Mitchell vs. Jones saga still unsettled

Precinct committeemen for the newly formed Legislative District 13 voted Tuesday afternoon to put Russ Jones of Yuma on the general election ballot to replace Darin Mitchell.

The vacancy had been created when a Maricopa County judge Monday ordered Mitchell removed from the ballot, ruling that there was “clear and convincing evidence” that Mitchell did not reside in the district as he had claimed when he filed his nomination paperwork and therefore was ineligible to run for office in the district.

But it remains to be seen whether Jones will replace Mitchell on the ballot. Even as the votes were being counted of the precinct committeemen Tuesday, the Arizona Court of Appeals granted Mitchell a stay of the injunction issued by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Oberbillig.

The case was quickly moved to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Lines said he was hopeful the court would arrive at a decision Tuesday so the general election ballots can be printed and mailed out Saturday to out-of-state military and overseas voters.

Jones was one of two nominees at the hastily called precinct meeting. Dr. Robert Branch of Maricopa County was the other candidate. Jones received 67 votes while Branch got 46.