As expected, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office found there was not sufficient evidence to move forward with an investigation of the Tucson Unified school District’s membership contribution to the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
The Attorney General’s Office received a complaint after questions were raised about the timing of the membership contribution by Superintendent H.T. Sanchez and the Chamber’s endorsement of controversial Governing Board President Adelita Grijalva during the 2014 General Election.
The complaint alleged that the contribution, purchased with public funds, was made “for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections.”
Few expected the Attorney General’s Office to find against the District. The AG’s office has been virtually on hiatus in southern Arizona for years.
The Tucson Chamber, under the leadership of Mike Varney and Board President Tony Penn has struggled to stay afloat and the TUSD membership purchase was, according to sources, met with deep gratitude. That gratitude appeared to be the impetus for the Chamber’s endorsement of the anti-commerce candidate.
The Attorney General’s letters reads in part:
A.R.S. 15-511 bars the school district from expending resources “for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections.” According to the public information, the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is a corporation with a separate, segregated fund for political activity. The School District joined the Chamber of Commerce; there is no evidence that its funds were used for the segregated fund. Without any indication that the District became a member in order to influence an election or that the Chamber o Commerce used the School District’s membership fee in order to influence an election, there is not sufficient evidence to move forward with an investigation under A.R.S. 15-511.
Because the District has conducted business on a wink and a nod for so long that it is unlikely that any evidence did exist.