Quartzsite mayoral recall election challenge filed in Superior Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, September 8th, a legal challenge to the election of Jose Lizarraga was filed in the La Paz County Superior Court by Jennifer Jones, publisher of The DESERT FREEDOM PRESS. Jones was also a candidate on the ballot for the mayor recall election that unseated popular "people's mayor" Ed Foster, but had publicly asked voters to support Foster.

The summons was served on Mayor Elect Lizarraga's wife this morning, at their home, by a private process server. Lizarraga has until 5 pm Wednesday, September 14th, to file a response with the court. The civil case is between private parties Jones and Lizarraga, so town attorney(s) may not represent the newly elected mayor. Jones filed "in pro per", and will represent herself.

The Contest of Election surrounds Lizarraga's eligibility under Quartzsite Town Code 2-1-10. Ironically, Mayor Foster wanted this town ordinance repealed, and placed it on the Council Agenda last spring, but the council including Lizarraga supported the ordinance and voted in favor of taking no action. They refused to even engage in public discussion on the matter with Foster. 


From the complaint:

Statement Specific Facts Disqualifying Contestee from Office of Mayor
5.   Arizona Revised Statutes Authorizes this Statement of Contest.  Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 16-672.A.2 provides that an elector may contest the election of any person declared elected who was, at the time of the election, not eligible to hold the office.
 6.    Contestee Violated the State of Arizona’s Open Meeting Law.  On December 21, 2010 at a Town Meeting, Contestee and the majority of the Town Council violated the Open Meeting Law.  In an opinion by the Office of the La Paz County Attorney dated January 28, 2011 and attached hereto as Exhibit “B” County Attorney Samuel Vederman states on page 6: “it is our belief that the Open Meeting Law was violated.”  On page 3 of that letter, County Attorney Vederman clearly points out the Contestee participated and violated the Open Meeting Law at that time.  In Exhibit “C”, (an article in the Arizona Republic dated July 17, 2011, on page 4, 11 lines from the bottom)  it states: “In interviews, Lizarraga [the Contestee] and Lukkasson…said they do not care if some council meetings are deemed unlawful or if public-records laws are broken.”  Further, at “Meet the Candidates” night, on August 27, 2011,  Contestee publicly acknowledged that the December 21, 2010 Town meeting did violate Open Meeting Law. This demonstrates a clear and express violation of  Quartzsite Municipal Code 2-1-10 C wherein it states that a violation of open meeting laws is a disqualification to run for office. Contestee is currently under investigation for additional violations of the Open Meeting Law by the Arizona Attorney  General’s Open Meeting Law Enforcement Team.
7.  Contestee Thwarted  Mayor Ed Foster’s Investigation into wrong-doing by the Town Council and Contestee.  Former Quartzsite Mayor Ed Foster undertook a series of investigations into possible misappropriation, misuse and waste of Town funds.  Town Council and Contestee undertook actions to thwart Mayor Foster’s efforts at every turn, to wit:
(a)  Town Council Including Contestee Refused to allow Mayor Foster and Contestant to have access to public records.  The Town, under the direction of the Town Council (including Contestee) refused to provide records to the Contestant, which were determined to be within the scope of Open Records, as determined by  Arizona Ombudsman – Citizen’s Aide. The Town, under the direction of the Town Council (including Contestee) also refused Mayor Foster’s repeated request for records related to Town checks, which Mayor Foster suspected of being questionable.  Attached hereto as Exhibit “D” is a true and correct copy of the  ”Final Report of Investigation” by  Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens’s Aide which has findings that the “Town wrongfully denied [the Mayor’s] public records request.  Contestee was a member of the Town Council and voted wrongfully to deny said request.  Indeed, paragraph (b) below details the length that Contestee went to secret records from Mayor Foster.
(b)  Town Council Including Contestee Unlawfully changed its laws  to Thwart the Mayor’s investigation into Town Council and Contestee’s actions.  In a meeting of the Town Council held on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, Town Council and Contestee  passed a resolution prohibiting the Mayor from receiving any reports from the Town without an approval vote of the Town Council.  (See Attachment “E” resolution 060810-6).  This unlawfully restricts the powers of the Mayor which under Arizona Revised Statutes,  9-236 states that “The mayor of the common council shall be the chief executive officer of the town..”  Further, this effort by the Town Council and Contestee to stop the Mayor from obtaining records that must be available to a chief executive officer of a Town constitutes felonious secreting of documents under Arizona Revised Statutes,  38-421 which makes it a felony for an officer having custody of any record to…”secret the whole or part thereof…”   Contestee voted “Aye” on this illegal provision for the express and felonious purpose of keeping records from Mayor Ed Foster.
    (c)  Town Council Including Contestee Engaged in Various Acts in violation of the law which have as a primary purpose to thwart investigation into Contestee’s misdeeds.  Town Council and Contestee engaged in a pattern of illegal and outrageous acts designed to thwart investigation into Contestee’s illegal acts, to wit:
(i)    At the October 26, 2010 Town Council meeting, the Town Council, including Contestee,  sanctioned, by ordinance and participated in the unlawful restriction of content based speech during “Call to the Public” after being provided with case law by Contestant.  Contestee voted “Aye” on this illegal provision. Subsequently, on June 28, 2011,  a video of  denial of Contestant’s rights to speak was posted on Youtube and was viewed over two hundred thousand times and resulted in national and international attention being focused on Quartzsite. (See: Exhibit “G”)
(ii)    At the October 26, 2010 Town Council meeting, the Town Council, including Contestee,  sanctioned by ordinance, and participated in the unlawful revocation of Town business licenses and vendor permits without Due Process of Law. Contestee voted “Aye” on this illegal provision. (See: Exhibit “G”)
(iii)    Contestee has violated his sworn oath of office while a member of Town Council, and other acts in violation of law as set forth in Exhibit “D” attached hereto and made a part hereof.
    8.    Contestee participated in his unlawful swearing in to office as Mayor.   Contestee was sworn in as mayor at a special meeting on September 6, 2011.  (Note the swearing in and the completion of the canvas of election and declaration of results thereof was done at the same time at the special meeting.  Quartzsite Town Code, section 2-1-3  (See Exhibit “A”) provides that “Council Members shall assume the duties of office at the regularly scheduled Council meeting next following the date of the general election.”  Neither this code section or any other section whatsoever authorizes Contestee to be sworn in at a special Town Council meeting.   Contestee usurped the office of mayor before the time to contest the election has expired. Also, under information and belief Contestant understands that Contestee failed to obtain a bond for the office of mayor (as required by Quartzsite Town Code 2-1-7) prior to being sworn in.  (See Exhibit “A” ).

