That was the title of Bob Burns’ Feb 12, 2013 article in The Times about the MCSO training exercise at Four Peaks school. As the title implies, the purpose and necessity of the exercise were subjects of controversy. Several people, including Council Member Ginny Dickey, protested the event they perceived as a politically motivated public relations stunt by Sheriff Arpaio, rather than actual training.
I was saddened to see that event revisited in the political ad on page 7A of the July 25 Times. The ad, produced by the self-proclaimed Good Government Committee, had no trouble twisting the events of that February day into the blanket assertion that “Ginny Dickey WON’T keep our children safe.” This is absurd and totally misleading. The only truthful sentence in that ad is that “She protested and picketed the training operations.” Of course she did. Justifiably. In my opinion, it was her civic duty to oppose the event that was clearly an outrageous display of grandstanding for political gain by Arpaio.
The ad’s two claims that mayoral candidate Ginny Dickey opposes school safety measures and won’t keep our children safe are outrageous lies. Her previous actions on the Fountain Hills Town Council and School Board prove otherwise.
The authors of this advertisement know better. I also question the staff of The Times for choosing to print it. A certain amount of spin is expected in political advertising, but printing this ad borders on editorial malfeasance.
And Mr. Yates, if by chance you are reading this, it might be wise for you to distance yourself from this malicious advertising (and the Good Government Committee) by any means possible. There is a disclaimer in the ad stating that it’s not approved by any candidate. However, your name appears prominently throughout it.
