8 July 31st -Aug 6th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Randy Keating, paid Groundswell $8,500 last election cycle. But PAC records show no financial activity since November and the PAC’s chairperson told New Times it was not behind the campaign. Repeal activists have whispered the name of political consultant Eric Chalmers, who has done a total of $71,000 of work for the campaigns of at least five councilmem- bers since December 2021. Chalmers left a glowing review of Groundswell on its website, but he told New Times on July 21 that he is not connected to the anti-petition work Groundswell is doing in Tempe. The flyers and texts contain no informa- tion about who paid for them perhaps because, at least at this stage, they don’t have to. A spokesperson from the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office told New Times that the materials being distributed are more along the lines of “grassroots advo- cacy” and not electioneering, since the matter is not yet related to an election. However, should the repeal referendum make the March 2026 ballot, all materials related to it will be subject to the Arizona law that requires the disclosure of financial backers. Petition progress Shadowy opposition or not, signature gath- erers are optimistic they’ll cross the finish line in time. The petition organizers — which include the local DSA chapter, the Arizona Young Democrats, Tempe 1st, New Deal Meal, AZ Hugs and Tempe Neighborhoods Together — must gather 2,440 Tempe resi- dent signatures in favor of repealing the ordinance by Aug. 1. In reality, they’ll need to gather more than that to account for signatures that are struck as duplicates or otherwise ineligible. Wild, the co-chair of the DSA’s Phoenix chapter, told New Times on July 21 that the effort is closing in on that goal. “Despite the opposition from paid polit- ical mercenaries, we’re at nearly 2,100 confirmed signatures,” Wild said. “We’re immensely proud and grateful for the time that over 80 DSA and coalition volunteers have put into this effort. We urge folks to volunteer and come sign the petition to push us over the threshold we need to win.” Woods confirmed to New Times earlier this month that if petitioners gather the required number of valid signatures, the Tempe City Council will have a ceremonial vote to put it on the ballot. Everett, the pro-repeal canvasser outside the library, told New Times that the Groundswell workers have indeed deterred some people from signing her petition. “It’s hard to estimate the impact of the signature blockers, but I’d say they scared at least five or so people from even hearing me out,” she said. Other residents had the opposite reaction. “Some people were so put off by them,” she said, “they were even more receptive to my message when I explained they are out- of-state paid canvassers and I’m a volun- teer who’s actually from Tempe.” Even Clark, one of the Groundswell workers attempting to neutralize Everett, seemed to find something a bit off about the parks ordinance saga. One of the main critiques from organizers is that the city rushed the new ordinance through, holding zero stakeholder meetings outside of the public comment portion of two city council meetings. At the second, held early this month, nearly 80 residents spoke against it for six hours, only for the council to unani- mously pass the ordinance after midnight. As he waited for Tempe residents to pass by, Clark offered his appraisal. “Seven to nothing after (77) people speak till one o’clock in the morning,” he said, “indicates to me that was gonna be the vote before you all spoke.” An out-of-state Groundswell Contact worker who identified himself only as Laroyce attempts to dissuade Tempe residents from signing a petition to repeal a controversial parks ordinance. (TJ L’Heureux) Shadowy Campaign from p 6
