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By Steven Hsieh | Phoenix New Times
Rodney Glassman is running for Maricopa County Assessor.
Glassman, a former Tucson City Councilman and generally unsuccessful political candidate, also plans to hold a fundraiser for Republican Maricopa County Supervisor Jack Sellers on November 13, according to a copy of an invitation obtained by Phoenix New Times.
Here’s why that’s a problem:
Sellers could be among the five people voting on the appointment of a new assessor if Paul Petersen, the criminally indicted official currently occupying the role, resigns before 2020. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors recently suspended Petersen without pay for 120 days after he was arrested for an adoption scheme involving pregnant women from the Marshall Islands. Petersen has resisted bipartisan calls for his resignation.
Since Glassman filed his candidacy for assessor, there’s a good chance he would apply for the office should Petersen step down. That would present a conflict of interest for Sellers.
It could also present a conflict of interest for Republican Supervisors Bill Gates, Clint Hickman, and Steve Chucri, three of the other five voting board members. All three are listed as co-hosts on the invitation for the upcoming fundraiser hosted by Glassman and Paul Gilbert, a partner at the law firm Beus Gilbert McGroder.
