Casa Grande Dispatch
(Editor’s note: Opinion pieces are posted only for purposes of discussion.)
Persistence by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors has given it a victory on a matter of principle — and also repayment of most of the money that the board correctly felt Pinal taxpayers were due.
The issue involved some legal problems that Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles’ chief criminal deputy found himself in. Richard Wintory allegedly had violated a rule while prosecuting a homicide case in Pima County. Wintory had moved on to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office but continued on the Pima case while working for the state.
Wintory recently agreed to a settlement with the State Bar under which his law license was suspended for 90 days. He now is on leave without pay during that suspen- sion.
 Last year, the board expressed shock to learn that Pinal County had spent $27,525 on legal fees for Wintory, even though his problem occurred before his employment here. In July, the board voted to block any additional funds for Wintory’s defense and to pursue repayment of the money.
With legal fees incurred in seeking reimbursement added to the $27,000-plus, the county’s cost jumped to $42,000. The settlement of $40,000 fell a little short,
but it was close to the full cost and a win on principle as well. “I’ll take that deal about any day,” said Steve Miller, the supervisor from Casa Grande and the board’s chair- man last year, who has been outspoken on the matter.
Wintory had nothing to do with Pinal County at the time of the problem. The state office has funds to pay for such matters, and Wintory himself sued the state to obtain payment. He and his Phoenix attorneys will receive $15,000.
Such matters may seem complex to the average taxpayer, but the bottom line is that the supervisors stuck up for a principle — and a significant amount of money — even though it is small compared to the total county budget.
