|
Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek thinks it was OK for Sheriff Joe to steal $100 million from the taxpayers?
Kunasek won't set a public hearing for Arpaio on misspending by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez - May. 9, 2011 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek will not schedule a public hearing for Sheriff Joe Arpaio to explain how his agency misspent nearly $100 million. Kunasek, a Paradise Valley Republican, is chairman of the five-member board. In that role, he presides over public meetings and decides which issues appear on the agenda and which don't. Kunasek was on vacation when activists from Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability appeared at a recent board meeting and demanded that supervisors allow them to discuss with Arpaio the improper use of public money during Wednesday's board meeting. "I don't think it would accomplish anything," Kunasek told The Arizona Republic on Friday. "It doesn't get us anywhere. I don't think they're trying to effect change - I think they're trying to agitate. It's unfortunate." Randy Parraz, co-founder of the activist group, said he was disappointed in Kunasek's decision, saying it shows a lack of respect for citizens and their input. "He needs to get out of the way and allow ordinary citizens to have their say," Parraz said. "This is not about Andy Kunasek, this is about Sheriff Arpaio and taxpayer dollars. Why is he defending (Arpaio)?" Last month, the county Office of Management and Budget said sheriff's officials misappropriated $99.5 million in restricted jail funds over the last eight years. Budget officials said $84.7 million from the sheriff's detention fund and $14.8 million in inmate-services money was misspent. Sheriff's officials have acknowledged that the money was misspent. They said that as employees were transferred around the agency, payroll records were not always updated, thereby creating budgetary issues that will have to be confronted. The money has to be paid back; it's unclear how that will happen. Supervisors Don Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox said they would support a public forum on the topic. West Valley Supervisor Max Wilson on Friday said he hasn't yet made a decision, and that he "wants more information as to whether or not we should do it." Supervisor Fulton Brock, meanwhile, has not responded to requests for comment, but his chief of staff indicated the supervisor would not support a public hearing. All of the supervisors are up for re-election in 2012. Arpaio's Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan said he would address the public if supervisors put the matter on a future agenda.
Misspending by Arpaio's agency: Activists call for public hearing by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Michelle Ye Hee Lee - Apr. 28, 2011 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic About a dozen community activists called on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday to set a public hearing for Sheriff Joe Arpaio to explain to the public how his agency misspent nearly $100 million. The activists, speaking during a public-comment period at Wednesday's meeting, asked the Board of Supervisors to place a public hearing on its May 11 agenda and demand that Arpaio answer to the public. "We're here to hold your feet to the fire and ask you to come down and answer these questions," activist Randy Parraz said, addressing Arpaio at a news conference outside the supervisors' auditorium. Arpaio was not present. Earlier this month, the county Office of Management and Budget accused sheriff's officials of misappropriating $99.5 million in restricted jail funds over the last eight years. Budget officials said $84.7 million from the sheriff's detention fund and $14.8 million in inmate-services money was misspent. Sheriff's officials have acknowledged the money was misspent. They said that as employees were transferred around the agency, payroll records were not always updated, thereby creating budgetary issues that will have to be confronted. Supervisors Don Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox said they would support a public forum on the topic, though Wilcox said the request is not realistic. Arpaio was not present at previous meetings on the issue and likely would not attend a public hearing, she said. Arpaio's interim Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan said he would address the public if supervisors put the matter on an agenda. "I know they were a little bit upset two weeks ago that the sheriff wasn't present," Sheridan said. "(But) I'm probably the best one to do it because I'm most familiar with the complexities of the issue." Bruce Bartholomew, Supervisor Fulton Brock's chief of staff, indicated Brock would not support a public hearing. Supervisors Max Wilson and Andy Kunasek did not respond to requests for comment.
Joe Arpaio critics demand his resignation by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Michelle Ye Hee Lee - May. 11, 2011 10:00 PM The Arizona Republic Several dozen community activists peppered the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors with criticism Wednesday, demanding that county officials take action against Sheriff Joe Arpaio for misspending and mismanagement within his agency. During a news conference afterward, the activists again called on Arpaio to resign, arguing that the longtime sheriff is unfit to serve. The group included immigrant-rights advocates, county Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and state Rep. Ruben Gallego. As Arpaio's critics spoke to supervisors inside a county auditorium, a handful of his supporters came to show support but left fairly quickly. His opponents are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to place the Sheriff's Office into receivership, a rarely used legal process to place an organization under independent control. Receiverships are typically enforced by the courts. Arpaio's critics maintained that he was either incompetent or complicit in misspending and mismanagement that have plagued his agency, repeatedly referring to the misspending of $99.5 million in taxpayer money, and mismanagement by top Arpaio aides that was uncovered by Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's investigation. Some activists also reprimanded supervisors for their lack of oversight of the Sheriff's Office, the county's largest agency with a budget of about $270 million. "Arpaio has arrested and jailed journalists . . . political opponents . . . and he's even had the audacity to arrest and go after judges," activist Chad Snow said, adding that Arpaio has blamed "rogue" employees for the problems. But, he said, Arpaio should be held equally accountable. Wilcox said activists this week would send a letter to U.S. Attorney for Arizona Dennis Burke and other federal officials, including President Barack Obama, asking them to place the agency into receivership and expedite investigations into the Sheriff's Office. "You need to intervene immediately," Wilcox said. "We've been living with this for the last 2 1/2 years. Dennis Burke, we appeal to you: Move" forward with indictments, she said. "Eric Holder, we appeal to you: Give Dennis the resources to move. And President Obama, we appeal to you: Help Arizona get back to normalcy." Arpaio said Wednesday that he would not step down and has previously said he was unaware of any of the problems within his agency. "They would love for me to resign, and that's not going to happen," Arpaio said. "I don't care what they're talking about. (The misspending is) strictly a bookkeeping, computer-type glitch." Among Arpaio's backers was Brandy Baron, who said she voted for him "to do the job he's doing. I have no problem with what he's doing, and he's taking care of the management problems." But protesters maintained that Arpaio and certain members of the Board of Supervisors were not doing enough to address the problems and instead are attempting to gloss over serious problems for political purposes. All of the supervisors are up for re-election in 2012 and in recent months, the five-member board has been divided over how aggressive it should be in publicly talking about the problems within Arpaio's agency. The meeting was marked by heated outbursts led by one activist, Randy Parraz, who at one point was chased back to his chair by a security officer for shouting while Chairman Andy Kunasek spoke. Other activists were less aggressive but were pointed in their criticism of the five supervisors. "On your watch, $100 million has gone missing," resident Jameson Johnson told supervisors. "Only in Maricopa County could something like this happen without people being hauled out in handcuffs. Shame on you. The financial mismanagement of this county is unforgivable." The critics used as ammunition the recent revelation by county budget officials that the Sheriff's Office has misspent $99.5 million over eight years. Arpaio's staff has acknowledged the money was misspent. The money must be paid back, though it's still unclear how and when that will happen. Parraz, co-founder of the activist group Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability, again pressed Kunasek to hold a public meeting on the misspent money. Kunasek said he would not hold a meeting because the issue already had been publicly discussed. But he said that the issue would be discussed by staff during a future board meeting, and that activists could air their concerns at that point. |