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= Arizona | __NOTOC__ | ||
=== Arizona Citizen Voice === | |||
'''Arizona Citizen Voice''' (ACV) is an independent volunteer organization asking our Arizona Senators and Representatives to take action on behalf of Arizona's citizens to pass legislation in 2027 to hold Arizona counties accountable to citizen complaints about poor governance. | |||
The | The centerpiece of this legislative action is to create ''county-based'' Ombudsman-Citizen Aide that is modeled after and overseen by the existing [https://www.azoca.gov/ Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide] Legislative Agency to ensure consistency across all Arizona counties. New statutes are also needed to force Arizona counties to develop and maintain documentation of its internal control systems to a standard created and maintained by the [https://www.gao.gov/ United States Government Accountability Office]. | ||
We are not trying to ''fight city hall'' as the expression goes. We are asking Arizona counties to listen to their citizens, respectfully consider their concerns and take action to fix issues when citizens' concerns are validated. We don't want a fight; we want to be heard. | |||
From a citizen's perspective, this is a bipartisan issue. The proposal doesn't favor one party over the other. The proposal's sole purpose is to give each citizen equal standing to be heard when they have felt unfairly treated by county government. Watch [[Five Paper Trails|'''Our Video''']] to learn about the problem we are trying to solve. Read our '''[[Interesting Takeaways]]''' if you want to seek specific examples of poor governance. | |||
ACV is an all-volunteer organization. We do not receive funds from any outside entity. We certainly don't have any funds to be lobbying through normal channels. | |||
We've layered our presentation so that you don't have to read every page of our website to understand our mission. Some of you may have already felt an injustice from your personal interactions with your County. You have seen firsthand how their actions or inaction can cause harm and can't get answers when they are desperately needed. If you're in that boat, you're ready to jump into action and this will be a short read. | |||
[[ | If you're a "Doubting Thomas," we have data to satisfy your skepticism. That said, you're going to be disappointed if you're expecting a legal argument proving there is a governance problem beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, we will trend examples of poor governance, so patterns of poor management decisions reveal themselves as issues in need of a legislative intervention. | ||
The raw data comes from citizen interfaces with the county and government reports. Interestingly, we found examples of poor governance in government investigations of election-related anomalies. For example, procedures intended to ensure compliance with the Arizona Revised Statutes were violated as determined by an inspector for the [https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/2020_General_Election_Investigation_Summary.pdf Arizona Attorney General's Office 2020 General Election Investigation]. The investigation found numerous anomalies, but no malicious or criminal intent. Basically, the Arizona Attorney General's investigation left a trail of incompetence (poor governance) as the reason for deviating from legal requirements. As would be expected in a criminal investigation, compliance with the law was more important than doing the <u>right thing</u>. Therefore, they left breadcrumbs of poor governance examples in their effort to show compliance with the law. | |||
We chose to present information in the Wiki format because of its use of hyperlinks. These hyperlinks will allow you to learn more according to your personal areas of interest. Please heed our warning: you may get lost in the data so use the organization of topics in the left margin to help you navigate through the abundance of data. Use the left margin as you would a directory in a shopping mall. The organization of topics will help you find where you are in the data and where you want to go. | |||
=== Navigational Guide === | |||
The following diagram will help you determine how far you want to go to understand the issues and the proposed solution. | |||
----[[File:Home Page Directory Rev1.jpg|thumb|612x612px|left]]'''<big>[[Arizona Citizen Voice Goal|Arizona Citizen Voice GOAL]]</big>''' | |||
Click here to learn more about the GOAL. | |||
----'''<big>[[Legislative Action]]</big>''' | |||
Click here to learn more about what we are asking of our Legislators. | |||
----'''<big>[[Public Support]]</big>''' | |||
Click here to learn how you can help. | |||
---- | |||
<small>.</small> | |||
. | |||
---- | |||
<big>'''[[Proposed Bill]]'''</big> - To be developed. | |||
----<big>'''[[Standard for Good Governance|Standard for Good]]'''</big> - Read Federal Standards for Government. | |||
---- | |||
'''<big>[[Governance Gaps]]</big>''' - that we identified in our assessment. | |||
----'''<big>[[Poor Governance Examples]]</big>''' - See how we identified the Governance Gaps | |||
----. | |||
---- | |||
----Visit '''<big>[[Navigational Details]]</big>''' for additional website information. | |||
=== Governance Gap Video === | |||
A short seven-minute video was developed to help you understand our motivation for seeking a change to the Arizona Revised Statutes to hold Arizona counties accountable to you, an Arizona citizen.{{#ev:youtube|rNILRNN4phE|alignment=center}} | |||
=== '''Our Prayer''' === | |||
Some citizens feel that we are in a battle with our own government. It's a battle of words, not a physical battle. It's not a yelling match; we seek words that spark curiosity and thoughtful consideration. ACV adopted this prayer in an effort to receive God’s guidance. We, you and all of us need to find the right words, said at the right time, to allow others to see how the proposed bill serves both citizens and government. It is a desire to promote positive outcomes from a freedom to exchange ideas. <blockquote>''Dear heavenly Father, you have blessed the United States of America with founding fathers that served you. You gave them the wisdom to for the first time in recorded history to create a nation for the sole purpose of serving its people. While not perfect, a government by the people and for the people has prevailed for over 250 years. With your love and grace, our nation’s laws have evolved as people’s needs have changed.'' | |||
