When?
A statement of organization for a political committee was filed in Glendale yesterday (August 12, 2014) one minute before close of business. Click here for the document.
Why?
The name of the committee is “Recall Councilman Gary Sherwood Committee”.
While no recall petition has yet been filed, one would imagine there’s something in the works.
Councilmember Sherwood has taken a lot of heat for “flipping” his opinion on the proposed casino. He ran for office opposing the casino and is now supporting it. That’s likely to be the root reason for a recall petition.
He explained his change of heart at the City Council meeting last night, please watch the video if you’re interested.
Who Filed?
Two people, probably husband and wife, Anna and Ronald Lee.
Where?
The Lees live at the same address in Gary’s district are the Chairman and Treasurer. They both list themselves as owners of “Pima Awards”. The website for that company (click here) lists Anna as the “President/owner” and Ron as “Vice President”.
What?
Also on the Pima Awards website is an “about” page, wherein Anna is described as a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community runs Talking Stick and Casino Arizona in nearby Scottsdale.
Money talks and it seems clear that the Lees will have plenty of money and other support from well heeled gambling enterprises in an attempt to remove the guy they probably feel is leading the way for them to be monetarily affected by a new casino built in the Valley.
Some of that same money will be flowing freely to a referendum (that will probably be today) to negate last night’s vote.
The loss of money to the other casinos won’t, of course, be the reason presented to people in Sherwood’s district being asked to sign a petition.
It’s always the money.