Lizarraga usurps Foster as mayor of Quartzsite

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 candidate and former Councilman Jose Lizarraga was sworn in as mayor, in a special meeting of the Quartzsite Town Council. The unusual action was not undisputed. Town Attorney/Town Prosecutor Martin Brannan's contention that it was a lawful maneuver was questioned in a written complaint, by The DESERT FREEDOM PRESS publisher and mayoral candidate Jennifer Jones. Mayor Ed Foster, who was recalled by the wife of Councilman Jerry Lukkasson, was expected to retain his position for another week, until the regular council meeting.

Quartzsite videographer arested in town hall

Another critic of Quartzsite officials has been jailed in what appears to be retaliation. Local Realtor Doug Gilford has gained notoriety as the blogger and videographer who filmed the unlawful removal of Desert Freedom Press Publisher Jennifer Jones, from a June 28th town council meeting. The video has been viewed over two hundred thousand times on Gilford's YouTube channel.

Yesterday afternoon, around 3:30 Gilford was at the counter in Town Hall, filing an open records request for town hall feed surveillance tape when Assistant Town Manager Al Johnson confronted Gilford.  Apparently feeling threatened, Gilford set his camera on the counter but didn't hit record, when suddenly Johnson snatched it from across the counter. When Gilford called for police assistance, he ended up being arrested instead of Johnson.

Gilford was booked into the La Paz County jail on charges of harassment, trespassing, and false reporting to law enforcement. He was released on $500 bond. Mayor Ed Foster and Doug's wife Teri picked him up at time around 8pm last night.

Since filming the now infamous Jennifer Jones video, Doug Gilford has been assaulted with a barrage of misdemeanor charges. He was charged with three counts of harassment and noticed to turn himself into the La Paz County Jail for asking Councilman Winslow a question about the town council's failure to put embattled Police Chief Jeff Gilbert on administrative leave, following criminal allegations by 80% of his department.
See: http://www.youtube.com/user/1qtown#p/u/34/KAEE5Rl0Pz0

When Gilford showed up at his arraignment this week, he was informed that he was being charged with ten additional misdemeanors for harassment, disorderly conduct and false reporting to law enforcement, for complaints he had filed against town officials. He will be arraigned on all thirteen charges on September 13th, at 10am,  in the Quartzsite Magistrate Court, under Judge Karen Slaughter.

Gilford has been for driving around town with a large sign directed at the Quartzsite Town Council that reads: "GO QUIT RESIGN!"

He has no prior criminal history, and is best known for his volunteer work with the homeless with his wife Teri.

