Adrian Fontes, Esq. spoke at the PebbleCreek Democratic Club meeting in May.
Alisa Moore
The May PebbleCreek Democratic Club meeting was a busy one! Our Community Benefits program continues our support of the Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank, having contributed 531 pounds of food, clothing, and household goods and $3,090 in cash in April! In addition, we are now supporting the library at the Maricopa County Jail with donations of paperback books, magazines, puzzles, DVDs, and other forms of entertainment. The jail will be picking up donations at least once a month and possibly twice, depending on their schedule and the level of our contributions. The club has arranged to have a pick up location on each side of the community. In April, we donated 240 books and magazines. For details on both community service projects, please visit the club website, pcdemclub.org.
Frankie Veltri, social committee chair, reported that we will have an informal gathering at the Oasis Pool in June, a barbecue on July 17, and announced a number of events for October. Events include a trip on the Verde Canyon Railroad with a stay at a lovely hotel in Cottonwood, a welcome back social, a holiday party, and then our beautifully decorated Winter Wonderland Dinner and Dance on Dec. 5. Please note, some events may be dependent on the opening of the PebbleCreek ballrooms.
The club welcomed Adrian Fontes, former Maricopa County recorder, as the last speaker of our spring meetings. A proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a native Arizonan, Adrian graduated from ASU and earned his law degree from the University of Denver. He practiced law for 15 years before moving into public office. The father of three daughters, he has most recently served as interim chief deputy recorder in Pima County, assisting the newly elected recorder in Tucson after completing his term as recorder for Maricopa County. Adrian discussed the current audit of the November 2020 ballots from Maricopa County and the recent involvement of the Federal Department of Justice regarding the security of the ballots and relevant federal election laws regarding both the equipment and the ballots. He also discussed ways to engage and motivate voters in the 2022 election and those going forward. Adrian mentioned that the Democratic Party’s reaction to the pandemic (no in-person canvassing, voter registration events, or social activities) may have negatively impacted voter turnout, especially down ballot, in November 2020.
No club meetings will be held in June, July, or August, but various other activities will continue. The club website, pcdemclub.org, will be kept up to date, so remember to check it often for the latest information, and we hope everyone has a lovely summer!