The Arizona Daily Star reported yesterday, with a follow-up today, of the taking out of recall papers on Council Member Zinkin. The papers were taken out by "The Oro Valley Citizens for Ethical Government." One of the organizers of this effort is Jane Burge, wife of Mayor Hiremath's still active political campaign treasurer and contributor.The chairman of the committee is Kevin Jones. Jones wrote a letter to the Explorer that was published on June 8, 2011. In that letter, Jones "railed" at an effort to recall Council Members Hornat and Snider. Jones wrote:
"The attempted recall of Oro Valley council members Joe Hornat and Mary Snider is a needless distraction to our community and reeks of pure hypocrisy. This effort is being driven by a small number of bitter, discontented residents who resent the outcome of our last election and are now trying to sabotage our duly elected officials from doing the job we elected them to do."Seems that Jones is doing exactly what he says was wrong to do. Duplicitious? You think?
It is no coincidence that this recall effort is launched after the Oro Valley Police Officers Association (OVPOA) and its leader, Marshall Morris Last week, OVPOA declared war on Zinkin. OVPOA went "ballistic" because Zinkin had the audacity to ask for overtime pay information by levels (not by individual) of the police department. This very act threatened public safety, according to the letter they filed with Oro Valley's human resource director. The hand of OVPOA most certainly is also behind this.
So, the gauntlet has been thrown.
According to Mayor Hiremath who, according to the Daily Star, denies any complicity in the recall effort: "Zinkin is being recalled mainly because of documented instances of inappropriate comments to female town employees, as well as racially insensitive remarks."
He is, of course, not being truthful about his involvement. How would he know about why this effort is underway if he is not part of it?
In addition, the alleged insensitive remarks are not a reason to recall an elected official. A recall should be justified in only the most egregious of circumstances.
The attempt to recall Zinkin is a critical cog in the ability of the Majority-4 ( Mayor Hiremath and Council Members Waters, Snider and Hornat) all of whom will be up for reelection next year, to maintain "iron-fist" control of the town. It is an attempt by OVPOA to maintain "iron-fist" control. In their mind, Zinkin, who is truly the voice of the people, must be silenced.
---
