TPC
Wrenching Dad
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2007
- Messages
- 30,431
- Reaction score
- 22,515
Patterson is the frontman that caused the closures at Glamis and most other Southwest riding areas.
Also the main character standing in the way of the LA to Las Vegas train.
"The Arizona Legislature could find itself in the midst of another ethics investigation into a state lawmaker's personal life.
Rep. Katie Hobbs, D-Phoenix, has filed a formal request for the House Ethics Committee to investigate Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson.
Patterson on Monday refused Democrats' demands that he resign in the wake of allegations of domestic conflict with his former girlfriend and campaign chairwoman.
The woman, who was living with Patterson, filed an order of protection against him in Tucson city court on Friday alleging that he, among other things, threatened to kill her.
A judge ordered Patterson to have "no contact" with the woman.
Patterson also has been the subject of restraining orders that his ex-wife filed against him in recent years as they went through a divorce and custody battle. According to one order, Patterson told his ex-wife, who was recovering from breast cancer, that he hoped she would die. She reported that she feared for her life and their daughter's safety. No criminal charges were filed related to those incidents.
Hobbs in her request states that the allegations against Patterson constitute domestic violence and appear to be a pattern of inappropriate conduct. Fifteen other House Democrats also signed on in support of the request.
House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, on Monday called for Patterson's resignation, as did Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Luis Heredia. Both said the allegations were interfering with his work.
Patterson, who was at home in Tucson on Monday and missed House votes on several bills, defended himself.
He said he found out recently that his girlfriend had some problems in her past and he had talked to her about moving out and she "did not take this well."
Patterson said he has spoken to Tucson police, and he has not been arrested. He said prosecutors have not filed charges, and he has not invoked legislative immunity.
"These are all false allegations," he said. "Everybody is entitled to tell their side of the story. I'm just trying to protect myself and my family."
Patterson said he doesn't know why fellow Democrats have called for his resignation.
"They are in the world of cutthroat Phoenix politics," he said. "I haven't heard similar calls from people in Tucson. The only people who matter to me are the voters in my district."
Campbell said there have been ongoing issues with Patterson for the past few years, both with people in his personal life and with other state lawmakers. He declined to go into detail.
"If this was a one-time thing, this would be a very different conversation," he said. "But these ongoing issues are limiting Mr. Patterson's ability to adequately represent his constituents. It's just distracting."
Heredia said in a media release that Patterson's issues render him unable to serve his constituents.
"I do not call on a sitting Democratic elected official to resign lightly. However, I firmly believe that the voters of Southern Arizona deserve a representative who can serve them without distraction," Heredia said in his release.
A call to Tucson police seeking information about any police reports filed relating to Friday's incident was not returned. Patterson's ex-girlfriend on Monday did not return a message seeking comment.
House Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Ted Vogt, R-Tucson, will decide whether to move forward with the investigation.
The last legislative ethics-committee investigation was earlier this year when the Senate Ethics Committee held a two-day hearing into domestic-violence allegations against Sen. Scott Bundgaard, R-Peoria.
Bundgaard resigned abruptly during the hearing."
-AZ Central.com.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/artic...estic-violence-resignation.html#ixzz1nu0uGrOF
Also the main character standing in the way of the LA to Las Vegas train.
"The Arizona Legislature could find itself in the midst of another ethics investigation into a state lawmaker's personal life.
Rep. Katie Hobbs, D-Phoenix, has filed a formal request for the House Ethics Committee to investigate Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson.
Patterson on Monday refused Democrats' demands that he resign in the wake of allegations of domestic conflict with his former girlfriend and campaign chairwoman.
The woman, who was living with Patterson, filed an order of protection against him in Tucson city court on Friday alleging that he, among other things, threatened to kill her.
A judge ordered Patterson to have "no contact" with the woman.
Patterson also has been the subject of restraining orders that his ex-wife filed against him in recent years as they went through a divorce and custody battle. According to one order, Patterson told his ex-wife, who was recovering from breast cancer, that he hoped she would die. She reported that she feared for her life and their daughter's safety. No criminal charges were filed related to those incidents.
Hobbs in her request states that the allegations against Patterson constitute domestic violence and appear to be a pattern of inappropriate conduct. Fifteen other House Democrats also signed on in support of the request.
House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, on Monday called for Patterson's resignation, as did Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Luis Heredia. Both said the allegations were interfering with his work.
Patterson, who was at home in Tucson on Monday and missed House votes on several bills, defended himself.
He said he found out recently that his girlfriend had some problems in her past and he had talked to her about moving out and she "did not take this well."
Patterson said he has spoken to Tucson police, and he has not been arrested. He said prosecutors have not filed charges, and he has not invoked legislative immunity.
"These are all false allegations," he said. "Everybody is entitled to tell their side of the story. I'm just trying to protect myself and my family."
Patterson said he doesn't know why fellow Democrats have called for his resignation.
"They are in the world of cutthroat Phoenix politics," he said. "I haven't heard similar calls from people in Tucson. The only people who matter to me are the voters in my district."
Campbell said there have been ongoing issues with Patterson for the past few years, both with people in his personal life and with other state lawmakers. He declined to go into detail.
"If this was a one-time thing, this would be a very different conversation," he said. "But these ongoing issues are limiting Mr. Patterson's ability to adequately represent his constituents. It's just distracting."
Heredia said in a media release that Patterson's issues render him unable to serve his constituents.
"I do not call on a sitting Democratic elected official to resign lightly. However, I firmly believe that the voters of Southern Arizona deserve a representative who can serve them without distraction," Heredia said in his release.
A call to Tucson police seeking information about any police reports filed relating to Friday's incident was not returned. Patterson's ex-girlfriend on Monday did not return a message seeking comment.
House Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Ted Vogt, R-Tucson, will decide whether to move forward with the investigation.
The last legislative ethics-committee investigation was earlier this year when the Senate Ethics Committee held a two-day hearing into domestic-violence allegations against Sen. Scott Bundgaard, R-Peoria.
Bundgaard resigned abruptly during the hearing."
-AZ Central.com.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/artic...estic-violence-resignation.html#ixzz1nu0uGrOF