Where Does Pete Rios Live? II

Sometimes the news makes me laugh.

The AP is reporting that a court will allow PO Boxes on nominating petitions.  Here's the funny part.

State Rep. Pete Rios, a Hayden Democrat who for years has criticized restrictions on using post office boxes as addresses on election petitions, called the ruling "half a victory."

It's unfair to expect rural residents, especially non-English-speaking seniors living on reservations, to cram in a written description of their home's location without addresses in a tiny box on a form, Rios said. "How are they going to put a narrative in there on where they live?"

Those long narratives are so tiresome.  After all, in Mr. Rios' case he would have to say.  "Well, I have an actual house in Apache Junction and even though I sleep there and my kids went to school in the neighborhood, I don't actually live there.  That's because that house is not in my legislative district, nor is it in the Pinal County Supervisors District that I'm running for.  My "real" home is a 30 year old trailer that I have parked on the back of a lot that a friend of mine owns in Dudleyville."

Pete's right.  That's way too long to put on a petition.  Since a picture is worth a thousand words, maybe Pete could attach this picture of his Dudleyville home to the petition.

In January of 2006, when I first asked the question "Where does Pete Rios live" it made quite a stir.  After a series of sharp email exchanges, I became convinced that this trailer actually qualifies as a legal residence for an elected official.  Residency is largely a state of mind; after all, George Bush senior lived in Kennebunkport Maine but said his "residence" was at the Houstonian hotel in Texas.

If the voters of Pinal County decide the Pete's living arrangement is OK, then it's fine with me.  My concern was the mileage. 

At the time I wrote the original story, Mr. Rios had been claiming that he drove to the trailer nearly every weekend and the state had paid him thousands of dollars in mileage reimbursement from his "session" home in Apache Junction to his "real" home in Dudleyville.  Hmm. While residency can be a state of mind, mileage needs to be actual. 

I had no way to prove that Pete doesn't spend his weekends at the trailer, so I let the story drop.  OK, that's not really true.  I let the story drop because Pete sent me this email.

Patterson,

Next time I see you in person don't be surprised if I punch you in the gut, after this hassle you have put me and my family through.

It's so embarrassing to be at the Capitol and have a one of the Legislators kick your ass, so I decided that I'd back off.  After all, Carolyn Allen scares me enough already...that's all I needed was to have Rios coming after me. 

But someone's not afraid to speak truth to macho.  A friend of mine forwarded this email and ad from Rios' Democratic opponent Mary Espinoza.  (I hope that she has a large nephew who can provide security.)

This is the letter/paid ad I wrote regarding Rios's residence.  I placed it in the Coolidge Examiner, Eloy Enterprise, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun and Copper Basin News.  It is not a strong statement, but it gets the point across.

Comments

[Surprised]

I just love the part about which legislators scare you, Greg. I think this should be broadened out into a series of posts - which legislators does Greg feel he could take in a fight (or at least not embarrass himself fighting).

Hint - Kavanagh used to be an NYC cop if I remember right. Steer clear.

[Joe G.]

Taking a pop from a state senator or rep could be a great way to open up some seats.

But as noted, it's only worth it if delivered from certain individuals. No use spending time in a hospital to get the job done.

[BobH]

Residency rules make little difference to me. If the people of NY want Hillary Clinton as their senator, that's their business. Here in Illinois, the Republican Party imported Alan Keyes to run against Obama in 2004, and he was firmly rejected (though less as a carpetbagger than as a nutcase).

The question of mileage is another matter. That is fraud and is worthy of concern.

[Name:]

I heard rumors that Sen. Allen keeps her NRA card pinned to her blouse. Maybe that's what Greg is referring to.

In Keyes' defense, I would not feel bad losing to a guy who was catapulted, for whatever reason, to the top of the D's national ticket a few years later. Not a fair fight.

[knowl]

I convinced that this trailer actually qualifies as a legal residence for an elected official Residency rules make little difference to me. Here in Illinois, the Republican Party imported Alan Keyes to run against Obama in 2004, and he was firmly rejected. I heard rumors that Sen. Allen keeps her NRA card pinned to her blouse. Maybe that's what Greg is referring to. I this is all frud, he must be punished.

========================

knowl

Arizona Alcohol Addiction Treatment

[Donna]

Oh Mary, I want to sympathize with your cause, I really do. But your use of the phrase "I am a democrat candidate for Pinal County District 1 Supervisor" makes me cringe. I realize that I'm a Maricopian (sic?) but there are still certain protocols that need to be observed before I will take you seriously. The dispensing with the capitalization and the "ic" gives you away, dear.

[Matt]

This is some good shoe-leather stuff. Not sure I can appreciate the faux ad, but I'm impressed with what you've put together here. If this is the kind of stuff more bloggers would do, I can definitely see blogs rivaling newspapers for local coverage. Too bad we don't see more enterprising stuff like this in the newspapers, actually.

[Matt]

p.s. If you ever take one in the gut in the name of truth you've published, I will forever consider you a great Arizona journalist. You would be in some very rare company. Badge of honor, dude. Badge of honor.

[Don]

Donna commented that a one-word typographical error ("democrat" versus "Democratic") reveals Mary Bateman-Espinoza as not a serious candidate. Contrast that peccadillo with the threat Rios made by e-mail to punch commentator Patterson in the gut. Let's think about that. One candidate commits a minor infraction of spelling and punctuation; the other threatens a journalist for exercising his constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech. Which of those errors produces a worse candidate? Oh, Donna, your bad judgment gives you away, Dear.

[chanel 2.55]

Donna commented that a one-word typographical error ("democrat" versus "Democratic") reveals Mary Bateman-Espinoza as not a serious candidate. Contrast that peccadillo with the threat Rios made by e-mail to punch commentator Patterson in the gut. Let's think about that.