Arizona Daily Sun from Flagstaff, Arizona • 1

JUN 3q 19 88 3322f Ration 9Co0ioo4 rwisr, CITY, lake last Ur 8411 24 record-breaking tempeiu. low 70s should be expected Wednesday as a high- nrnoourA IM'ctom mflt 1 11 rtVPT Vol.42-No.212 PRICE 25t SERVING FLAGSTAFF AND NORTHERN ARIZONA Tuesday, April 5, 1988 Recall: 'Justice is served' BY DON RABE Sun News Editor The Senates alternative was to carve Evan Mechams ethical void into perpetuity Flagstaffs Byron Hayes said of the Arizona Senates vote Monday to impeach Gov. Evan Mecham. Justice is served. Hayes was one of the original organizers of the Mecham Watchdog Committee, which evolved into the Mecham Recall Committee and gathered signatures all over the state to force the May 17 recall election of Mecham.

The fate of that recall vote is in doubt after Mondays impeachment. But Hayes doesnt hold that against the legislators. We, as a people, cannot tolerate the ethics of convenience, Hayes explained, claiming -the charges against Mecham, alleging he tried to obstruct an investigation into a death threat against former aide Donna Carlson and using $80,000 of campaign protocol funds as a loan to his Pontiac automobile dealership in Glendale, indicate Mecham used his power as governor for personal gam The recall shows the people wont tolerate it and the impeachment shows the legislators wont either. Hayes and some of the other recall movement leaders will form a new group, The New Arizonans, and seek an initiative requiring state elected officials to receive a majority of the vote before they can take office. Part of this whole problem was that Mecham only had 39 percent of the voto, he pointed out.

If the state had a law requiring the winner to get the majority of the vote, I dont think wed ever have seen this situation. The initiative would direct that the governor, secretary of state, attorney general, superintendent of schools and treasurer would all have to be elected by a majority of those casting ballots in the election. Were hoping to get this through the Legislature this session. Otherwise, itll be 1994 before we have an opportunity for the next initiative, he said. But for today, Hayes is pleased with the Senates action.

I'm just relieved that Evan Mecham is no longer in direct control of the future of this state. Employees at a local television and The Senate convicted former Gov. Evan Rose Mofford Immediately became appliance store watch Monday's Senate Mecham on two charges, effectively governor, proceedings on blg-screen televisions, removing him from office. Acting Gov. Senate convicts, ousts Mecham Gabaldon sets tone in voting BY Ml KE PATRICK City Editor The removal of Evan Mecham from the Arizona governors office Monday meant the completion of months of work for two Flagstaff legislators.

It may also have marked the beginning of a Republican reconstruction project. Dean Pickett, chairman of the GOP in Coconino County, said Mechams historic fall from office should not cause permanent damage to the Republican party. "I dont think a great deal of damage has been done, Pickett said. I think people remain true to the ideals of the party. Pickett also said Republicans statewide should put this as far behind us as possible and work for the most qualified Republicans in upcoming elections.

He said he expects his party to return to its former stature quickly. Regardless, Pickett, who watched the Senate convictions on television in his law office, said his emotions were somewhat mixed. Im saddened for the governor but glad has been brought to the state, he said Its a sad day for one man but its brought peace to a turbulent situation. Pickett was not alone in expressing some relief. Sen.

Tony Gabaldon, a Flagstaff Democrat who sided with the majority on both convictions, likened completion of the long process to winning a close election. It was very emotional. Many of us were disconcerted with what we had to do, said the seventh-term veteran. Ive never had this feeling. I guess its similar to a close election: You feel exhausted but sort of relaxed from doing what you needed to do.

Gabaldon shed some light on why the Senate voted Monday afternoon, rather than delay the votes until today, as some senators had insisted. Gabaldon said a barrage of nasty calls to senators secretaries and several fights outside the Capitol pushed the vote forward. A lot of people just didnt want to subject their secretaries to any more abuse, he said. Gabaldon said he expects some fallout from his voteS and comments that accompanied them. I know that some of my friends who have supported me will be upset, he said.

If they vote me out for that, so be it. And he added. The governor did it to himself. Rep. John Wettaw, a Flagstaff Republican who voted to impeach Mecham, expressed similar sentiments.

He said testimony in the Senate helped bear out what a vast majority of representatives had concluded. It certainly is a very sad day in Arizona that this had to be done, said Wettaw. The House voted overwhelmingly, 46-14, that we found sufficient cause. The Senate, after five weeks of trial, concurred. "The Senate found the articles the House sent out were true in their own mind and they voted accordingly.

Wettaw, one of the senior members of the House and chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, said the political demise of Mecham opens the doors to business as usual most of which wont be easy. We've got a lot difficult problems in Arizona. he said. Now that this trial is over, we can get into them: Budgets, taxes, air quality, rural development, you name it. The Senate dropped a charge on that issue last week.

Mecham said he does not know what he will do next, including whether he will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Well know in a couple, three days, he said. Mecham was removed less than a week after his family announced the Mecham Pontiac dealership, which he has owned since 1950, was being sold because of declining sales his son blamed on an avalanche of bad publicity. Ladies and gentlemen, Gov.

