State Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, watches as Apache Junction school board member Gilbert K. Cancio signs her proclamation against mask mandates. Waiting to sign is Jerry Walker, a member of the Central Arizona College Governing Board./Mark Cowling/PinalCentral
By Mark Cowling | PinalCentral
State Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, invited other elected officials Wednesday to sign a proclamation against the mandated use of face coverings, “reaffirming our commitment to the rights of our constituents here in Pinal County.”
“… We have seen flat-out lawlessness when it comes to respecting the rights of Arizona citizens,” Townsend said at a news conference while touting Pinal County for respecting constitutional rights. “And I encourage those in other areas to hold their leaders accountable, and to demand your rights be protected.”
“What’s great about Pinal County is we try to be as constitutional as we can,” County Supervisor Jeff Serdy, R-Apache Junction, said. He said leaders can’t choose the parts they like, but must honor the entire Constitution all the time.
“Arizona is at a crossroads,” Townsend said. “As elected officials, we must decide if we will honor our oath and our commitment to our constituents within the framework of the law, or if we will allow the fear of a virus to be the excuse for abandoning what made this country great, and to run roughshod over the rights of others in the name of safety.”
