By Mark Napier
You may have heard it stated on the radio or observed signs in our community that indicate that Sheriff Dupnik is endorsed by the Pima County Deputy’s Association. This may lead you to believe that all of the deputies voted to endorse their Sheriff. I have tried to run a very positive campaign but in the interest of having voters adequately informed, I cannot let this misrepresentation go unchallenged. The fact is that the issue of endorsement was on the agenda for their April 2012 meeting. At the meeting so few members actually attended, that the Executive Committee voted for the endorsement. Less than five members of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department actually voted to support endorsing Sheriff Dupnik. This is a statement of fact quietly admitted to by the chairman of the Pima County Deputy’s Association to the Tucson Weekly (October 18 edition) and one of the department’s commanders in social media. Sheriff Dupnik is most certainly aware of the nature of his “endorsement.” However, I do not fault him. The fault lies with the misrepresentation of this endorsement to the people of Pima County by the chairman of the Association. Despite the fact the full membership never voted on this endorsement, it is mischaracterized in radio ads, printed materials and on signs as the support of the full membership Deputy’s Association. This is a blatant attempt to misinform the voters of Pima County.
The Pima County Deputy’s Association formed an Independent Expenditure Committee to support the Sheriff’s reelection. Even though it is clearly the intent of this group to affect the results of a County election, they filed their Statement of Organization with the State of Arizona not with Pima County. A suspicious mind might think this was designed to shield finance reports from people who would logically look for them on the Pima County Elections website. The Committee was formed so late in the election cycle that the first report will not be due until November 2. That report will be filed with the State, not in our County where they seek to affect a political election. After the formation of this Independent Expenditure Committee, they spent approximately $9000 of their members’ previously collected dues to support the Expenditure Committee. Those funds were originally collected to support the Deputy’s Association, not the Independent Expenditure Committee. It would seem that 100% of the membership would have to agree to the redirection of their dues for this new purpose. Alternately, the Independent Expenditure Committee would have to begin raising funds after it was formed so persons contributing would know at the time of contribution where the money would be used. Neither of these things occurred.
I respect Sheriff Dupnik and his decades of service to Pima County, but to allow this conduct to go unchallenged would be a disservice to the voters. I hope you share my significant concern about the conduct of some in the Pima County Deputy’s Association. The Deputy’s Association as a whole is not involved in this. In fact, many members have contacted me upset over the endorsement and use of their dues money. The Deputy’s Association is made up of fine men and women who bravely serve us every day. This is about a very few individuals at the top of the Deputy’s Association whose politically zealous actions should be cause for concern.
Mark Napier
Candidate for Pima County Sheriff