Arizona State Senate
                                                                                                          1700 W. Washington St.
                                                                                                          Phoenix, AZ 85007
                                                                                                          Pres. Russell Pearce, R18
                                                                             Senate President
                                                                             602-926-5760
                                                                                                         Statement

May 31, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Statement by Senate President Russell Pearce on Recall Effort

“Today a group of outside interests filed petitions in an effort to force a recall election. This push is unlike anything we have seen in Arizona politics. Typically these recall efforts are created after some alleged malfeasance in office. That is of course not the case here. These outsiders don’t like my hard line on illegal immigration and my belief in balanced budgets, spending only the money you have. I am proud of my defense of liberty and the Constitution. The problem for these organizers is that my constituents support my policies and beliefs, and have shown that support in every election since 2000.

The next step in this process is for the Secretary of State’s office to verify signatures, and they have their work cut out. Recall organizers are already admitting they are turning in thousands of invalid signatures, so this campaign may die a quick death.

 If they have gathered enough signatures, the good people of District 18 would go to the polls this November or March 2012. Our residents know they have a strong voice in the Legislature. I am confident the residents of the district will not be swayed by these outsiders, and will once again show their support for the hard work I do for them the taxpayers, traditional family values, defense of our Constitutional liberties and the state of Arizona every day.”

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