For more information, follow Doug's blog at: http://qtown.us/blog/

Lizzarraga beats Foster

Town of Quartzsite recall election
Percent Votes FOSTER, ED (NP) 42.20% 230 JONES, JENNIFER (NP) 4.22% 23 LIZARRAGA, JOSE (NP) 53.03% 289 Write-in (NP) 0.55% 3       545

Hundreds attend Quartzsite Liberty Fest

http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Article/095500-2011-08-27-quartzsite-live-coverage-of-oathkeeper-event-photo-update-4.htm

http://www.parkerliveonline.com/2011/08/29/quartzsite-rally-attracts-hundreds/

Saturday’s Quartzsite Liberty Festival made its mark on Quartzsite Saturday as planned, despite temperatures of 114 to 117 degrees.
The rally was arranged to protest the actions of the town’s council and police chief, most conspicuously the treatment of Quartzsite police officers who were suspended or fired in what the protestors say was retaliation for bringing formal allegations against Chief Jeff Gilbert.
Marchers chanted “Quartzsite Ten, oath-keeping men” as they walked over 2.5 miles from an RV park south of I-10, over the freeway bridge and along the streets of Quartzsite to Town Hall.
Several politically active groups were in attendance, including Oath Keepers, the Tea Party Patriots, the Sons of Liberty Riders and campaigners for Ron Paul for President 2012.
Many attendees carried flags, banners and signs. Some were armed with pistols or rifles, and cameras of all sorts. Law enforcement and other authorities were largely absent from the demonstration.
Chilled water bottles were available to the heat-weary crowd, and Grubstake bar and restaurant was flooded with people during a stop-off along the route. Some were seen pouring water over their heads. Others’ clothing appeared to be almost entirely soaked with sweat.
Quartzsite Mayor Ed Foster said people had flown in from around the United States for the rally, from states as far and wide as Alaska, Florida, Texas and Connecticut. “I live here and I’m having a hard time in this heat, so I know, for these people from [colder states], it’s gotta be tough on them”, he said.
Local activist Jennifer Jones, the video of whose arrest at a public meeting provoked outrage on the internet, said the people had braved the weather to send a strong message about the importance of liberty.
Standing in front of the doors of the council chambers that she was hauled out of months earlier, Jones told a cheering crowd, “God bless each and every one of you for coming and standing with the citizens of this town today. Right is right and wrong is wrong, and the rule of law applies to everyone.”
Among the speakers at the event were Arizona State Legislators Carl Seel and Judy Burges, and Libertarian Party activist Barry Hess.

Click here to Get the Ernie Hancock recap halfway down the page at "hour two"

Ausust issue of the Desert Freedom Press, vol 1 issue 14

Southern Poverty Law Center, Department of Homeland Security, and Quartzsite?

The Southern Poverty Law Center, sworn enemy of the Tea Party and the liberty movement has been rumored to be planning an infiltration and disruption of the Quartzsite Liberty Fest peace rally in support of town police officers who "blew the whistle" on Chief Jeff Gilbert  in May.

While this might ordinarily be a laughable bit of "psychological warfare" aimed at discouraging participation in an afternoon of celebration and music, the following recent blog post  from http://freedomfighterradio.net/ which ties SPLC to Homeland Security, and recent World Net Daily article which shows new DHS videos depicting what former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano believes "domestic terrorists" look like, it does make a compelling, albeit circumstantial case for why Morris Dees and the SPLC might not want to see the citizens of Quartzsite  succeed.

Another rumor circulating around town is the Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert is contacting outside law enforcement agencies to set up roadblocks and intends to bring in the local SWAT team to assist. Sources confirm that several outside departments declined Gilbert's invitation, and did not want to be affiliated with anything he might be planning. One local resident stated "I think Gilbert may be trying to orchestrate a disturbance to justify the emergency they declared over the bogus death threats. It's no wonder other cops don't take him seriously."


(Re-posted unedited with permission - opinions expressed are those of the original author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Desert Freedom Press)

Source: Freedom Fighter Radio.com

According to Wikipedia, in 1971 Morris Dees and Joseph Levin began a so-called non-profit civil rights organization known as Southern Poverty Law (LIE) Center. This organization claims to have a variety of tasks that has grown through-out the years. Near their inception they had a strategy of filing civil suits for damages on behalf of the victims of hate group harassment, threats, and violence with the goal of financially depleting the responsible groups and individuals.

Originally, the group seemingly had a righteous cause, targeting groups like the KKK. Morris Dees reportedly won a wrongful death suit at one point for a black mother who lost her son to racist violence. I would like to state that I personally feel racism is wrong, for the record! However, this case could shine a negative light on Dees as he allegedly won a massive judgment near $9,000,000.00! The grieving mother was reportedly paid out $51,875.00! Dees near that time is alleged to have started a salary for Dees at a mere $275,000.00 annually. This is where I begin to question, just how righteous the cause of the SPLC actually is?

