Grand Canyon Times

The Grand Canyon Times has submitted a public records request to the office of Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.), seeking communications between Hobbs’ office and an outside group involved with the governor’s elections task force.

On April 28, Arizona State Rep. Jacqueline Parker (R-15) requested information from the governor regarding the involvement of States United Democracy Center (States United) in the 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 requesting information from the governor’s office. “Seems like a conflict of interest for an outside group that has represented Hobbs in elections contests to assist the task force.” 

Parker tweeted on May 3 that Hobbs not responded to Parker’s request.

State Senator Ken Bennett (R-1), a member of the governor’s task force, told Yavapai News last week that members of States United were present in a recent meeting of the elections task force. 

Hobbs announced the creation of the “Governor’s Bipartisan Elections Task Force” in January 2023 to “strengthen election laws, policies, and procedures in the State of Arizona,” according to a press release. In March, Hobbs appointed members to her elections task force, including Bennett.

The Grand Canyon Times has requested “all correspondence, emails, invoices, and other records concerning the governor’s elections task force that have been sent by or received from any employee of the governor’s office and any employees of States United Democracy Center from January 1st 2023 to current day.”

The request also seeks communications between States United and Sambo (Bo) Dul, the governor’s general counsel, who is a former employee of States United.

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 sent out a press release announcing Dul as her general counsel, which listed Dul as the former "Senior Counsel at the States United Democracy Center.”

“Arizona law requires all officers and public bodies to maintain records reasonably necessary to provide an accurate accounting of their official activities and of any government funded activities,” says the Arizona Office of the Ombudsman Citizen’s Aide website. “Any record in the custody of an Arizona government entity that has a substantial nexus to government activity is considered a public record and is presumed to be subject to disclosure.”