Janet Napolitano

The Arizona Republican Party is fuming over what it sees as Governor Janet Napolitano's latest blow to anti-illegal immigration efforts.

In an executive order signed Monday, Napolitano redirected over $1 million slated to go to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office for immigration enforcement. The funds will be used instead for a task force she's appointed to serve tens of thousands of outstanding warrants statewide.

Coupled with her veto of a bill that would have enabled county and municipal law enforcement agencies to have greater cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Arizona Republican Party is making its displeasure known, and accusing the governor of refusing to enforce laws and obstructing Sheriff Arpaio's efforts.

The question, though, is how far are frustrated Republicans willing to go to stop Gov. Napolitano?    

The following is an op-ed release Sheriff candidate Dan Saban has issued regarding the Governor withholding funds from Sheriff Joe Arpaio:

The current Sheriff wasn't doing his job of serving warrants, so the Governor had to step in and do it. That's a shame because sheriffs have always taken responsibility for serving them. Here's a little history to back up my claim.

Gov. Janet Napolitano: Getty Images PhotoSince the story broke last week of Gov. Janet Napolitano's deal with the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, there's been a massive outcry from Napolitano's critics.

Opponents charge that the agreement -- where the homebuilders would pledge support and $100,000 for a ballot initiative that would raise the sales tax by one cent, while they would get let off the hook for paying part of a proposed $42 billion transportation plan -- is tantamount to "extortion" and represents a "scandal."

Today, on KJZZ, Napolitano refuted such claims, and said the sales tax represents the "simplest and best" option for the state. She dismissed the notion that the deal was unethical and chose instead to address the upside of moving the initiative forward.

Last night's CD5 Republican candidate forum offered a different take on the contenders from last month's event in Scottsdale. While the candidates fielded questions on earmark spending, border security and cuts in government programs, what emerged spoke less to individual policies as the sense that whoever emerges as the nominee will shoulder a heavy burden for the Party.

The field acknowledged a profound dissatisfaction with the Republican Party among voters and a need to reconnect with conservative principles in action, not just as a campaign ploy. They also pledged not to let the primary get so heated as to destroy the victor's chances of beating Rep. Harry Mitchell, and that, once the ticket was set, the others would unite behind the effort of unseating Mitchell in the general.

Today Tim Nelson formally launched his campaign to take on Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. In his announcement used statistics from the County Public Defender's office to show that conviction rates in jury trials have fallen significantly in the last few years, from over 80% in the last year of Rick Romley's tenure to 70% last year. Governor Janet Napolitano introduced Nelson at his announcement.

Nelson also kicked off a small donor challenge in which he is challenging supporters to make a small donation ($50 or less). His goal is to get 100 small donations before Monday night at midnight.

Tim Nelson, former legal counsel to Janet Napolitano, left his post in January to prepare to take on Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Since then Nelson has raised over $140k and over the past week has hired a campaign manager and launched a website.

Nelson has hired Josh Kilroy as his campaign manager. Kilroy is new to the Arizona desert, but not to campaigns. Kilroy has worked on campaigns since the early 90’s. Kilroy, who was born in Rhode Island and worked on campaigns in the Chicago area including County Attorney races.

Nelson has also launched a new website which you can see here.

More Inside Edge

Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain: Photo by Getty ImagesThe new Cronkite/Eight poll released last night indicates that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is creeping up on Sen. John McCain in a head-to-head presidential matchup in Arizona, and now is within single digits of the favorite son. 15 percent of respondents remained undecided. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) also improved against McCain, but still trails him in Arizona by a substantial margin.

On the local front, incumbents have cause for celebration, especially in Maricopa County. While the poll shows Gov. Janet Napolitano remains extremely well-liked midway through her lame duck term, it also indicates strong support for Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, County Attorney Andrew Thomas among those in the county who had an opinion of them.

However, in the article accompanying the poll said, its conductor, Dr. Bruce Merill, said, "Sen. McCain will win in his home state this November regardless of who the Democrats nominate."

Gov. Janet Napolitano today vetoed HB 2807, the bill that would have prohibited any restrictions being placed on cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local Arizona law enforcement agencies. The Governor called it "unnecessary" and pointed to what she said would be a $100 million price tag as being among the reasons for the veto. In response, Republicans said the governor had "buckled under pressure from the pro-illegal lobby."