Morris Dees is portrayed as an expert on terrorism, militias, and the patriot movement! But his behavior, and credibly are called into question in court documents recorded in records from his divorce proceedings! They claim Dees attempted to molest his step daughter. Also in these documents it is alleged that there was inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature which occurred with his future daughter-in-law, as well as many other extramarital engagements!

These documents point out that Dees has an ego the size of Texas as well! We don’t see a lot of current public appearances out of Dees these days as he seems to send his minion, Mark Potok instead. Apparently in 1986 Dees entire legal staff quit in Protest to Dees refusal to address issues such as homelessness, voter registration, and affirmative action! These issues appear to be worth far less money than fighting the KKK to rich benefactors! A former lawyer at SPLC was quoted as saying that SPLC programs were apparently calculated to cash in on “black pain and white guilt.” Anyhow, these are just a few of the juicy historical elements to Dees, and SPLC now I digress to get back on topic.

SPLC grew over the years, and started to broaden their staff, and scope of issues it focused on. The focus continued to include discrimination, civil rights violations, racial segregation, mistreatment of aliens, and separation of church and state issues. It also grew to monitor alleged hate groups, militias, and extremist organizations! The SPLC sprang onto the scene and was used by lame stream media to demonize the resurgent militia movement. This movement resurfaced in recent years due to a lot of American citizens seeing a government stepping out of the framework set up by the founding documents, also known as the law. However, the SPLC doesn’t ever seem to state that! These are the sorts of issues that have lead to the rebirth of the militia, and things like the TEA party. All of which are regularly referred to now as terrorist organizations, which is far from true!

Potok over the last few years along with the backing of the SPLC has been on a media campaign to demonize those seemingly concerned citizen’s who wish to align themselves with the constitution, and the bill of rights. Potok in my opinion and by his own actions could be described as a left wing fanatic himself. The SPLC has been alleged to label themselves as one of the most highly regarded non governmental organizations which monitors hate groups. That has also changed but we will get into that later.

Potok has written an article which ended up published in a communist magazine, although Potok claims no knowledge of how it ended up there! Potok acts as a key spokesman for SPLC in alleged cases of extremism. Potok has been recorded to have had dealings with the United Nation’s as well. Potok has been on the staff of SPLC since 1997, but furthermore has also had dealings with socialists. He has affiliations with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, which is clearly socialist in origin!

He is also documented as saying in regards to Rep. Peter Kings hearings on Muslims “Well, I think they’re despicable. I think that the truth is, is that Peter King does not come to this with clean hands, quite the opposite. You know, the reality is that this is a guy who has said that 85 to 80 — or 80 to 85 percent of the leaders of mosques are radicals, are jihadists, tied to extremism and so on. And I think that that is objectively entirely false.” However, we who study Islam from the outside know those who adhere to the pedophile prophets teachings are the true extremists!

The most recent estimates we can find are provided by charity navigator, which alleges net assets near $152,000,000.00 in 2010! Dees, Potok, and the rest of the crew certainly seem to be in it for some very good intentions, money. This campaign they have been on as an alleged NGO is questionable at best. I know this has nothing to do with Charles Dyer! However, it does which we will be able to tie in if you just bear with us!

Freedom Fighter Radio has uncovered the names and faces of some other SPLC personnel that will prove interesting as well as affiliated organizations that we believe will also grab your attention. These are some of those affiliate organizations/programs: hate watch, Klan watch, teaching tolerance, intelligence report…. The list goes on! Some of the alleged employee names are as follows: Al Dixon, Harold Thompson, Brian Youngblood, Penny Weaver, Henderson Cornelia, Melanie Mulchahy, and Jennifer Holloday……to name a few!

The warped views of the SPLC are listed as a resource for none of than the Federal Bureau of Investigations for many years now! The SPLC has some warped causes it apparently stands for including illegal immigration, (LBGT) lesbian gay bisexual transgender, socialists and the jihad loving Muslim’s! They apparently have gone against a lot of groups that based there stance on the constitution in recent years. This becomes important for one simple fact, that fact being SPLC was folded into the government! The SPLC was adopted by Department of Homeland Security in October 2010! Remember this fact as it will be pertinent as we get deeper into the rat hole!

Now back to the employees we have discovered to be alleged employees of SPLC! One such employee, we have come to discover is a man employed by according to other articles, and sites we have discovered for the SPLC! His name is Brian Youngblood! Well let us look at what we know about Brian Youngblood, as he might be a little less of a left wing extremist although I doubt it! First, I have gained accessed to a lot of his tweets and apparently he likes to drink. One tweet states “I love the smell of hops in the morning”, which could imply as he does he brew’s beer, but also could lead us to believe he likes to drink! It seems he likes to drink at all hours of the day to me! He certainly seems to imply that in his tweets as well! Brian also has affiliations with intellitours; a GPS guided Tour Company as an expert in computers and telecommunications equipment. This I find interesting due to being personally told by victims of the website Hate Trackers that there was information posted that could have only been gathered by a computer hack, information including pictures only found on one persons personal computer!

