El Mirage, Ariz., officials filed a formal response last week to allegations that the city improperly financed a campaign to sway voters in favor of an $8.5 million general obligation bond election.
The state began an investigation last month into allegations by two residents of the Phoenix suburb that municipal employees and funds were involved in promoting passage of the bond plan.
Arizona law prohibits a city or town from using “its personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections.”
The allegations include the publication in the city-financed El Mirage News of pro-bond reports and editorials written by city employees and Mayor Lana Mook.
City attorney Robert Hall said the contentions are groundless and part of a smear campaign against El Mirage officials.
“The mayor and council were faced with a well-orchestrated opposition plan based on disinformation,” Hall said. “They were the subject of multiple collateral attacks formulated on fact-starved or false information.”
Hall said the newspaper is privately published in nearby Glendale. The paper’s publisher said his company is responsible for advertising sales, but that El Mirage provides the editorial content. The city pays $2,200 a month to have the newspaper delivered to every residence in El Mirage.
Critics also contend that the city halted its purchases of gasoline from a service station because the owner was a vocal opponent of the bond plan.
The proposal squeaked to a win with a three-vote margin in the mail-in election on Nov. 8 — 1,163 to 1,160 — according to final results from the Maricopa County Elections Department.
Initial returns showed it losing by 19 votes.
Voters could cast their ballots by mail only. No polling places were open on election day in the city of 31,000 residents.
El Mirage said it will go ahead with its plan to issue bonds and build a new police station with $6 million of the proceeds.
The remaining $2.5 million will be combined with a $3 million loan from the Greater Arizona Development Authority for a recreation center and swimming pool.
The property tax hike supporting the bonds will cost the owner of the median $68,000 home an additional $24 a year, the city said.
