OPINION SECTION: Questions For Two #AZ08 Candidates

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OPINION:

Brian Reilly, Former GOP LD22PC:

Former Sheriff Richard Mack is one of several candidates who are now running for the Arizona Congressional District 8 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, after Representative Trent Franks abruptly resigned from office.  The AP reported that Franks was alleged to have “offered a staffer $5 million to carry his child.”(1.) Trent Franks has endorsed Steve Montenegro’s campaign for his vacated seat.  Montenegro has not only accepted Trent Franks’ endorsement, he has also accepted former Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s endorsement as evidenced by Montenegro’s campaign literature.  

Arpaio was recently criminally convicted for failing to follow a federal court order, not to detain or arrest individuals without probable cause that a crime had been committed.  Arpaio was pardoned by President Trump, but Arpaio’s criminal conviction still stands and is apparently being appealed by Arpaio.  Many if not most of the MCSO victims who were unlawfully arrested or detained were Latinos.  

I question Montenegro’s judgment.  Is he really trying to make a difference for his Latino community?  

But let’s get back to former Sheriff Richard Mack for a moment.  In a recent Politics Unplugged interview by Dennis Welch, Richard Mack at the 2:55 minute marker, speaking about Arizona, stated:  “I’ve lived here my entire life.” (2.)   Mack’s statement is not in agreement with the following report in the 4/24/2012, issue of the Community Impact Newspaper: “Richard Mack, former Sheriff of Graham County, Ariz., is seeking the Republican nomination for Texas’ 21st congressional district.”“…Mack spent 11 years with the Provo Police Department in Utah, where he was promoted through the ranks from officer to detective. In 1988, he moved back to Arizona to run for Graham County Sheriff. Mack won two terms…”  “In May 2011, after several speaking engagements in Texas, Mack and his wife and family moved from his native state of Arizona to Fredericksburg [Texas].”(3.) In an interview with InfoWars, Mack said at minute marker 11:21, “I’m going to tell the truth also.” And starting at minute marker 14:16, Mack said, “I’ve told them [his students] I will never lie.  I’ve told the people in this election [CD8], I will never lie.” (4.)  Did Mack misrepresent himself to CD8 voters when he told Dennis Welch, “I’ve lived here my entire life”?  The voters will ultimately decide the truth.  Steve Montenegro’s alleged “text gate” if true, is totally unacceptable. (5.)

(1.) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trent-franks-makes-resignation-immediate/

(2.) http://sheriffrichardmack.com/articles/sheriff-richard-mack-on-politics-unplugged

(3.) https://communityimpact.com/austin/news/2012/04/24/richard-mack-republican-candidate-for-texas-district-21/

(4.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG7D5wC2lQU&app=desktop

(5.) https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/02/21/steve-montenegro-faces-calls-quit-congressional-district-8-race-backers-largely-mum/361196002/

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