Their website also lists him as an IT Professional for SPLC! So by now, you are probably wondering why this clown is important to this story. Well, we found an article that was posted online by CNN tech dated August 12, 1999 that says a lot! The article is titled “Web Trackers Hunt Racist Groups Online”! In the beginning of this article they state “The leader of the hate trackers is the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama”! To tie this to Brian Youngblood I will also quote the aforementioned article as stating “There, Brian Youngblood heads up a team of 12 that monitors the material at more than 500 Web sites, mostly by hand, as well as a number of chat rooms and news groups.” So the fanatic leftist loons of SPLC are historically tied directly to Hate Trackers! They are also tied directly to our corrupt government as they have been folded into the DHS!

With statements being made by the Hate Trackers Site such as: “We have held on to this information at the request of the FBI, but it has leaked to other entities, so we are going with our story first.” It now becomes more than apparent Hate Trackers is highly likely to be, if not certainly is a government operation, as Jim and I have long suspected! But wait it gets more interesting yet, so don’t go anywhere boys and girls!

So, the FBI, and ATF are two of the agencies who have been involved in Dyer’s persecution! They are now under the blanket of fusion (inter-agency cooperation) that has been laid out by the patriot act! These agencies all get there instructions from the DHS expressly HSAC otherwise known as the Homeland Security Advisory Council! This Council is run by two devout Muslims by the names Arif Alikhan, and Kahreem Al Shora! We brought this to light on previous shows of ours with help of our friend, and author Chris Alexander (retired Marine)!

Oh but wait it gets better yet with other names involved with HSAC like:

Arif Alikhan

Nimco Ahmed,

Omar Alomari,

Asli Bali,

Mohamed Elibiary

(President and CEO, The Freedom and Justice Foundation)

Ronald Haddad (Chief of Police, Dearborn Police Department)

Imam Mohamed Magid (Executive Director, All Dulles Area Muslim Society)

Dalia Mogahed (Gallup Center for Muslim Studies)

Appointed to President Obama’s faith advisory council, was a partner

in an Islamic project whose stated goal was to define,

interpret and implement the concept of the Islamic State in modern times in America

Asim Rehman (Muslim Bar Association of New York)

Nadia Rouman (American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute)!

Those are the apparently devout Muslims working as appointees of the Obama Administration for the HSAC! (Homeland Security Advisory Council) Another, interesting name that is on the HSAC list is Bob Wasserman! My suspicion is that Wasserman is related to Debbie Wasserman-Shultz DNC Chair, who also seems to be heading up the Obama 2012 campaign!

Some of these people, namely the devout Muslims named are likely related by blood to the very people, or at least by there adherence to the blood thirsty beast known as Islam that our country  and many other brave souls have meet on the battlefields in far off lands!

To you Patriots out there, pick your friends wisely as the infiltration is deep and beware the enemy is inside the gates! The perimeter has folded and the siege is underway! Pick your battles wisely, and give no quarter to thy enemy for god in heaven will surely not look kindly on us for that!

“Now the Lord is the spirit; and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.” Second Corinthinian’s 3:17 I for certain would gladly stand with all the other noble souls who can clearly state the mission “Liberty or Death” rather than sell my soul to those who mean to enslave or murder us all! To look at this government one must consider this as well,

2 Peter 2:19 while they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Galatians 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

May the Lord bless you all, do not forsake the Lord almighty and he will be with you always. The flesh of this earth matters not as we are here for only his divine plan! Liberty is his plan, and when I stand to be judged for my works as all will be I will proudly state I stood for truth and justice under the law of the land and of the Lord!

May you all repent well in Christ, Semper Fidelis,

JT Campbell (USMC Retired, Host of FFR)

Research for this expose’ assisted by Jim Host of Freedom Fighter Radio

Some of the links used in this article posted below:

http://articles.cnn.com/1999-08-12/tech/9908_12_hate.online_1_web-sites-stormfront-white-supremacist?_s=PM:TECH
http://www.freedomfighterradio.net/hsac_cve_working_group_recommendations.pdf
http://start.facemoods.com/results.php?s=brian+youngblood+splc&category=web&a=iron&start=1
http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/1999/08/21163
http://twitter.com/#!/brianyoungblood
http://www.spoke.com/info/p5QORQJ/JenniferHolladay
http://www.intellitours.com/about_youngblood.php
http://12160.info/profiles/blogs/southern-poverty-law-center
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Southern_Poverty_Law_Center
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_designated_by_the_Southern_Poverty_Law_Center_as_hate_groups
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/summer/meet-the-patriots
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/summer
http://freedomfighterradio.net/2010/03/10/morris-dees-child-molester-pervert-and-liar/
http://freedomfighterradio.net/2010/03/05/the-southern-poverty-law-center-exposed/
http://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/so-who-the-heck-is-mark-potok-anyway/
http://dailycaller.com/2011/01/22/splc-article-featured-in-communist-newspaper/
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2011/3/10/mark_potok_peter_king_hearings_on_muslims_despicable
http://start.facemoods.com/results.php?s=+debbie+wasserman+shultz%27s+husband&category=web&a=iron&start=1

