The Urban Phoenix Project PAC plans to appeal a Maricopa County Superior Court judge’s decision to halt the PAC’s recall election effort against District 7 City Councilman Michael Nowakowski.
“Obviously we are disappointed in this decision. We very much believe in our arguments in this case,” said Sean Sweat, president of the Urban Phoenix PAC. “We think we can make our case more clear… in an appeal.”
Nowakowski was pleased with the judge’s ruling.
“I think it’s good news for the city of Phoenix and the residents of District 7. It was going to cost the city a lot of money to have a special recall election,” Nowakowski said after the conclusion of the Council’s weekly meeting.
According to the Arizona Republic, the lawsuit alleged the PAC did not follow technical requirements while gathering signatures. Nowakowski’s sister Rosa Maria Morales spearheaded the lawsuit earlier in January.
“I wasn’t really involved in that aspect of it,” Nowakowski said of the lawsuit’s details.
The UPP PAC submitted 2,361 signatures last December to put Nowakowski’s recall on the ballot in May. Now, that date is uncertain depending on how the PAC’s appeal is received in court.
Part of the group’s criticism of Nowakowski stemmed from his decision to delay the vote on the controversial South Central Light Rail Extension last year.
“(District 7 is) much more than just downtown Phoenix, it’s much more than just the light rail. It’s about everyone,” Nowakowski said. “You have to take all those opinions and all those points of views, and you’re not going to make everyone happy… It’s extreme to take it to a recall.”
Former state lawmaker Mark Cardenas, the first challenger in the recall election, may have to wait for his chance at the council seat. Cardenas’ campaign manager Ellie Perez explained that even if the recall election is canceled, Cardenas will still run for the open seat after Nowakowski’s term expires in 2020.
“Whether it’s this recall, or whether it’s when his term is up, Mark is going to be running for City Council District 7,” Perez explained. “If anything, it gives us more time to build support and to explain why Mark is the best candidate.”
Nowakowski also reiterated his willingness to speak to those behind the recall election in an emailed statement.
He said he wanted to reach out to those who disagreed with him in order to “work together to find ways to make Phoenix and particularly District 7 an even better place to live and have a business.”
Contact the reporter at Rebecca.Spiess@asu.edu.
