Monthly Archives: May 2023

Lisa Marra gets $130K settlement from Cochise County

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Ex-county elections officer settles "toxic" workplace lawsuit

From the Herald/Review "BISBEE - Lisa Marra, former Cochise County Elections Director, has been provided a settlement payout of $130,000 through the Arizona Counties Insurance Pool, the county's risk management insurer, following claims of toxic work environment."
The article continues "As of Tuesday afternoon, it is not know if the payout will increase the cost of the county's annual premium...
However, it raises the total of legal costs incurred by the actions of Judd, Crosby and Stevens to force a hand count of ballots in the 2022 midterm election to more than $300,000"
Marra responded in email to the Herald/Review that the Board of Supervisors as her employer did not have the right "to harass, threaten or intimidate employees."
Read the entire article online (behind paywall $) from MyHeraldreview.com

 

Arizona isn’t banning machines to count votes

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But that doesn't mean Cochise County won't try

From the Tucson Sentinel: "A letter from the Arizona Senate majority leader to all of the state’s 15 counties Monday is sowing confusion over whether Arizona counties can still use machines to count ballots in future elections. The letter from Sen. Sonny Borrelli, however, changes nothing about existing laws governing election equipment. "

Read the entire article online at TucsonSentinel.com 

 

Democracy Docket: AZ AG issues opinion on hand counting ballots

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If you haven't learned about the Democracy Docket and followed them on social media. This is a good reason. They have great information that directly relates to the nonsense that has gone on here in Cochise County with supervisors Judd & Crosby, as well as our County Recorder, David Stevens.  Of new concern is the action of Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli (R) who exposes the "independent state legislature theory" that he can tell counties what to do based on a resolution that has no force of law.
From an alert by the Democracy Docket

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, May 18, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) reversed a prior opinion written by her predecessor, former Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R), which permitted counties to conduct hand count audits.

Asserting that Brnovich “misinterpreted the governing statutes,” Mayes, in her opinion issued on Thursday, states: “Simply put, a full hand count is only expected to occur if there are discrepancies with the electronic tabulation—not as a matter of course.” The opinion concludes that Arizona law “does not provide a county discretion to conduct a hand count of 100% of early ballots.”

Read the entire article here.

 

 

 

Cochise County jail district passes

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Jail District half-cent tax passes

From the 5/17/2023 Herald/Review "BISBEE — Cochise County is getting a new jail thanks to 11,951 people who voted yes to a half–cent sales tax increase, according to the unofficial results as reported by County Recorder David Stevens at 8 p.m. Tuesday night.  Less than one-third of registered voters participated in the special mail-in only election.  No votes at 8 p.m. totaled 10,988. Yes votes accounted for 52.06% of the 22,939 ballots; no votes were at 47.87%."
This is the unofficial results of ballots returned by mail as of 8:00 PM May, 16, 2023.  Early ballots or replacement ballots dropped off yesterday have yet to be counted.
However, the 1,000 vote margin for Yes probably will not reduce dramatically when the final totals are certified.
This means that the Cochise Jail District is formed and can start to collect the half-cent sales tax as well as begin the process of planning for the new jail.
Read more about election results online at the Herald/Review website.

Why to click on a Facebook post

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Clicking on a Facebook post going to another website can help get the message out

Ok, for very selfish reasons you should be clicking on TCP posts on our Facebook page, particularly those that have COCHISEPROJECT.COM in the heading.  Why?
Because directing traffic to an outside website, this one, or a candidate's, group, or organization, will raise the site in search results as well as feeds inside of Facebook.  The goal is to amplify messages to as many people as possible with no cost and very little effort.  Each click helps build "credibility" within the search engines and Facebook itself allowing for higher ranking.
Social media is still one of the best and least expensive ways for candidates to get their message out to voters.  You can help by clicking.
However, before you click, make sure you want to go to that site.  That it is not some way to get your user information for bad purposes. (All those polls and surveys on Facebook are bad news, harvesting your personal data to be sold to third parties.) Once you feel it is a trusted site and click, it would be nice if you read whatever the content is.  For example many of the TCP posts have links for additional action or information.

Twitter for activist Democrats?

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Is Twitter worth your time? - It depends!