QPOA v Quartzsite - case moved to federal court

Read the minutes: http://bit.ly/q8RnFq

At this afternoon's hearing between members of the Quartzsite Police Officers Association and town officials, defendants Police Chief Jeff Gilbert, Town Manager Alex Taft, and Assistant Town Manager Al Johnson were no shows. They were represented by Justin Pierce, from the firm of Jackson Lewis, hired on the recommendation of the town's insurance.  He argued that the motion he had filed just this morning should be considered, despite the attorney for the Quartzsite Police Officers not even having seen it, let alone the opportunity to respond.

The Honorable Randolph Bartlett did not appear not impressed by this last minute maneuver, and proceeded with the hearing to show cause as to why the temporary restraining order should not remain while the officers are given proper due process in their administrative hearings. Presumptively, Bartlett may have given the defense attorney the opportunity to make that argument when his turn came, but things never made it that far.

Officer William Ponce was the first and only one to testify, and he detailed the conduct that resulted in ten members of the Quartzsite Police Department filing complaints against Police Chief Jeff Gilbert, and giving an official vote of "no confidence" in him. After having several objections overruled, the town's attorney asked to approach the bench. After several minutes of discussion between the judge and the attorneys, Judge Bartlett announced that the case has been requested to be moved to the US District Court in Phoenix. He ordered that the paperwork be filed within ten working days, and that the "TRO" remain in place.

Freedom movement artist Jordan Page to play Quartzsite Liberty Festival!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Quartzsite, Arizona's "Liberty Fest" is shaping up to be a historic event. The event will center around a non partisan August 27th 10 am banner and flag march to the steps of Quartzsite Town Hall, followed by speeches and a live radio broadcast by Ernest Hancock of "Declare your Independence". A pot luck dinner gathering will feature live entertainment.

It has just been announced that well known musician and freedom fighter Jordan Page, has been confirmed for Saturday evening, and other artists are currently in negotiation to perform.



The Quartzsite Liberty Festival was inspired by ten members of the Quartzsite Police Department who chose to honor their oath to the Constitution, and ask for a formal  criminal and ethical investigation into their boss, Police Chief Jeff Gilbert. Law enforcement officers and patriots from around the country wanted a way to show support for the "Quartzsite 10", after facts surrounding the actions by town leaders became a national news story.

According to the website for Oath Keepers, "The Quartzsite Liberty Festival will also support the concerned citizenry of Quartzsite, local activists such as grass-roots journalist Jennifer ‘Jade’ Jones, and the town Mayor, the Honorable Ed Foster (a Marine veteran), who have stood up for the free speech rights of the citizens."

In addition to the Greater Phoenix Tea Party and the Oath Keepers, patriot groups such as the  Ron Paul R3volution, Sons of Liberty Riders, Campaign for Liberty and others have RSVP'd for the event.

For more information about the event, contact:
Arizona Oath Keepers – Contact Mike Frye: mrteapartyfrye@gmail.com phone -- 623-521-3612
Oath Keepers Board of Directors – Contact Elias Alias
eliasalias@gmail.com phone -- 406-285-6597


For more information on musician Jordan Page, see:
http://jordanpagemusic.com/
and
http://www.myspace.com/jordanpagemusic

Quartzsite 8-9-11 Council meeting was anything but "regular"

Mayor Ed Foster had called for a special meeting to be held Tuesday morning at 9am, in order to give the town council a chance to make their ongoing "emergency" legal. Recently reprimanded Town Attorney Martin Brannan advised the council it was an "illegal meeting" just because it had not been posted to the town website.


However, Quartzsite Town Code section 2-4-2 states that the mayor can call a special meeting with twenty four hours notice, and that "In the case of an actual emergency, a meeting may be held upon such notice as is appropriate to the circumstances." Brannans assertion that the special meeting agenda needed to be posted to the town website in order to be legal might therefore mean that despite declaring an emergency in a locked door emergency meeting, there was no "actual emergency".


