Former mayor Mendibles says it came ‘out of left field’
By Jake Kincaid | PinalCentral
State Rep. T.J. Shope has filed a complaint against John Mendibles for failing to register as a lobbyist for the American Legion, which he says caused him to let a bill designed to get more veterans mental health treatment die in the Rules Committee.
Mendibles was pushing Shope to move Senate Bill 1044 out of the Rules Committee via text message. “FYI vets have 6.3 million to spend in the next 3 election cycles,” the text read. “Your decision for the Veterans to remember. Don’t put some else’s (sic) anchor in your leg.”
Mendibles’ name is listed under the Legislative Committee in the American Legion directory, but he is not a registered lobbyist. The complaint also includes an earlier communication in which Mendibles offered Shope tickets to a Blue Angels flying event.
The complaint says that some of Mendibles’ communications have “threatening or intimidating” overtones and that Mendibles is “misrepresenting himself to legislators.” Shope urged the Secretary of State’s Office to take action.
