Rubacalva Resigns, Campaign Finance Scandal Haunts

Jesus Rubacalva

On Wednesday, Rep. Jesus Rubalcava announced he will resign from the Arizona House of Representatives effective July 28. Rubacalva’s short tenure in the Legislature has been marked by scandal.


In May, the Arizona Clean Elections Commission discussed the audit performed on Rep. Jesus Rubacalva’s campaign finances. Auditors told the commissioners that there were “some fairly obvious expenditures” that were not campaign expenditures.

According to auditors, Rubacalva claimed he could “not locate the box containing his campaign documents. Mr. Rubalcava did not provide any documentation other than bank statements to the auditors.”

Rubacalva appeared telephonically, but almost as soon as commissioners began asking auditors about the over $9000 in questionable expenditures, his called was abruptly disconnected. Ultimately he called back.

Among the auditors’ findings were “six disbursements to family members of the candidate, however the campaign finance report did not indicate that the expenditures were made to family members.”

Related articles:

Auditors Find “Fairly Obvious” Rubacalva Clean Elections Violations

Republican Lawmaker Says Rubacalva “Unfit For Public Office”

Auditors noted that “approximately forty-one personal transactions consisting of out of state restaurant purchases, travel and other non-Campaign related items on the Campaign bank statement, totaling $3,461.74; three ATM withdrawals, totaling $243.50; five overdraft fees, totaling $175.00; and three transfers from the Campaign bank account to the Candidate’s personal bank account, totaling $223.42. The Candidate indicated that he reimbursed the Campaign for these personal transactions, however deposits for these specific amounts was not provided. We noted eleven possible reimbursements to the Campaign on the bank statements, totaling $2,270.19.”

Rubacalva told commissioners that he accepted the audit findings. Commissioners then voted unanimously to accept the findings.

Rubacalva has earned a reputation for using his public positions in the Legislature, the Gila Bend Unified School Board, and the Arizona School Board Association to enrich himself in the form of travel. The findings by the Arizona Clean Elections Commission has not hampered his style.

That style included making threatening comments aimed at Senator Debbie Lesko this year. In response, Rep. Maria Syms called out Rubacalva for his violent comment that he wanted to punch Lesko “in the throat!”

Rubacalva made his uncivil statement after the passage of the Empowerment Scholarship Account program bill.

“It takes a small man to fantasize about violence against women on social media, and nothing less than zero tolerance is acceptable,” said Syms. “This is not the kind of behavior toward women we should expect as a society from a man or a father, much less a school board member or an elected Representative. This issue transcends politics or party.”

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