Mayor Foster had posted the notice of the special meeting on bulletin boards around town, as well as notifying Town Clerk Karen Norris that it needed to be posted last week. Foster stated that Norris had been prohibited from doing her job. Norris had placed Mayor Foster's agenda item on the "regular" meeting agenda, scheduled for the same time. Town Manager Alex Taft is ultimately responsible for the town's website updates.


Town Attorney Brannan insists that the "regular" meeting is legal, because three council members signed for it, but that would only be required for a "special" meeting as stipulated by Town Code 2-4-2. A "regular meeting" is held only at 7 pm, accordin to Town Code 2-4-1 and has a set agenda that includes public comment as outlined in 2-4-6. From the audience reaction, it appeared that even the laypersons watching this intentional violation of law understood the complexities of what was taking place. The Attorney General's Office is now reviewing this video.


Other meeting highlights, included a report by the town manager that included the following: 

The Town Engineer suggested going forward with   a  “transportation master plan”. The cost of the plan could be  funded through an ADOT “Planning for Rural Assistance Grant” and monies would go to the town engineer for the study.

A “Safe Routes to School Grant” is in pre planning stage with ADOT. Town Manager Alex Taft had previously indicated that the grant was needed to improve walking safety for the elderly on a road that is conveniently located near the elementary school.

The Hi Jolly way finding and B10 landscaping grant has been started. It will fund placing signs on the Interstate telling drivers where the "Hi Jolly" cemetary monument is, and for landscaping along Main St near the McDonalds. This will be paid for by ADOT enhancement funds.

According to Taft,  Quartzsite is receiving a 3.7 million grant by the USDA for wastewater treatment expansion.


The consent agenda was approved without questioning why payroll is still not listed by which amout was paid to what employee, and it contained the following curious item:


3. Approval of ratification of actions regarding Regular Council Meetings and public participation; approved by Council at the Emergency Meeting of July 10, 2011. 


As predicted, Mike Jewitt was appointed to fill the council vacancy left by Jose Lizarraga, who stepped down to run against Ed Foster in the August 30th recall election. Jewitt was appointed and sworn in with such haste that Vice Mayor Cowell didn't bother to state "motion carried".


Item 3, to execute an agreement to take part of the "Rice Ranch" property from Chaunce Hamilton for town use was passed.


Item 4, to possibly train a town employee to conduct backflow testing of wells was postponed. Ironically, Assistant Town Manager Al Johnson had a meeting in the Planning and Zoning Office with someone from a backflow company the previous afternoon.


Lastly, item 5, the town will give a reduction in the "per fixture" water and sewer rates to churches for the summer months, but not to the towns nearly vacant RV parks.

Missing audio minutes of secret "emergency " council meeting now available

Even though they were promised to the media almost a month ago, the audio, direct from Quartzsite Town Hall microphones has finally made it out of the building.

Received from an open records request that was filled by Town Clerk Karen Norris. Now the world can hear for themselves what constitutes an open ended "emergency" in an American town.

Norris had been away on "sick leave" since the July 10th "emergency" locked door council meeting, and reappeared long enough to download these files, and attend yesterdays unorthodox council meeting, but has again disappeared. Many now speculate that she has been suspended or terminated, and sources reveal that she retained legal council several weeks ago as the town's political climate has become volitile.

The details of yesterday's potentially unlawful town council meeting will be posted here tomorrow.

Declare Your Independence" radio to broadcast live from Quartzsite!

LIVE From Quartzsite Monday and Tuesday Noon to 2pm

http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Media/094453-2011-08-09-live-from-quartzsite-az-noon-to-2pm.htm

Listen to Monday's show:
FIRST HOUR
SECOND HOUR

Tyson's R.V. Park "Community Room" - 350 W Main Quartzsite, AZ - Noon to 2pm Both Monday and Tuesday - Public invited to attend and peacefully participate.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=350+W+Main+St,+Quartzsite,+AZ+85346&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGLA_en___US375&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

EVERYBODY on ALL sides get to have their say!

Peace,

Ernest Hancock
602 717 5900

The "terrorists" are coming? August 27th and 28th, 2011

Do these Americans look like terrorists to you? Apparently, they look like a "terrorist" threat to Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert. According to his own statements at Wednesday's "coffee with cops" Gilbert has reported the upcoming "occupation" of Quartzsite by the Tea Party and the Oath Keepers to the "FBI and any other agency that would listen".

Patriots from around the nation will arrive Saturday August 27th for "Quartzsite Liberty Festival", a peaceful show of support for The Quartzsite Police Officers Association "whistle blowers", Mayor Ed Foster, and the oppressed citizens of the town. 

According to the Oath Keepers website, "Oath Keepers will muster, along with the Sons of Liberty Riders, the Sons of Liberty, the Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots, the Campaign For Liberty, and numerous other patriot/Constitutionalist groups". A FaceBook page states that the Ron Paul group "Arizona R3volution", and the USA Riders have also RSVP'd for the event.

