AZ State Rep. Jacqueline Parker (R), left, and AZ Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) | AZLeg.gov / AZ Governor's Office
AZ State Rep. Jacqueline Parker (R), left, and AZ Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) | AZLeg.gov / AZ Governor's Office
Arizona State Rep. Jacqueline Parker (R-15) is raising questions about the involvement of an outside legal group in Gov. Katie Hobbs' (D-Ariz.) elections task force, as that group also represented Hobbs in election-related litigation in 2022.
“I’ve asked Hobbs to provide me with all records & correspondence between her office and this organization regarding her secret elections task force,” tweeted Parker, with an attachment to the letter. “Seems like a conflict of interest for an outside group that has represented Hobbs in elections contests to assist the task force.”
On January 6, 2023, Hobbs announced the creation of the “Governor’s Bipartisan Elections Task Force” to “strengthen election laws, policies, and procedures in the State of Arizona.”
The task force was announced just days after Hobbs was sworn in to office. Hobbs was elected governor in the November 8, 2022 election, receiving 50% of the vote to Republican challenger Kari Lake's 49%. Hobbs served as Arizona Secretary of State from 2019-2023 and is a former member of the Arizona State Senate and Arizona House of Representatives.
“I’m writing to you in my official capacity, as Chair of the Municipal Oversight and Elections (“MOE”) Committee, to request documents and information pertaining to your Bipartisan Elections Task Force established by Executive Order No. 2023-03,” said Parker’s letter.
“I recently learned that the agenda for the first secret meeting of your task force was circulated by a legal assistant employed by States United Democracy Center (“States United”). When asked to explain this, your office apparently responded that States United is providing administrative support for the meetings and for task force leaders.”
Parker writes that, “On its website, States United boasts its representation of you in Kari Lake’s election contest as follows: “States United and Coppersmith Brockelman PLC served as pro bono co-counsel to defendant Katie Hobbs, who ran against Lake and won, in what was then her official capacity as Secretary of State.”
A court motion filed on December 12, 2022 on behalf of then-Secretary of State Hobbs in the Superior Court of Maricopa County in Kari Lake v. Katie Hobbs lists Sambo (Bo) Dul of States United Democracy Center as counsel on behalf of Hobbs.
On January 4, two days prior to the creation of the elections task force, Hobbs announced Dul as her general counsel. The announcement press release said, “Bo Dul was Senior Counsel at the States United Democracy Center.”
“I am concerned that in light of your prior relationship with States United, States United may have undue influence on your task force, its work product, and its recommendations, even though States United is not designated as a task force member in Executive Order No. 2023-03,” said Parker’s letter.
Parker requested the governor’s office provide “all correspondence, emails, invoices, and other records concerning the task force that have been sent by or received from any employee of your office and any employees of States United” by May 2, 2023.
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