Richard de Uriarte

Mark Manoil, chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party, called on Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and the county Board of Supervisors Wednesday to investigate donations to the state Republican Party by a Mesa group, SCA, and to release a report by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care on the state of prisoner care in Maricopa County jails.

“Why must we wait until after the election to find out who in the GOP financed the Sheriff’s attack ads?” asked Manoil of the SCA funds, which Democrats allege were specifically directed toward ads against Maricopa County sheriff candidate Dan Saban and county attorney candidate Tim Nelson. “Why won’t the County Attorney investigate the so-called Sheriff’s Command Association that paid for these ads? And since the contributors haven’t been identified, how do we know that state Republicans’ assurance that the money has been returned isn’t simply a money-laundering scheme?”

Manoil made the remarks at a press conference outside the auditorium where the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors holds its hearings.

He also called on the Board to end "stonewalling" and release a report on the conditions of Maricopa County jails, and conduct an audit of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, headed by Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is feeling the ire of two candidates for county positions over a vote Wednesday that could remove the town of Guadalupe from the protection of the Maricopa County sheriff's office.

Dan Saban, running for sheriff, and Ed Hermes, aiming for the District 1 supervisor seat currently held by Fulton Brock, both blasted the board after it voted to prematurely terminate the agreement Guadalupe has with the county that secures it policing from the sheriff's office.

The contract was not set to expire until 2010, but tensions rose after then-mayor of Guadalupe Rebecca Jimenez criticized Sheriff Joe Arpaio for a "crime suppression sweep" that was seen as unfairly targeting Hispanics and aimed at rounding up illegal immigrants. Jimenez threatened to terminate the contract at the time, and Sheriff Arpaio called her on the threat, resulting in the Board of Supervisors vote Wednesday.

Saban and Hermes were quick to respond to the 3-1 decision.