Recall Effort Underway for Phoenix Mayor

Activists claim he isn't doing what needs to be done to discourage and arrest illegal immigrants.


A group that includes members of organizations involved in recent anti-illegal immigrant protests is trying to recall Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. American Citizens United filed paperwork Wednesday to create a political action committee and said Gordon should be recalled for policies that are too soft on illegal immigrants.

Spokeswoman Anna Gaines said she and her supporters are angry that Phoenix police do not have unconditional authority to call Immigrations and Customs Enforcement when they encounter a suspected illegal immigrant. "The main issue is that he has been dividing the community and he has not supported the enforcement of immigration laws,'' Gaines said of Gordon.

"A few on the very fringe want to promote their extremist agenda for Phoenix,'' Gordon said in a statement. "That agenda was overwhelmingly rejected just eight months ago and it will be rejected again.''

To recall Gordon, who was re-elected in September with 77% of the vote, the activists must gather 23,751 valid signatures in 120 days from the time they file their formal campaign paperwork.

Group members said they sought only to remove Gordon from office and had no preference on who should replace him if they are successful.