From Apache County, to Yuma County corruption can be found on every level of government. Earlier this year, Governor Doug Ducey proposed creating an office of inspector general. Rightfully, the newly elected Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich balked.
At the time, Brnovich, like many others, claimed that an OIG would put too much power in the hands of the governor. Instead he said, he was going to be an aggressive AG, who took on corruption in business – and presumably government – in Arizona.
So far, other than the prosecution of some low-level shady scammers, not much has happened.
He did see the Dead though. That counts in his favor, but dude seriously? Step out of the patchouli cloud and get a grip.
Just the other day, Brnovich claimed that the Tucson AG’s office was working hard on tackling corruption. Brnovich lost almost all credibility in one breath because he might be the only one in Arizona, who doesn’t know that the Tucson office is is utterly useless – and thereby fundamentally corrupt.
But things are done differently in southern Arizona, so we can’t really blame the pathetic condition of southern Arizona entirely on Brnovich or his useless crew.
That being said, what else has he done? What has his crack staff done to put the fear of God into the cronies and clowns, who are using taxpayer dollars to line their nests?
Nepotism is a plague in Yavapai County. Sweetheart deals are legendary in Navajo County. Nothing will happen to the culprits. Nothing has – nothing will – it is business as usual.
Under the current regime open meetings laws are meaningless, as are procurement laws, public records laws, the gift of public funds law, and every other law intended to protect taxpayers from shady government types.
Looking back, we were right to support Horne. He may have had his issues, and he certainly did nothing to take on corruption on the local level, but he was pretty successful fighting on federal issues. Brnovich can’t even seem to handle that.
Maybe it is time for an inspector general. It certainly is time for an AG…. wish we had one.