Monday, May 5, 2014

Sitting Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commissioner Financed The Recall Zinkin Ads

The Oro Valley Citizens For Ethical Government filed its PAC termination statement finance report on April 21. The report covered the period of January 1 through April 21, 2014.   This was the PAC that spearheaded the attempted recall of Council Member Mike Zinkin.

We learned from this filing that Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commissioner Donald Cox paid for the 3 advertisements that appeared in the local advertising circular in December and January. These advertisements urged the recall of Council Member Mike Zinkin, provided a phone number to call, and a web site link for more information.  We suspect that Commissioner Cox is the publisher of the web site to which people were referred from the advertisements.

This is not the first time that Commissioner Cox has opposed Zinkin. We reported on August 21, 2012 that Cox made remarks chastising Council Members Zinkin and Garner at a planning and zoning commission meeting.

In our reporting of those remarks, we observed that the Commissioner should be reprimanded for such remarks because he had used his position at a meeting to make such remarks.  No reprimand occurred.  In this instance, however, the Commissioner acted as a private citizen.  He did not use his appointed position to put forth his view.

According to the termination statement, the PAC raised $2,350.  Major contributors were Oro Valley's Michael Quinn ($800), former owner of now defunct "Down Home Delights"; and Mary and David Johnson ($500) of Marana.

Larry Burge, Hiremath's PAC treasurer and spouse of the Oro Valley Citizens For Ethical Government treasurer, Jane Burge, contributed $400.   Kevin Jones, the PAC's Chairman, chipped in $100.

The 3 Cox reimbursed advertisements ($1,638) were the primary use of PAC funds.  $335 was spent for signs.  Unspent PAC money ($330) was donated to World Care.

With the Oro Valley Citizens For Ethical Government PAC termination statement filing, we are hopeful that this chapter of Oro Valley history is closed.
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5 comments:

Richard Furash, MBA said...

I find it appalling that Marana citizens would stick their noses into Oro Valley politics. It's NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!!!

Richard Furash, MBA said...

If memory serves...wasn't Richy Feinberg removed from the DRB (or forced to resign) because he spoke out publicly against Vestar and Oro Valley Marketplace? I remember it being discussed on this blog because Richy got into trouble for speaking out against OVM. He was told that he was not allowed to do that. Meanwhile, Terry Parish, who was a council member at the same time, was quoted on Vestar's flyers as endorsing OVM.


When we questioned why it was OK for Parish to give his opinion publicly but it was not OK for Feinberg to do the same, we were told that it was because Parish was an ELECTED official and Feinberg was APPOINTED.


Well, ain't that a hoot! Now we have Cox, an APPOINTED official who is allowed to speak publicly about his endorsement of the Zinkin recall, allowed to publicly skewer Zinkin, Garner and Burns on his blog, and allowed to pay for recall advertisements in a local paper.


Cox is an appointed official. Therefore, he must be removed from P&Z immediately! After all, those are the rules.

Richard Furash, MBA said...

I second that motion.

Richard Furash, MBA said...

It says they raised $2350 but the donations shown total only $1800. Who contributed the remaining $550 in donations?

Richard Furash, MBA said...

Marsha Kraus ($100), George Karsas ($200), Cindy Cacoperdo ($100), Joe Cacoperdo ($200). Roger Cherry ($50). All are listed as Oro Valley residents.