Over the past couple of days,
a bizarre "dark money" mailer was sent to
voters attacking me by attempting to link my efforts to protect Arizona
taxpayers to, believe it or not, Barack Obama.
The mailer is ridiculous,
but the motives behind it are not. And the Secretary of State's Office announced
yesterday that
there
is "reasonable cause" to believe the group who sent the mailer is breaking the
law.
Here's what Republican Corporation
Commissioner Susan Bitter Smith had to say about this mailer: "Hugh
Hallman has been involved in proceedings in front of the
Arizona Corporation Commission on the highly
publicized issue of net
metering and advocated
for a resolution that resulted in eliminating
subsidies and protecting taxpayers. Any
suggestion to the contrary
is simply not accurate. I have known Hugh Hallman for over 30 years
and he
continues to be my choice for Arizona's next Treasurer."The
attack itself refers to work I did defending Arizona residents against utility
rate increases by Arizona Public Service, or APS.
I fought APS' efforts
to raise rates on Arizona residents. But now, a mailer
with anonymous funding sources is hitting mailboxes attacking me for protecting
the pocketbooks of Arizona residents. And "coincidentally," it
comes just a few days after APS was saved from facing reductions in its
government-protected guaranteed profits and exposing the hidden subsidies it
supplies to favorite customers — truly the worst of "crony
capitalism."
This "dark money" effort cost more than
$80,000. Clearly, someone with deep pockets doesn't want me in the
State Treasurer's Office taking on their cronies and defending taxpayers.
I can't
say for sure who funded the attack against me. But what
I can say is this: I'm
in this race to fight for you.
Just as I fought for the people of
Tempe when I served as their Mayor, refusing perks and gifts from lobbyists.
Just as I fought for people across our great state on issues of regional and
statewide importance to reduce government and improve results. Just as I fought
to keep utility rates lower for Arizona residents. And just as I will fight to
ensure that your taxpayer dollars are responsibly managed in the State
Treasurer's Office. These "dark money" interests believe that
monopolies and those in positions of great power should choose who represents
you on the statewide level.
I disagree.
If you want someone in
the State Treasurer's Office who will fight for you, I would ask you for your
support and your vote for State Treasurer.Thank
you.Sincerely,
