By Richard D. Brinkley
Special to The Explorer.com
Pinal County, a Democratic county encumbered with a history of corruption, has been viewed by many as primarily a rural void between Maricopa and Pima counties.
As recently as two county managers ago, former County Manager Stanley Griffis served from 1989 to 2004 when charges were filed against him for defrauding the county of over $400,000, receiving improper county reimbursements, claiming false salary in an effort to increase his pension, and filing false income tax returns. He pled guilty to six felony charges, received a three-year sentence in prison, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of over $639,000. Where was the oversight by the Board of Directors?
Then there is Pinal County Recorder Laura Dean-Lytle, who hired her daughter’s boyfriend, an ex-convict, Albert Robbs, who served three years in prison for theft. Robbs was subsequently arrested for identity theft that victimized county customers. Sheriff Babeu called for her resignation but she continued to work for the county. Where was the oversight by the Board of Directors?
The first Republicans elected to office in Pinal County were Sheriff Paul Babeu and Supervisor Bryan Martyn in 2008.
