Back-and-forth continues in Maricopa attorney primary

The campaigns of Tim Nelson and Gerald Richard, the two candidates running for the Democratic nomination in the Maricopa County attorney's race, continue the barrage of accusations, refutations and counter-accusations they've been hurling at each other.

The latest round of elbow throwing comes amidst charges by the Nelson campaign that Richard "inflated his resume" in saying he was "Director of the Phoenix Police Department" in a press release.  

“That, in fact, was my official title for the last 15 years at the Phoenix P.D.,” said Richard in a press release. “I was the one and only Director, a civilian position at the level of Assistant Chief. In that position I oversaw various divisions of the Department on a rotating basis, just as an Assistant Chief would do.”

It is the relationship between the titles "assistant chief" and "director" that the Nelson campaign contends is the source of their criticism.

"When he uses the phrase 'the director' it implies he had more responsibility than he did," said Joshua Kilroy, Nelson's campaign manager. "There were a number of people, department heads, he was on the same level as. The others have the title 'assistant chief,' though. It's misleading."

The Richard campaign also reasserted their longstanding claim that Gov. Janet Napolitano, for whom Nelson was general counsel until quitting to run in this race, is fundraising on Nelson's behalf.

Doug Ramsey, Richard's spokesman, told PolitickerAZ.com: "We've heard stories that Governor Napolitano has been calling lawyers and saying 'Tim's going to call you in three minutes to ask for a donation.'"

Kilroy stated this is "flat out not true."

"The governor has not been making calls on Tim's behalf, and has not hosted any fundraisers for him," said Kilroy, adding that she had "dropped in" on a few fundraisers, though, and that the Nelson campaign is welcoming her involvement. "Obviously the governor is heavily behind Tim, and hopefully she will help out more on fundraising."  

Richard further took aim at Nelson for stating at a candidate forum in Tempe on Tuesday that he'd been "unanimously endorsed" by the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS).

“Every one of them?" said Doug Ramsey. “How does he explain the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association endorsing Gerald Richard if the endorsement was ‘unanimous’?”

"Their statement on the AZCOPS endorsement is just silly," responded Kilroy. "The endorsement board unanimously voted to endorse Tim. We're not implying every single particular member endorsed him."

Perhaps the Richard campaign's harshest critique is not of Nelson, but of Kilroy.

"Tim Nelson is ill-served by his hired gun out of Chicago making unfounded and uninformed accusations," read the media release. "And by condoning distortion of Gerald Richard’s record, Nelson invites unflattering comparisons to his own meager crime-fighting credentials.”

Kilroy responded that Richard himself was also from Chicago.

He also added the latest twist in the kerfuffle over endorsements from state Reps. Ed Ableser (D-Tempe) and Steve Gallardo (D-Phoenix). The Arizona Republic's Political Insider blog reported that both candidates claimed the endorsements of both state legislators. Earlier Friday, the same blog reported Rep. Gallardo has chosen to endorse neither Nelson nor Richard.

Ableser, though, has said nothing of his stance. However, Kilroy expressed certainty his endorsement of Nelson will stick.

"The fact remains that Richard still lists Ed Ableser as and endorser, and Ableser remains an endorser of Nelson. Richard needs to take that endorsement down."

When asked if he thought Ableser would "pull a Gallardo," Kilroy responded, "If he does, I'm moving back to Chicago."