Let’s put the truth test to a couple of his major claims: exceptional leadership judgment, tight-fisted fiscal management, and his role as the single major fighter against illicit smuggling activity in the entire nation.
That same truth test ended Babeu’s bombastic march into Congress, when he was unable to shout down the public’s revulsion to his flawed judgment and deficient leadership.
Since then Babeu’s sheriff campaign continues covering up failed management and embarrassing judgment by using lies, damn lies and statistics.
Case in point: during his budget presentation to the Board of Supervisors in March he unbelievably declared, despite his own power point numbers, that his PCSO budget was not only balanced, but included a surplus.
It’s a claim he repeatedly makes at candidate events as he desperately attempts to deceive the public.
Another case in point is the shouted claim that our county is, as he puts it:
"The number 1 pass-through county in all of America for drug and human trafficking.”
But as the Arizona Republic’s investigative reporting persuasively revealed: “There is no data to support the oft-repeated Babeu assertion.”
The investigative report continues, “analysis of statistics from local, state and federal sources found that, while sheriff's officials do bust smugglers and seize pot, Pinal County accounts for only a fraction of overall trafficking.
Despite these documented untruths, Babeu is intent on using “team politics” to achieve one-man rule in our county. He dismisses American governance limited by checks and balances and separation of powers.
And yet another case in point: Responding to a questionnaire published in azentral.com, Babeu immodestly intends to “reshape the direction of Pinal County”, saying he’ll prioritize public safety, reduce cost of business impact fees while also reducing taxes. Impact fees and taxes are now to come under the control of the sheriff?
Yes, it can happen if Team Babeu board of supervisor candidates like Cheryl Chase and Pat Prince succeed in hoodwinking the public.
Voters, look beyond Team Babeu’s lies, damn lies and statistics. It’s time to end Paul Babeu’s fantasy of one-man rule over Pinal County.
