By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Arizona Capitol Times
Foes of universal school vouchers are counting on a gap in state law to preserve their bid to force a public vote on the issue.
Roopali Desai, attorney for Save Our Schools Arizona, said Secretary of State Michele Reagan has determined there are more than enough signatures to give voters the last word on whether all parents can use tax dollars to send their children to private or parochial schools. That sets the stage for the measure going on the 2018 ballot.
What has happened, Desai said, is two individuals have filed suit contending there are multiple deficiencies in the petitions and the signatures. The challengers hope to have Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Margaret Mahoney conclude those flaws would disqualify enough signatures to leave the referendum drive short of the minimum needed.
Desai is not conceding the point. But in new legal filings, she is telling Mahoney all that is irrelevant.
