Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Frank Riggs, has created a stir in the Republican ranks but not in the way he intended. Riggs, a former failed gubernatorial candidate, left a conservative event this month in a huff moments before he was scheduled to speak.
According to Riggs, he left the Tea Party event “to go where he felt his time would be more productive.” Riggs was angry that the event did not start at 6:00 p.m., although according to the group’s chair Francine Romesburg, the doors open at 6:00 p.m. Speakers normally address the audience around 7:00 p.m.
Playing the victim is normally not a winning hand in Republican primaries, and Riggs’ complaints have left him on the defensive.
Riggs took his conspiratorial theory to the readers of the popular website MCRC Briefs. He wrote:
Mrs. Francine Romesburg told me the Sept Grassroots Tea Party meeting started at 6pm and I arrived promptly after traveling some distance in evening commute traffic. There were four people present at 6:30pm including Mrs. Romeburg and her husband. They weren’t ready to start the meeting and gave me no explanation or apology. When I left at 6:50 the meeting still had not started and Ms. Fisher had not arrived. This is completely fabricated by Mrs. Romesburg who is supporting another candidate in the SPI race. It’s certainly her right to support another candidate but that doesn’t excuse her intentional rudeness to me or the inconvenience she caused me when I could have been using my time productively.
In response, Marianne Ferrari LD20 PC and State Committeeman wrote:
Open Letter to Supt of Public Instruction candidate Frank Riggs: Frank Riggs 4I realize you are engaged in a competitive race for election. So, I don’t fault you for being miffed, after a less-than-perfect experience at a tea party meeting where you were invited to speak. Under the pressure of a campaign, it’s easy–and only human–to forget, at times, that it’s not all about you. However, I must point out to you that publicly calling out Francine Romesburg and her Grassroots Tea Party is a bit over the top, 1-9-18-Briefs. when anyone who knows Francine would also know, without a doubt, that no slight was intended. The Grassroots TP is one of the last tea parties still operating and has a darn good track record for attendance, despite the fact we are now well into the “post-tea party” era. Francine Romesburg keeps the group going because, as a patriot, it is important to her to do so. If she invites you to speak at her meeting, you can bet the invitation is sincere. As active conservatives all know, attendance at any tea party meeting can be spotty, these days. It has nothing to do with who’s speaking. Frank, with all due respect to your justifiable disappointment, you owe Francine Romesburg an apology.
Romesburg also offered a rebuttal on MCRC Briefs:
Rebuttal To Frank Riggs: Sorry to read Frank Riggs version of 9/20/17 speaking engagement. Frank spoke at our Tea Party once before when he ran for Governor. Our flyer/website says 6-8:30 pm for quite some time without incidence. I ensure I reference doors open 6, meeting 6:30, speaker around 7. Frank showed up around 6? I was setting up and saying ‘hi’ to people as they came in. Said ‘hi’ to Frank. Believe he asked what time we started – I said around 6:30. I never told Frank we start at 6 pm. My husband greeted and spoke with Frank as I was talking to another individual who asked to meet Frank Riggs. I turned to introduce him to her, he was already introducing himself and speaking to her. At some point, I noticed Frank on his cell phone. Not thinking much of it started the meeting– invocation/pledge. We don’t always start exactly at 6:30. I generally wait a little for late comers. We enjoy and learn at the same time. Was ready to introduce the speaker when I didn’t see him – anywhere. I asked others if they saw Frank. Was told they saw him on his cell; saw him walk outside, others thought they saw him leave. We looked for him, couldn’t find him – thought he was called out in an emergency. I looked for a phone # for Frank. Received text msg from Frank- msg said no one acknowledged him when he came in; thought we started at 6, left to go where he felt his time would be more productive. Kim Fisher came sometime after 7 to hear Frank speak. We told her he left. We talked with Kim and invited her to speak. At no time was I ‘intentionally’ rude to Frank. That’s not who I am. We’ve always been congratulated on our Tea Party, how we conduct them, treat the speakers, the people attending. People who know me know I would never treat anyone rude especially a speaker. Email to Frank afterwards said, “I would assume you would have read flyer and email and website for the info. It says right on the flyer – doors open at 6; meeting at 6:30. So if you misinterpreted the time, I’m sorry. Have a great week Frank. Wish you well in your endeavors.” We even paid for Frank’s coffee he ordered and left without paying for.
Bowing out when he doesn’t get his way seems to be habit. Riggs was a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention, who refused to vote for Donald Trump. According to the Arizona Capitol Times, Riggs and Zuhdi Jasser, a doctor and Muslim reform advocate, resigned as delegates to the Republican National Convention “saying they refused to go to Cleveland to vote for Donald Trump.”
The Arizona Capitol Times reported that Riggs said his “primary reason for stepping aside was because he needs to help his wife, Cathy, with her campaign for justice of the peace…. But a major contributing factor to the decision, he said, was his opposition to Trump.”
“I have very serious reservations about Donald Trump as the Republican Party nominee, and just frankly after some soul searching realized that I couldn’t go to Cleveland in good conscience and vote for his nomination,” Riggs, who ran for a delegate position on the unified Cruz-Kasich slate told the Arizona Capitol Times. “I just can’t. I guess if there are political consequences, I’ll face those down.”
Riggs has stated in the past that he is beholding to Governor Doug Ducey for his endorsement of Riggs’ wife in her campaign for justice of the peace.