sammy Chavira went to D.C. (using taxpayer money) to observe Gallego’s swearing in. That would indicate to most people that Gallego and Chavira are friends. Add to that fact that one of Gallego’s team is pulling my papers. Why? Because Gallego is interested? Hardly. A logical assumption is that Mr. Lara, a member of Gallego’s team, is doing it at the behest of Gallego for his friend, Chavira.
As for the United Food Workers Union, they participated and supported Chavira’s first run for office. It is no surprise that they are once again involved.
My issue, has been and continues to be, that the fire union and now the food worker’s union have too much influence in local Glendale elections. Strangely, I believe that it is up to voters to choose their representation without the undue influence of moneyed, special interests.
As a follow up, in Chavira’s last campaign report filed in Dec of 2015 this may be of interest to you:
Beginning January 2016 cash on hand $16,671.14
$16,250.00 from 3 sources:
UFCW99 (United Food Workers) 12/23/2015 $6250.00 maximum amount allowed
Arizona Pipe Trades 469 12/28/2015 $5000.00
Mark Becker (Becker Billboards) 12/04/2015 $5000.00