Mecham has struck out, Democratic Sen. Jesus Chuy Higuera said as he voted for conviction on the two counts. The only defense that we have heard is ignorance of the law, Higuera said. The citizens of this state will not tolerate this evil insensitivity to the (Arizona) Constitution and the laws of the state. Following the vote, some legislators received police protection because of threatening phone calls.

BY LAURIE ASSEO Associated Press Writer PHOENIX Evan Mecham was convicted on impeachment charges and removed as governor in a finale to 15 months of turmoil stirred up by what critics called his insensitivity to minorities and the disorder and corruption that plagued his administration. I feel relieved that this nightmare is over, Republican Sen. Greg Lunn said Monday after Mecham, a first-term Republican, became the first U.S. governor in 59 years to be impeached and stripped of his office. Despite his ouster, Mecham said today hes doing fine.

Mecham, 63, showed no emotion as the Arizona Senate voted 21-9 to convict him of trying to obstruct an investigation of an alleged death threat and 26-4 of misusing $80,000 from the governors protocol fund. Twenty votes were required for conviction. Minutes later, he smiled and told reporters, Well, they dont like my politics, so we finished a political trial; its as simple as that. Reached by telephone at his home this morning, Mecham said: I dont know why people keep asking how Ive been bearing up. Ive never had any trouble bearing up.

Ive got a clear conscience and I havent done anything wrong. This job wasnt the end of the world for me, he added. I didnt need it in the first place. My main concern is for the people of Arizona. The 30-member Senate defeated, 17-13, a motion to bar Mecham from holding any public office again, making it unclear whether he will be permitted to run in a May 17 recall election to regain the governors post.

There is no precedent and the matter probably will be decided by the courts, said Attorney General Bob Corbin. Acting Gov. Rose Mofford, a Democrat, became governor with Mechams conviction. Let us purge our hearts of suspicion and hate, she said in a statement. "I did not ask for this burden.

But I do not shrink from the job before me. Mecham faces an April 21 criminal trial on a charge he concealed a $350,000 campaign loan. Sedonans have minds made up Sedona tally 'picking up7 SEDONA About 10 percent of Sedonas registerd voters came out between 7 and 10 a.m. to cast their ballots in the early hours of voting in the citys first municipal election. In a calculation by precinct, Red Rock Precinct No.

2 had the highest percentage of voters with 16 percent of its registered voters showing up. It is picking up, said pol inspector Lucy Villegas. In sheer numbers, Sedona sout Precinct 2 had the highest coun with 114 voters about 10 percen of those registered to vote in th precinct. Red Rock One Precinct saw th low percentile. BYCARLSCARBROUGH Sun Staff Reporter SEDONA Election day dawned on Sedona with quiet determination.

Monday was business as usual with little outward indication that the citys first primary election was here. Theres an election tomorrow? Maryann Farley queried Monday evening as she came out of Bashas Supermarket pushing a groceries-laden cart. Farley may have lost track of the date, but she wasnt uncertain about the candidates. "I know who Im voting for, she said. Elsa Munson said Monday evening that she was looking forward to the election.

Well be there bright and early in the morning. I hope the right people get in, she said. Sue Lavely was just as deter- mined. When asked if she was prepared for the election, she quipped- "You better believe it. With the candidates forums past, electioneering was beginning to slow.

A few signs were the only visible indications of today's primary election. Paul Slansky said he hired some teen-agers to pass out some fliers that he had left over, but added that he thought the course was set. If I havent got my message across by now, its too late and too little, he said. Charles Swartwout said he was waiting to see the results of todays voting. Ive done everything I can do up to this point, he said.

John Eversole also planned to wait and see the primary results. I cant believe a last-minute effort would serve any purpose, he said. Leonard Silvern, Patrick Pomphrey, John Drake and Peter Volckmann agreed the time for campaigning was past. Im just sitting back and relaxing, Volckmann said, while Silvern said he planned to do his taxes. June Cornelison said she doesnt have a campaign to wind down.

I didnt campaign. I have taken the position that its a labor of love a matter of service, she said. Ann Seibel planned to keep busy Monday night calling friends and delivering a few fliers, hoping I can Myrtle Walton also planned to keep the vigil by visiting all of the polling locations today in a spree of politicking and by offering voters rides to the polls, no matter what their persuasion. Candidates Robert Hall, Nick LaBarbera and Eric Umstattd were unavailable for comment. In this primary election, voters will choose seven candidates from a field of 13.

Candidates who receive more than 50 percent of the votes cast will be elected, If less than seven council seats are filled, the non-winning candidates who receive the most votes will compete in a May 17 general election. Despite the varying degree of last-minute effort, all the candidates acknowledged what Volckmann said best: "Its up to the voters now. Sun Photo by Brian Winter First election election. Top finishers In the election will be In a runoff vote May 17. Officials say about 10 percent of the registered voters had turned out early today.

Voters In Sedona's Red Rock West precinct cast their ballots at the Sedona Fire Station on Southwest Drive early this morning In the City of Sedona's first city council.