The Conservative Coalition of Arizona (CCAZ) has come under scrutiny after it promoted Abe Hamadeh, one of the Arizona Republican Party’s most popular members, as a featured speaker at its upcoming “protect the vote” event.
Tickets for the Aug. 26 daytime event in Payson are currently selling for an eyepopping $75 per person. In return, the CCAZ website promises attendees they will hear “election integrity updates” from several key speakers, including Kari Lake and Hamadeh.
The only problem, according to Hamadeh’s campaign spokesperson, is that the attorney general candidate has never committed to participate in the event.
“Abe is not going and has never agreed to attend this event,” Erika Knight told Arizona Daily Independent. “He is focused on his ongoing election litigation to count the remaining votes and honor the will of the people.”
The current event flyer listed on CCAZ’s website makes no mention of who will benefit from any revenue brought in by the event nor even whether the $75 admission price includes any refreshments.
However, an earlier version of the flyer posted July 20 by Karen Mackean-Slaton, co-owner of The Trumped Store, noted some proceeds would “benefit candidates’ legal funds.”
Introductory comments will reportedly be made by Arizona Sen. Wendy Rogers with former Rep. Mark Finchem as another scheduled speaker.
The group’s website, CCAZGila.com, notes CCAZ is an alliance “of independent and conservative minded people advocating for Constitutional and Faith based principles – Conservative principles that promote good governance and a God-centered society.”
According to the Arizona Corporation Commission, CCAZ registered its tradename in February of this year. At the time, its nature of business was listed as “advocate of legislative policy.”