INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Rep. Steve Montenegro desires the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to research a number of points that led Tempe to set a particular election for a proposed leisure district, which would come with an enviornment for the Arizona Coyotes.

The election is three weeks away, and early ballots have been mailed to registered voters.

Montenegro, a Republican whose district contains components of Phoenix and Surprise, is questioning Tempe’s “ordinances, resolution and development agreement connected to” the May 16 election, in accordance with a launch.

Montenegro is asking Attorney General Kris Mayes “whether the Arizona Constitution and state law allow a private developer, Bluebird Development LLC – who stands to benefit from the City’s Special Election and appears to be acting at the City’s direction – to spend private money by referring the measures to the voters and paying for costs, expenses and fees associated” with the election, in accordance with the discharge.

“[T]he Arizona Constitution does not allow the City to directly refer measures to the ballot, but the development agreement with Bluebird appears to be an indirect and unconstitutional attempt to do so,” Montenegro wrote in his request. 

“The City’s agreements with Bluebird also appear to violate A.R.S. § 16-407.01, which prohibits cities from expending private monies for preparing for, administering or conducting an election.”

In his request to Mayes, the lawamaker mentioned a report from the Attorney General’s workplace have to be issued inside 30 days.

“The City’s Special Election will occur in 22 days,” he wrote.

“I just learned of the City’s actions and decided to bring this matter to your attention as quickly as possible. I would  greatly appreciate an expedited report, to the extent you are able to do so.”