Citizens launch campaign to recall Mayor Phil Gordon

If successful, mayor can resign or face special recall election

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon

By Linda Bentley

     PHOENIX – Anna Gaines, a naturalized citizen originally from Mexico, says she is tired of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon’s guiding principals. She says his policies that grant special rights to illegal aliens over and above those afforded citizens and legal residents are causing divisiveness in the community.
    Gordon has called those who oppose his sanctuary policies and embracement of the illegal alien community every name in the La Raza book, including racists and neo-Nazis.
    “Enough is enough,” said Gaines, who finds the mayor’s name calling and race-baiting personally offensive.
    Last week, Gaines rallied a group of citizens, also incensed by Gordon’s pro-illegal platform, and formed a Political Action Committee, American Citizens United (ACU), for the express purpose of recalling Gordon.
    ACU’s goal is to remove Phoenix from the list of sanctuary cities and promote a safer and more secure city, while advocating for secure borders, immigration law enforcement and legal immigration.
    According to Gaines, ACU is a group of patriotic American citizens united in the goal of ending massive, illegal immigration to the United States.
    She says, “Our membership is like America itself, made up of people of all different races, colors and creeds. We are not a hate group and will never tolerate hatred toward any group of people based on race, color, or religion.”
    Gaines is well aware of the tactics used by those who advocate for open borders and oppose immigration law enforcement, attempting to make law enforcement and secure borders a race issue, and reiterated, “We strongly object to this divisive tactic.” Gaines believes the goal of the open-borders lobby is to turn the immigration debate into a race issue, divide the American people and avoid discussion.
    “Trying to turn the problems associated with illegal immigration into a civil rights issue, only serves to set back the progress made by the civil rights movement 50 years,” said Gaines.
    “Demanding a secure border and enforcement of all our immigration laws has nothing to do with race,” said Gains, adding, “We stand firmly against racism by any group on either side of the issue.”
    In addition to demanding control of illegal immigration, Gains said ACU will work to defeat the efforts of those who are attempting to turn the immigration issue into an issue of race.
    “The immigration issue is not about race but about the sovereignty and survival of the United States of America,” said Gaines.
    The group has 120 days from April 30 to collect 23,751 valid signatures. However, ACU’s goal is to collect 40,000.
    Anyone interested in helping with the recall effort by donating money or volunteering to collect signatures can visit the website www.recallmayorgordon.com for more information.
    Only registered voters living in the city of Phoenix are eligible to circulate petitions for signatures and financial donations are limited to $390 per individual.
    If the city clerk verifies ACU has successfully collected the required number of valid signatures, Gordon can choose to either step down as mayor or face a special recall election.
    Anyone interested in signing the petition or volunteering to become a petition circulator should check for current petition locations on their website at recallmayorgordon.com.
    Petitions will be available Saturday, May 10 from 8 a.m. to noon at Roaddunner Park, 3502 E. Cactus at the ramadas on the 36th street side of the park. This location will be a recurring event.
    This volunteer circulator is also willing to bring petitions to churches, businesses or homes.
    Call Brandy at 602-798-9205.