Democrats charges GOP with recruiting sham Green Party candidates

The story in the Republic this a.m. doesn’t say who exactly the complaint was made to:

The complaint names Rep. Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix; Steve May, a Republican candidate for the Legislature; and a House Republican staffer as complicit in an effort to register at least a half-dozen people as Green Party members so they could run as write-in candidates in last week’s primary election.

Republicans accused of the ploy denied any wrongdoing.

The newly minted Green candidates have been disavowed by the Arizona Green Party and are running in races in which Democrats are believed to be competitive. Those races include secretary of state, treasurer, Arizona Corporation Commission and several legislative contests in swing districts.

The response from Weiers, pictured above:

Those alleged to be part of the scheme denied the charges, saying they are only trying to broaden the political playing field.

Weiers, a former House speaker, called the complaint “cynical” and said people have a right to run under whatever political banner they choose. “If somebody wants to do it,” he said of the last-minute registration change, “there’s nothing illegal about it. There’s nothing immoral.”

He acknowledged that he talked to Chris Campbell about his bid to run on the Green Party ticket for state Senate in District 10 but said he did not recruit the recently re-registered Republican. Campbell is the roommate of one of Weiers' daughters.

The Republic endorsed Weiers recently, saying he has “the best interests of their district and Arizona at heart.”

A four-year-old story in the paper’s archives shows a different side of him:

State Speaker of the House Jim Weiers admits he did not respond to police for several days after learning that a man he mentored, hired for two jobs and allowed to live in his home with his children was wanted on 26 counts of child molestation.

In addition, a man who says he was sexually assaulted by Arthur “Art” Vitasek as a teenager claims that Weiers discouraged him from talking to police about the abuse, according to a 106-page Mesa police report released Friday.