More trouble for Kevin Gibbons

I reported last week that Kevin Gibbons didn't show up to his district debate. Now, we may know one of the reasons. He probably didn't want to answer questions about his donors. Here is a release we just received regarding Kevin Gibbons and his campaign finances:

District 18 Republican Challenger Takes Max Donations from Former Democratic Party Chairman
Maricopa County Republican Chairman Tom Husband to Gibbons: Give Back Jim Pederson's Money

MESA – District 18 Senate Republican Candidate Kevin Gibbons has received over $1,500 in campaign contributions from Millionaire developer and former Democrat Party Chairman Jim Pederson and his family. Arizona voters will remember Jim Pederson as the former chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party who also ran as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate against Senator Jon Kyl.

"I can't understand why a Republican would take money from people who have clearly aligned themselves against the Republican Party and its principles," said Maricopa County Republican Committee Chairman Tom Husband, "I have a strong recommendation for Kevin Gibbons: Give back Jim Pederson's money."

As Democratic Party chairman, Pederson is remembered for having supported and helped to fund the Clean Elections Initiative, which limits our 1st Amendment rights in state elections. He also is considered to have been instrumental in recruiting Janet Napolitano to run for Governor. Napolitano has gone on to push through a bank breaking 2008-09 budget that includes reliance on debt, property tax increases, accounting gimmicks, fund sweeps, speeding tickets, and increased state gambling just to keep things in balance.

In 2006, Jim Pederson spent millions of his own money to bankroll his Senate campaign. In the end, he lost to Republican Senator Jon Kyl by nearly ten points. Now, Jim Pederson is using his money to fund the Governor's State Trust Land Initiative and has donated money to the redistricting initiative effort.

"Pederson is up to his old tricks in targeting trusted Republicans just like he did as chairman and when he ran for the United States Senate against Jon Kyl," said Husband, "The Arizona State Senate can't afford any more people who take their cues from the Democrat Governor and her people.

In addition to Mr. Gibbons, District 18 also has Russell Pearce, who spent 8 years in the Arizona House, seeking the Republican nomination to replace Senator Karen Johnson as the State Senator for District 18. He is running as a clean elections candidate, while his opponent, Kevin Gibbons is running as a traditionally funded candidate.

"We hope Mr. Gibbons comes to his senses and gives the money back to Jim Pederson", said Tom Husband.

(ETA: Sonoran Alliance is covering this as well.)

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I looked at the finance reports myself and Gibbons has taken $1,560 dollars from the Pederson family. This is the same guy who is the biggest single donor to the Arizona Democratic Party. Not only that, but I was just barely getting over the fact that the guy was on TV day in and out everyday with some new complaint against Kyl. Now, he is back, and this time, clearly trying to target Russell Pearce. In fact, when you look at the finance list, you see its a lot of people donating to Gibbons who come from farming or ranching backgrounds who have probably been hurt by the latest immigration policies. It appears that the bulk of the donations are more Anti-Pearce than Pro-Jeff Flake's brother-in-law.

This looks like its going to be the race to watch this September in Mesa.