Chandler, AZ news and views roundup - May 26

A few political links for you this sunny Saturday:

1. Recall effort may be postponed (no permalink)

Organizers of a political action committee have about a third of the required signatures to place two councilmembers in a recall election, but they might not meet the deadline for a November ballot. “The chances of making the November deadline are becoming extremely slim,” said Ray Pilara, who launched an effort last month to recall councilmembers Matt Orlando and Martin Sepulveda for their role in the ouster of former City Manager Mark Pentz.

Sepulveda said either way it goes, he’s not too worried. “Let’s just say I’m not losing sleep over the issue,” Sepulveda said Monday. “When you’ve been where I’ve been and have dodged bullets and mortar fire in a combat situation, not much else tends to scare you.”

Of course, I think much of the hype about the recall was really to drum up agitation to aid Weninger's election bid (Weninger made Pentz his major campaign issue), which seems to have worked. (Case in point, see next link.) But as I have continued to urge my readers:



2. Council-elect vows to place Pentz back on job (no permalink)

Council-elect Jeff Weninger said one of the first orders of business when he is sworn in next month is to hire back Mark Pentz as city manager. Weninger, who along with Trinity Donovan, won by a large margin over challenger Becky Jackson, said the move to get the former city manager is a way to right a wrong and fulfill a campaign promise. “This was a huge campaign issue and the reason why I won, and the reason why I won by a rather large margin,” Weninger said May 18. “I will be pushing for the council to rehire Mark Pentz as one of the first orders of business. Of course, he has to be willing to come back.”

3. Local photographer displays work at city library (no permalink)

The Yes, We Can Do It! photography exhibit, created by Chandler photographer Tracy Rasinski, profiles women and children assisted through the Arizona Women’s Partnership and is currently on display at the Chandler Library. Arizona Women’s Partnership is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the status of women and responds to the various needs of underserved and disadvantaged women and their families. Rasinski noted that a lot of the groups she features focus on children and women who have experienced difficult home lives.

“The nonprofit organizations I profile work with confused children and try to stop the abuse,” said Rasinski. The Arizona Women’s Partnership organization receives proceeds through fundraisers, corporate sponsorships and private donations. It then distributes that money through mini-grants to various small nonprofit organizations that help women and children dealing with home and shelter issues.

4. Council gifts $55,000 to veteran assistance program (no permalink)

The Chandler City Council is giving local veterans a big lift by gifting $55,000 to a ride program that will take them to quarterly events and other social service opportunities. The council voted unanimously to fund a Veteran Assistance Program during its May 8 2006-07 Budget Amendment meeting. It will become official, however, when the council adopts the final budget at its Thursday meeting.

5. McCain votes yes, Kyl no as Senate OKs immigration measure

The U.S. Senate Thursday approved sweeping immigration reforms that include a guest worker program, stepped-up border security with more fences and walls along the Mexican border. and a multitiered legal path for many of the 12 million undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.

6. Al Gore - F--k Yeah (please be warned: some crude language in this otherwise interesting article)

The Rude Pundit had one question for Al Gore last night when the former Vice President spoke and took part in a panel on his film, An Inconvenient Truth, at the Town Hall in New York City. The audience was asked to scribble its questions, to Gore, calmly horrifying climate scientist James Hansen, producer/cheerleader Laurie David, and just plain creepy producer Lawrence Bender, on cards provided to us. The Rude Pundit scrawled a simply, brief query that Gore wasn't asked by host John Hockenberry, but he knows that Gore has the question, because Hockenberry handed Gore a stack of like-minded ones. The question was this: "Why wouldn't you run for President in 2008?"