Eric Hayes
Jenna Ridgeway
A special session of the PebbleCreek Republican Club was held on Thursday, Aug. 15. The Tuscany Falls Ballroom, filled with members and guests who endured the summer heat to listen while U.S. Representative Paul Gosar led the Pledge of Allegiance and then reminded the audience about talking to registered non-voting Republicans. He recapped for us how important it is to get two more Republicans in the House and to elect Kari Lake to the Senate, so Republicans can take control of the Senate and keep the House.
Next on the agenda was the vivacious, youthful Eric Hayes from Turning Point USA. He explained the Get Out the Vote initiative called “Chase the Vote.” This will entail contacting the 1 in 4 Registered Republicans who have not voted in the last one to two elections. Turning Point USA has found that 300,000 registered Arizona Republicans did not vote and it made a significant difference in the outcome of these previous elections. They are looking to hire 1,000 ballot helpers to contact these voters.
The position of Corporation Commissioner was discussed by three candidates running to keep a watchful eye on energy rates, reliability, and grid function. Candidates Lea Marquez Peterson, Rachel Walden, and Rene Lopez all hope to keep Arizona as one of the cheapest utility providers in the nation by approving energy sources like hydroelectric, nuclear, renewables, and fossil fuels. They feel the Green Energy push is the least efficient source and must be subsidized by our tax dollars. There are three positions available on this Commission.
Justin Heap is running for one of the most important offices in the state—Maricopa County Recorder. This position controls our election process as 80% of the voters vote by mail. He would be responsible for maintaining clean voter rolls. The Recorder oversees all of the election process except for the day of voting. As a member of the Conservative Caucus, Justin would work to maintain the chain of custody and to require signature verification. While serving at the state legislature, he sponsored 50 pieces of legislation, many involving voter integrity. At the meeting, Justin stated he is optimistic from the primary election where the turnout was 51% Republican and 35% Democrat.
Candidate Jerry Sheridan spoke and relayed his hopes to win the office of Maricopa County Sheriff. If he does, he will take over the vacated position and on Nov. 15 can begin fighting the cartels and drug trafficking rings and stop the building number of deaths in jails. He would reinstitute chain gangs and tent cities as crime deterrents.