IS GAY REVELATION BABEU'S BABYLON?

posted to Political Buzz by Michael Chihak

Pundits are calling Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu a longshot in the Congressional District 4 race after revelations about his lifestyle.

Babeu, a Republican in his first term as sheriff, acknowledged that he is gay, after a story in the Phoenix New Times said Babeu had threatened to have his ex-lover deported if the man revealed their relationship. Babeu denied the threat claim in a statement and at a lengthy news conference on Saturday.

Opponents are already saying the revelation makes Babeu unfit for a seat in Congress. The Huffington Post in a followup posting today said the news could bring to an end what many had seen as a bright future for Babeu.

Arizona Public Media political correspondent Christopher Conover will discuss the facts and potential future for Babeu in an interview with Arizona Illustrated host Tony Paniagua tonight at 6:30 on PBS-HD6.

STATE PERSONNEL REFORM: CLASSIC BATTLE

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

A bill eliminating most civil-service protections for Arizona state government employees is moving through the House of Representatives. The bill, HB2571, passed the House Employment and Regulatory Affairs Committee last week on a party-line vote of 6-3.

Friday's Arizona Week will delve into the legislation, which is at the top of Gov. Jan Brewer's agenda for this session. We will strive through interviews with supporters and opponents to:

-- Explain the bill's intricacies.

-- Tell why the average Arizonan should care.

-- Explain what the legislation will do to state worker protections and to the overall hiring-and-firing system.

-- Show what implementation would cost or save vs. what occurs under the existing system.

TODAY'S STRING COMPOSERS

posted to Cue Sheet by James Reel

I haven't written much for Strings magazine in the past couple of years, but I am still on the masthead, so every once in a while I really ought to contribute something. Here's an article I cranked out for the March 2012 issue, a survey of 25 contemporary composers helping to keep string music alive and kicking.

KELLY FILES SIGNATURES FOR CD8

posted to Political Buzz by Andrea Kelly

Republican Jesse Kelly was the first candidate to file nominating petitions to run for Congress in district 8.

He filed about 60 more signatures than the minimum number needed to qualify for the special election primary ballot, but said in a news release he'll continue to file more signatures.

Five other candidates are running, and will also have to turn in signatures; they are Republicans Frank Antenori, John Lervold, Martha McSally and Dave Sitton, plus Democrat Ron Barber.

The deadline for signatures is Feb. 27. All candidates who want to be on the ballot will have to file signatures from registered voters by that day. The number of signatures required depends on the candidate's party registration.

GOVERNOR'S EMPLOYMENT PLAN GOES TO LEGISLATURE

posted to Political Buzz by Andrea Kelly

Governor Jan Brewer has been backing legislative changes to state employment policies, and she recently asked the legislature to consider her plans to revise the employee merit system.

The employment protection system spells out how employees may be hired, fired and disciplined.

A bill (HB 2571) to make make it faster to hire, easier to hire, and easier to fire, is scheduled for a hearing in the House Employment and Regulatory Affairs committee Thursday morning.

“We need to have tools at our disposal more like what the private sector has, to reward those employees that are performing and to discipline those employees who are not," said Matt Benson, a governor's office spokesman.

The proposed changes could make it easier to retain employees who might otherwise leave for jobs at private companies, he said.

Unions representing state employees have said the Governor’s plan takes away protections for good employees, but Benson says it gives the state a greater ability to reward those good employees.

If the Arizona House and Senate pass the bill, and Brewer signs it into law, it would go into effect starting September 29. Most of the 29,000 state employees already covered could stay in the merit system, but Benson says some, such as supervisors, IT employees or attorneys would automatically lose coverage in the merit system.

IT'S A CONFUSING POLITICAL SEASON

posted to Political Buzz by Andrea Kelly

With five elections in the next nine months (that's right, count 'em: presidential preference Feb. 28, CD8 special primary April 17, CD8 special general June 17, regular fall primary Aug. 28, regular general Nov. 6) the number and names of candidates is already starting to get confusing.

We're attempting to make this easier to figure out, with a list of candidates for each of the congressional races in Southern Arizona. Check the list for the latest information on the races, we'll update it as candidates enter, drop out, and officially qualify for the ballot in their respective races.