Unusual campaign tactics used as candidates vie for Board positions
The Maricopa Community College District Governing Board race has become heated for at least two of the four candidates seeking office this year. In a story written by Anne Ryman in the Arizona Republic on Sunday, October 18, the campaigns of candidate Shelli Boggs and incumbent Laurin Hendrix appear to have become involved in unusual stormy political tactics for these nonpartisan positions.
Ryman reported in her story that those opposing Shelli Boggs mailed flyers showing Boggs holding an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and alleging she was “forced out” of her job as a cosmetology instructor over complaints she belittled and bullied students. Boggs has denied the allegations. The mailer reads: “Shelli Boggs couldn’t be trusted with children in a classroom. We can’t trust her on the Maricopa Community Colleges Board!”
Incumbent Linda Thor is opposing Shelli Boggs in the election. Thor claims that the current governing board, “is the most partisan board I have ever seen, and it’s not good for us to operate this way.”
When the internet domain name used by Governing Board incumbent Laurin Hendrix expired, the web site was taken over by his challenger, Jacqueline Smith. Smith then started posting messages using the web site urging people to vote Hendrix out of office.
Smith said she was curious about Hendrix’s platform so she looked up the internet domain name www.lowertuitionnow. com advertised on his campaign signs. She found the domain name was available so she took ownership and began posting information about Hendrix. “It seemed like an opportunity to promote my campaign, and it seemed to really make my point that he’s not giving the attention to detail and focus to our community colleges,” she said.
You may read much more about the election squabbles among the Maricopa District Governing Board in Ms. Ryman’s article in the Arizona Republic, although you may have to be a subscriber.