As the Republican Primary for Pima County Board of Supervisors heats up, and members of the community begin to sense the possibility of change, they are coming forward with their experiences with 15 year Pima County Board of Supervisors incumbent, Ray Carroll. The veil is lifting on years of Chicago style politics in the Old Pueblo.
Across the spectrum of power and prestige, from law enforcement officers to small business owners to successful investors, residents of Pima County have encountered the Chicago-style tactics employed by Supervisor Carroll.
One small business owner reported that a few years back, while servicing a customer on-site, he was visited by Ray Carroll. Carroll drove up to the work site, which was a public school, got out of his truck, and advised the business owner that he was there to “shut them down.” Carroll advised the man that he had received complaints about the work, and the owner was to cease and desist.
Confused and afraid for his new, small business, the owner asked how it was possible that anyone would have an objection to the project. Carroll responded that it was possible, but if the man delivered some of his product to Carroll’s home, the issue would go away. The owner complied and delivered the products, but the incident has haunted him to this day. Most would consider this extortion.
Another real estate investor complained of Carroll’s lack of interest in helping others unless it benefits Carroll himself or his friends. The investor cited Ray’s vote to purchase land near Raytheon by the County from developer Don Diamond, for considerably more than it had been valued. Carroll received six campaign donations tied to Diamond, surrounding the timeframe of that vote. He also spoke of a small land owner who had approached Carroll for assistance. Ray Carroll informed the land owner he only had two minutes to present his case, then proceeded to time his meeting. At the end of the two minutes, Carroll advised the owner that they did have a problem and he wouldn’t help. He quickly sent them out the door.
A female board member for the mining industry reported a telephone conversation with Carroll that began with him verbally attacking her with foul language regarding a Freedom of Information Act records request that was sent. The woman, a popular figure in the Arizona Republican Party was shaken by the call. Other females in and out of the Party report the same treatment by Carroll. “He is a bully,” said one woman, “He thinks he can scare you, but he is just a foul mouthed bully.” Another female Party member told a story in which Carroll attempted to direct her actions at a Republican function, “He really thought he could tell me what to do, and he really expected me to do it.”
Fearless “Sugar Ray,” as his adoring main stream media friends call him, does not tolerate dissension from men or women. A member of a local employee association received a phone call from Ray Carroll after Carroll found out they had endorsed Sean Collins. The association’s board unanimously endorsed Collins after meeting with him and agreeing a change was necessary in District 4. Collins had requested the meeting and after hearing what he had to say, the Board voted to support him. Carroll had never before contacted the group for their support.
When Ray found out about the endorsement for Collins, he called the president of the group and told him that he would “make your union look bad.”
Despite the fact that the association is not a union, Carroll proceeded to paint them in a bad light the next chance he got. That chance was during a debate between Carroll and Collins. When Carroll was trying to dodge responsibility for his support for Democrat Dupnik instead of Republican Youngling in the 2004 election, Carroll accused conservative Youngling of wanting to bring in the unions. Youngling was a member of the association. Later, the current president said of Carroll’s debate dodge, “The guys are angry about Carroll lying. None of us are union guys, we are not like SEIU.”
Another example of the tactics Carroll employs, involves a fundraiser a close friend held for Collins. When Carroll learned the identity of this individual he contacted his boss and said, “why is your employee holding a fundraiser for my opponent and what are you going to do about it?” The man’s Supervisor was appalled that an elected official would insinuate his employee be reprimanded for holding a fundraiser for anyone other than Carroll.
The smear campaign against the association and others is nothing like that being waged directly against Collins by Carroll. As reported in the Arizona Daily Independent last week, an outraged Carroll demanded a meeting after an article ran about a video in which Carroll had called for media outlets to refuse Rosemont Mine advertising.
At that meeting an abusive Carroll quickly became a gossip monger when he realized his bullying tactics would not be tolerated. He proceeded to claim that Collins owned a property that was in foreclosure. He insisted that that be reported. Carroll was asked if he believed the Pima County public would have a problem with a possible foreclosure since 1 in 8 homes have been foreclosed upon in the state. Carroll claimed that the economy was fine and he didn’t know anyone who had had their home foreclosed.
Later, upon hearing of Carroll’s claim, a Republican with who he spent time this weekend said, “Well he knows at least one.” She explained that she had just spent time with him at a Republican event and had just this month lost her home to foreclosure. According to RealtyTract.com while the rate is far down from the highs in 2009 and 2010, “1 in every 331housing units received a foreclosure filing in June 2012.”
Collins campaign manager, had much to say about the bullying tactics of Ray Carroll, “Throughout this campaign, people continuously tell stories of Ray’s intimidation and threats. It has been disappointing that as a 15 year incumbent, he has not been able to run on his record and instead uses these Chicago political tactics in an effort to smear an honorable man like Sean Collins”. She went on to say, “We knew this would be a tough election, running against someone so entrenched in this town, but the number of people coming forward and the large amount of support for Sean, shows us that people are finally ready for a new Supervisor in District 4.”
Sean Collins faces Carroll in the August 28th primary and whomever wins that race will be the next Supervisor in District 4 as there are no Democrats running for this seat.