Hiremath, Waters Intimidation Tactics Vary

Earlier this month, Oro Valley Mayor Satish Hiremath accused the organizers of the recall effort against him, of resorting to “outright lies, intimidation and bully tactics.” Many, including Oro Valley Town Council member Mike Zinkin say nothing can be “more outrageous from the individual who is charged with leading the whole community.”

According to sources, it is the Mayor and his sidekick, former CNN anchor and current Oro Valley Vice-Mayor Lou Waters, who have engaged in intimidation and bullying tactics even going so far, this past March, to intimidate fellow Councilmember Brendan Burns by threatening his job.

Under official Oro Valley “Office of the Mayor” letterhead, Hiremath and Waters wrote to the the Arizona State Bar Association demanding that they investigate Burns, a member of the Association for supposed lapses in “moral and unethical conduct.” In what is clearly only an attempt to harass, Hiremath and Waters alleged that Burns gave legal advice to residents who were attempting to get a referendum on the ballot to enable Oro Valley residents to vote on the purchase of the aging El Conquistador Country Club and its golf courses.

Although, Waters has given residents the same type of campaign advice in the past, he and Hiremath now claim that Burns’ “procedural assistance” amounts to legal advice. Contrary to their claims, according to the referendum organizers, Burns did nothing but look at the typography. A legal expert reviewed the letter and found it to be “absurd,” because the letter “does not allege anything improper.”

Zinkin notes in an email to constituents that the move illustrates “the lack of leadership and divisive tactics that have been ongoing from the Mayor since 2011. Other than to persuade the State Bar Association to remove Councilman Burns’ Law license, there was no reason to send this letter.”

But dirty tactics and use of public resources are not new to Hiremath and Waters. In 2011, Hiremath wrote an op-ed in the Explorer newspaper advocating for the recall of Zinkin. An email, written on the Town server from the Vice Mayor was discovered in which he gives advice to the supporters of the Zinkin recall.

While Hiremath uses his position and access to the media to smear residents and accuse them of being the types that “lie, intimidate, and bully,” many are accusing him and Waters of the same.

In the email to supporters, Zinkin writes, “This is not “politics”… This is dysfunctional leadership. Why would the Mayor and Vice Mayor want to see Councilman Burns lose his law license? Why would the Mayor question the character of Burns, Garner, and Zinkin because they choose not to support the budget? This is the essence of poor leadership, divisiveness, and bullying. The Mayor has consistently shown a lack of ability to bring the community together. A consistent lack of positive leadership.”

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