Charles "Hos" Hoskins
An escalating clash of wills and politics now grips Maricopa County government, as a new lawsuit challenging the Board of Supervisors seems to be filed every day, a number of elected officials are now gunning to get County Manager David Smith fired, and the sheriff seems to be investigating just about everyone else.
One of two new lawsuits revealed yesterday involves county Treasurer Charles Hoskins, who claims Smith and the Board of Supervisors have cut his budget and are interfering with his management decisions to the point that he can’t carry out his constitutional duties. He wants the courts to raise his funding from $2.6 million to $3.4 million and allow him to fill several vacant staff positions.
Arizona’s rich history probably doesn’t include fighting of this intensity between county elected officials. So the courts might need to look to Texas for guidance how to mediate these disputes. When I worked there in the late 1990s, conflicts between the Texan equivalent of a Board of Supervisors and other elected officials was a common, and sometimes comical, feature. In Wichita County, the county treasurer sued the county board twice in five years for failing to fund her office adequately and for meddling with her ability to do her job. The treasurer won both times.
Arizona courts have been somewhat less willing to intercede in what they consider to be political disputes. So Hoskins might not get the relief he seeks. But he could have a case if he can show exactcly how the Board of Supervisors’ actions have disrupted his office.
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Does it surprise anyone that Smith and the Board of Morons think they are GOD?
That’s all you read is the Board thinks they run the State.All of them, Smith, the Board, they all need to be kicked out.
I supposed the members of the Board of Supervisors are kicking themselves for appointing this guy as the County Treasurer.
Bring back the Duel. Settle this like real men.
The only “real man” on the BOS is Mary Rose.
Learn to live within your means Mr Treasurer. If you don’t think you can do it, then resign and let someone else try.
Give them more money for what? Wasteful prosecutions? So the boys can keep squabbling? I’d give money so the county can pick up stray dogs in the rural parts. They stopped that you know because of budget cuts. Yet these mindless fools can ask for more money to keep their games going.
I vote but didn’t vote for these merry band of fools.