Fulton Brock

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is getting heat from two figures who traditionally line up on different sides: tax reform advocate Tom Jenney and supervisor candidate Ed Hermes.

As county supervisors met to finalize a budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, Hermes, a Democrat running to replace Supervisor Fulton Brock in District 1, slammed the board for overspending, and Jenney railed against a proposed increase in the tax levy.

Hermes took the Board to task for what he called "irresponsible spending," saying that money for county employees to visit China and Honduras, and for "giant billboards to promote politicians" are a waste of county assets. He further took issue with a pay increase of $5,626 per year the supervisors voted themselves. 

Ed Hermes, who is running to unseat Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock in the 1st District, offered a subtle jab at his opponent as he denied to PolitickerAZ.com that Al Macias had any affiliation with his campaign. 

Macias, the longtime Board of Supervisors spokesperson, was recently fired for a variety of ethics violations. Hermes said that his contact with Macias was confined to a telephone conversation.

"He called in a personal capacity," said Hermes. "He wanted to go to lunch and talk about issues."

Hermes took the occasion to put in a shaded dig at his rival, however.

"It's a shame county employees don't feel like they can take their concerns to some supervisors," said Hermes.

Inside Edge has received an e-mail from a source inside the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors office notifying us that spokesperson Al Macias has been fired for using his computer for among other things helping Democrat Ed Hermes who is challenging sitting Supervisor Fulton Brock. 

Ed Hermes may have only had his bachelor's degree for two years, but he's been an up-and-comer on the political scene since before he graduated ASU. Already he's jumping into his first electoral bid, targeting Fulton Brock, Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

Brock, who owns an asset management firm, is a former representative in the Arizona House and has sat on the Board for 12 years, will doubtless prove a formidable opponent. Still, Hermes is set on making sure he goes.