Gutierrez Line Raises Questions about Arditti
I try to be as observant as I can when I am around candidates. I notice things like their shoes, weight gain/loss, sunburn, etc. I'm always looking for indicators from candidates and their staffers.
I especially like to hear candidates talk to voters. In fact, if they are talking to me and a voter comes up and wants to talk to them I excuse myself so that they can do their job...earn votes.
So I listen to a lot of candidates talk to would-be voters and listen to their pitch. I over-heard Ray Gutierrez, who is running against Judge Regina Arditti while he was speaking to a group of seniors the other day. He spent most of his time listening, but eventually the senior started talking about how things were getting tight in the pocket-book and she was having to skip doses of medication in order to make them stretch.
Gutierrez politely listened to the senior until she finished. She eventually got around to asking him about what he was running for and why. Gutierrez started giving his pitch and explaining what the court does, etc. He then mentioned to the lady that he believed that people like her should be getting their tax dollar's worth out of their elected officials.
This is where things got interesting. He said that while she was skipping doses of medication to make them stretch, Judge Arditti had taken a salary from the tax-payers of El Paso County while she was suspended from the bench, to the tune of over $100,000. He went on to explain that not only did Judge Arditti take the salary while she wasn't working, but that the tax-payers had to foot the bill for another judge to come in and run the court.
I have to admit, thats a pretty effective line. It addresses her court case, without talking about guilt or innocence. It doesn't leave Arditti much room to counter with the fact that she was ultimately acquitted.
If that is something that Gutierrez is consistent in using, I think people will now start to ask about Arditti receiving the salary while she was suspended from the bench and if she plans on returning the money.
Arditti has been graceful on the campaign trail so far but Gutierrez clearly got under her skin in the last forum, so it will be interesting to see how this one goes over. There is still lots of campaign time...
I especially like to hear candidates talk to voters. In fact, if they are talking to me and a voter comes up and wants to talk to them I excuse myself so that they can do their job...earn votes.
So I listen to a lot of candidates talk to would-be voters and listen to their pitch. I over-heard Ray Gutierrez, who is running against Judge Regina Arditti while he was speaking to a group of seniors the other day. He spent most of his time listening, but eventually the senior started talking about how things were getting tight in the pocket-book and she was having to skip doses of medication in order to make them stretch.
Gutierrez politely listened to the senior until she finished. She eventually got around to asking him about what he was running for and why. Gutierrez started giving his pitch and explaining what the court does, etc. He then mentioned to the lady that he believed that people like her should be getting their tax dollar's worth out of their elected officials.
This is where things got interesting. He said that while she was skipping doses of medication to make them stretch, Judge Arditti had taken a salary from the tax-payers of El Paso County while she was suspended from the bench, to the tune of over $100,000. He went on to explain that not only did Judge Arditti take the salary while she wasn't working, but that the tax-payers had to foot the bill for another judge to come in and run the court.
I have to admit, thats a pretty effective line. It addresses her court case, without talking about guilt or innocence. It doesn't leave Arditti much room to counter with the fact that she was ultimately acquitted.
If that is something that Gutierrez is consistent in using, I think people will now start to ask about Arditti receiving the salary while she was suspended from the bench and if she plans on returning the money.
Arditti has been graceful on the campaign trail so far but Gutierrez clearly got under her skin in the last forum, so it will be interesting to see how this one goes over. There is still lots of campaign time...
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