Let's start by agreeing that we don't want to support Elon Musk.  However, Twitter is used by millions of people every day.  Here are a few reasons to take the time to build a Twitter following and use it to communicate with a small portion of voters and the public.  For activists:
  1. Twitter is still a trend setter.  You are part of the conversation.
  2. Many reporters that are covering Cochise County are on Twitter.  Following them will gain their attention.
  3. Compared to Facebook, Twitter makes it relatively easy to put out a reaction, event, statement in real time.
  4. You can do it with no cost.  (A big no to the blue checkmark or premium offer.)
  5. You can amplify candidates your support other opinions and events by retweeting.  (Follow opinion makers & candidates)
  6. Twitter reaches an audience that may not be easy to reach other ways.  (See below)
The Washington Post recently had some interesting stats on who uses Twitter.  Twitter leans younger than Facebook and certainly more Democratic Party than other platforms.  Click on the graphic to see a clearer picture.

From the Washington Post

A large portion of the Twitter universe of left-leaners is under 50, and about 40% are under 30!  If you want to reach a younger, left-leaning audience, Twitter may be one tool you want to use.  Now on to the bad stuff.
  1. Indirectly you are helping Elon Musk by being on the platform. Ugh.
  2. Who knows if Twitter will be around by November 2024.  Pay attention.
  3. You will get lots of nasty feedback from "Twitter trolls".  You can block them if you want.
  4. It is very hard to build followers.  Don't be discouraged.  Some suggestions in an upcoming TCP Newsletter.
  5. Getting on is easy, it's a bit harder to understand how Twitter works and the best way to include video, photos, graphics or retweet.
Twitter is not for everyone and may not be right for you based on many factors including time involved using the platform and the negative feedback you may get.  But don't write it off without giving some thought on how you can reach a different group of potential voters.

 

Is Twitter worth your time?

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Twitter for campaigns and activists

Update:  July 31, 2023 - Twitter is now X and that's about all that can be said about Elon Musk and his ownership of the platform.
Let's start by agreeing that we don't want to support Elon Musk.  However, Twitter is used by millions of people every day.  Here are a few reasons to take the time to build a Twitter following and use it to communicate with a small portion of voters and the public.  For candidates:
  1. Twitter is still a trend setter.  Having your campaign on the platform gives you some "cred".
  2. Many reporters that are covering Cochise County are on Twitter.  Following them will gain their attention.
  3. Compared to your website or even Facebook, Twitter makes it relatively easy to put out a reaction, event, statement in real time.
  4. You can do it with no cost.  (A big no to the blue checkmark or premium offer.)
  5. Your campaign can amplify other opinions and events by retweeting.  (Follow opinion makers)
  6. Twitter reaches an audience that may not be easy to reach other ways.  (See below)
The Washington Post recently had some interesting stats on who uses Twitter.  Twitter leans younger than Facebook and certainly more Democratic Party than other platforms.  Click on the graphic to see a clearer picture.

From the Washington Post

A large portion of the Twitter universe of left-leaners is under 50, and about 40% are under 30!  If you want to reach a younger, left-leaning audience, Twitter may be one tool you want to use.  Now on to the bad stuff.
  1. Indirectly you are helping Elon Musk by being on the platform. Ugh.
  2. Who knows if Twitter will be around by November 2024.  Pay attention.
  3. You will get lots of nasty feedback from "Twitter trolls".  You can block them if you want.
  4. It is very hard to build followers.  Don't be discouraged.  Some suggestions in the June Cochise Project Candidate Newsletter.
  5. Getting on is easy, it's a bit harder to understand how Twitter works and the best way to include video, photos, graphics or retweet.
Twitter is not for everyone and may not be right for your campaign based on many factors including time involved using the platform.  But don't write it off without some serious discussion with your campaign team.

 

Youth4Douglas on voting in the Cochise County Jail District election

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Youth4Douglas is getting the voting message out

Young people in Douglas, Arizona are letting everyone know how easy it is to vote by mail in the Cochise County Jail District election.  They are reaching out to Spanish speakers with a strong message of civic participation.

Meet these young activists at Douglas Days, May 12-13 in Raul Castro Park in Douglas, Arizona.  For more information visit our events page.

In Spanish