Remember when Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission director Ray Bladine said the supplemental appropriation the legislature authorized last month would not be enough to last through the end of the current fiscal year, especially if anyone sued to challenge the maps?
Well, yesterday Attorney General Tom Horne's office wrote to the AIRC to notify the agency that David Cantelme is considering, on behalf of UNfair Trust, suing over the Congressional and legislative maps. Last week, Cantelme had asked for a waiver of conflict of interest since he is listed as outside counsel for the State in two cases. As authorized outside counsel for the State of Arizona, he is currently precluded from suing the state, due to conflict of interest.
We already know what Cantelme's likely claim will be in the event such a lawsuit is filed. While it may not be his only claim, he will focus on how minority voting rights (Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act) were not given enough weight in the final maps.
Stay tuned.
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Word is out today also that the Arizona Supreme Court will issue its full opinion tomorrow on the ruling whereby it reinstated Colleen Coyle Mathis to the AIRC after Brewer attempted to decapitate the agency.
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