Local merchants are already making plans to accommodate the much needed boost to the economy. The real question is, what will Quartzsite chose to show the world? Will citizens join together in solidarity for a peaceful and patriotic weekend? Or will our guests be greeted by riot police?

http://www.infowars.com/quartzsite-police-chief-calls-oath-keepers-and-tea-party-%E2%80%9Cterrorists%E2%80%9D-and-reports-them-to-the-fbi/comment-page-1/#comments

http://oathkeepers.org/oath/2011/07/28/quartzsite/

Quartzsite breaking news

Mayor Foster has called a special meeting for Tuesday morning at 9 am.
http://qtown.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011-08-09-Meeting.pdf
On the agenda is "Discussion and possible action to declare that a state of emergency exists in Quartzsite, AZ (Open for public discussion)

Since AG Tom Horne issued a press release stating that "we are prepared to say that, based on review of a video of a July 10 meeting, there is reasonable cause to believe that there has been a violation of the Open Meeting Law, inasmuch as the public was excluded." the actions taken at that "secret" meeting are therefore legally null and void and must be reratified by the council. Now, thanks to Mayor Foster, Quartzsite Councilmembers and staff will be able to plead their case to the citizens and make it a lawful decision on whether angry emails created an "emergency" as defined by town code.

Here's the link to the most recent story on Quartzsite by CBS News in Yuma, discussing Assistant Town Manager Al Johnson's "contempt of court" :
 http://www.kswt.com/story/15211002/court-slaps-quartzsite-with-temporary-restraining-order
There will be an exclusive interview on tonight's newscast at 10 pm with QPOA President Will Ponce.

A national fund has been set up to offset legal fees  incurred in defense of "The Quartzsite ten" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Supporters-of-Mayor-Ed-Foster-of-Quartzsite-Arizona/118461931576665?sk=notes#!/note.php?note_id=131856113570580

Publisher Jennifer Jones will be the featured speaker at the Arizona Breakfast Club on Saturday
http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Article/094208-2011-08-03-arizona-breakfast-club-this-saturday.htm

Former Mayor Richard Oldham was interviewd yesterday on Declare Your Independence with Ernest Hancock
http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Media/094249-2011-08-04-bonus-ernest-hancock-interview-by-joyce-riley-on-the-power.htm
And the Declare Your Independence radio show will be broadcasting LIVE from Quartzsite this week! Stay tuned for more details.

Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert referred to the Oath Keepers and the Tea Party as a terrorist threat and admitted to reporting their upcomming August 27th - 28th peace rally to the FBI yesterday morning.
http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/094198-2011-08-03-quartzite-chief-tells-fbi-that-tea-party-oathkeeper-terrorists-plan.htm
RSVP on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/index.php#!/event.php?eid=263949043618629
http://oathkeepers.org/oath/2011/08/03/oath-keepers-to-muster-quartzsite-arizona-august-27-2011/
Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes responded by saying " If Chief Gilbert wants to label us "terrorists" simply for keeping our oaths to defend the Constitution, by using our natural right of free speech in support of good police officers who refused unlawful orders, and if he is going to label us "terrorists" for simply exercising our First Amendment protected right to peaceably assemble and petition government for a redress of grievances, - all rights that GOOD MEN fought and died to preserve - well then, all I have to say is "we're your huckleberries" Chief. See you in Quartzsite folks! Our forefathers are watching.

Restraining order issued against Quartzsite over QPOA suspensions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 1st, La Paz County Superior Court Judge Barlett, issued a temporary restraining order against the Town of Quartzsite, Alex Taft, Jeff Gilbert, and Al Johnson, which basically prohibits the termination of the Plaintiffs (members of QPOA), and orders that the Defendants appear for a "show cause" hearing at 1:30 on August 15th in the La Paz  County Superior Court in Parker AZ.
http://qtown.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/TRO1.pdf
This hearing is open to media and the public.
http://qtown.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Order-to-Show-Cause1.pdf

The Plaintiffs are being represented by the Phoenix, AZ law firm of Schneider and Onofry. Anyone wishing to contribute to the legal expenses of these officers can make a contribution through an account set up by the Greater Phoenix Tea Party with Wells Fargo Bank for "Quartzsite Citizens Donation Fund"
http://thedesertfreedompress.blogspot.com/2011/07/fund-set-up-for-quartzsite.html
Also, a car wash fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, August 6th, beginning at 7am to be held at the Shell Gas Station on the corner of Hwy 95 and Main St. in Quartzste.
http://qtown.us/blog/2011/08/02/quartzsite-10-fundraiser-carwash/

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