ARIZONA STATE QUARTER (Tribune file photo)
Gov. Janet Napolitano and state Treasurer Dean Martin have been dueling, politics-style, over the ephemeral prize of being associated with the one and only Arizona state quarter.
Napolitano, a Democrat, had the real task of actually picking the final design of the state quarter, one of the last in the 50-state series to be minted by the federal government. So it’s no surprise she has been working the publicity angles through several stages leading up to Monday’s official release of the quarter to the public.
But Martin, a Republican, has managed to horn in on Napolitano’s show. As keeper of the keys to the state vault, Martin has been doing his best to stake a claim to the positive vibes that the U.S. Mint program has generated.
This face-off was highlighted May 16 when Napolitano and Martin both made the trip to the U.S. Mint plant in Denver for the ceremonial striking of the quarter. Of course, the offices of Napolitano and Martin sent out competing statements promoting their travel plans.
Then, the duel continued today with separate news releases about Monday’s unveiling of the quarter. Martin’s news release (not online yet) actually arrive by e-mail first at the Tribune at about 11:24 a.m. Martin talks about how he will ride in an authentic Wells Fargo stagecoach to deliver the first rolls of quarters to the state Capitol in a strongbox.
Napolitano’s version arrived by email about 1:24 p.m. Friday, and focuses on a ceremony that will take place at the Capitol Monday to honor the coin. Napolitano’s news release mentions that children will receive their very own quarter for free, while adults will be able to exchange $10 for a roll of brand-spanking new Arizona coins.
It’s strange how Martin and Napolitano seem to be completely unaware that the other public official will be anywhere near Monday’s celebration …
Anyway, Napolitano might be winning the publicity dual so far, if this news release from the U.S. Mint is any indication.
 Governor, Treasurer duke it out over state quarterMay 30th, 2008, 2:35 pm · 2 Comments · posted by Le Templar2 CommentsLeave a Reply
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Wells Fargo will be lucky if Martin returns the stagecoach and they better count those quarters. Dean Martin is being investigated by the FBI for laundering campaign donations into his own pocket during his 2004 state senate campaign. If the people of Arizona are really lucky, the U.S. Marshal will be waiting at the capital to arrest Martin on arrival. That’s if Martin doesn’t take off with the stagecoach and the quarters.
There goes Bob Haran again, posting his wild and crazy accusations under another fake name. This must be another blog that he got banned from posting under his real name. I guess all hope is lost that Bob will ever get a real job since the Don Quixote job of tilting at windmills was already taken.