''We seek your wisdom and ask for your guidance in preserving the public’s trust in Arizona County government. A citizen’s voice is meaningless unless acknowledged and addressed with respect. We envision new laws to ensure all citizen concerns are heard. Your desire for peace and love will be served by a thoughtful government response. Your desire for justice will be served when citizen input has been addressed, promoting transparency and making governance decisions that are efficient, effective, safe and benefit the majority of people.'' | |||
''Please guide us towards finding the right words to justify new laws. With your grace, new laws will restore public confidence in government by ensuring citizen voices are heard. A government by the people can’t serve its people unless each voice has an opportunity to be heard. It’s a daunting change, but necessary to address our fast-paced society, where those in control may not always slow down to hear from the meek. '' | |||
''Heavenly Father, it is through our understanding of your desire for love and peace that we seek these new laws. Please grant us the will to carry these ideas forward to our Arizona Legislature and Governor. With devotion to you, we will be patient, place our trust in you, and accept any outcome. We pray that our vision serves you. Amen.''</blockquote> | |||
Latest revision as of 05:51, 27 September 2026
Arizona Citizen Voice
Arizona Citizen Voice (ACV) is an independent volunteer organization asking our Arizona Senators and Representatives to take action on behalf of Arizona's citizens to pass legislation in 2027 to hold Arizona counties accountable to citizen complaints about poor governance.
The centerpiece of this legislative action is to create county-based Ombudsman-Citizen Aide that is modeled after and overseen by the existing Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide Legislative Agency to ensure consistency across all Arizona counties. New statutes are also needed to force Arizona counties to develop and maintain documentation of its internal control systems to a standard created and maintained by the United States Government Accountability Office.
We are not trying to fight city hall as the expression goes. We are asking Arizona counties to listen to their citizens, respectfully consider their concerns and take action to fix issues when citizens' concerns are validated. We don't want a fight; we want to be heard.
From a citizen's perspective, this is a bipartisan issue. The proposal doesn't favor one party over the other. The proposal's sole purpose is to give each citizen equal standing to be heard when they have felt unfairly treated by county government. Watch Our Video to learn about the problem we are trying to solve. Read our Interesting Takeaways if you want to seek specific examples of poor governance.
ACV is an all-volunteer organization. We do not receive funds from any outside entity. We certainly don't have any funds to be lobbying through normal channels.
We've layered our presentation so that you don't have to read every page of our website to understand our mission. Some of you may have already felt an injustice from your personal interactions with your County. You have seen firsthand how their actions or inaction can cause harm and can't get answers when they are desperately needed. If you're in that boat, you're ready to jump into action and this will be a short read.
If you're a "Doubting Thomas," we have data to satisfy your skepticism. That said, you're going to be disappointed if you're expecting a legal argument proving there is a governance problem beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, we will trend examples of poor governance, so patterns of poor management decisions reveal themselves as issues in need of a legislative intervention.
The raw data comes from citizen interfaces with the county and government reports. Interestingly, we found examples of poor governance in government investigations of election-related anomalies. For example, procedures intended to ensure compliance with the Arizona Revised Statutes were violated as determined by an inspector for the Arizona Attorney General's Office 2020 General Election Investigation. The investigation found numerous anomalies, but no malicious or criminal intent. Basically, the Arizona Attorney General's investigation left a trail of incompetence (poor governance) as the reason for deviating from legal requirements. As would be expected in a criminal investigation, compliance with the law was more important than doing the right thing. Therefore, they left breadcrumbs of poor governance examples in their effort to show compliance with the law.
We chose to present information in the Wiki format because of its use of hyperlinks. These hyperlinks will allow you to learn more according to your personal areas of interest. Please heed our warning: you may get lost in the data so use the organization of topics in the left margin to help you navigate through the abundance of data. Use the left margin as you would a directory in a shopping mall. The organization of topics will help you find where you are in the data and where you want to go.
Navigational Guide
The following diagram will help you determine how far you want to go to understand the issues and the proposed solution.
Click here to learn more about the GOAL.
Click here to learn more about what we are asking of our Legislators.
Click here to learn how you can help.
.
.
Proposed Bill - To be developed.
Standard for Good - Read Federal Standards for Government.
Governance Gaps - that we identified in our assessment.
Poor Governance Examples - See how we identified the Governance Gaps
.
Visit Navigational Details for additional website information.
Governance Gap Video
A short seven-minute video was developed to help you understand our motivation for seeking a change to the Arizona Revised Statutes to hold Arizona counties accountable to you, an Arizona citizen.
Our Prayer
Some citizens feel that we are in a battle with our own government. It's a battle of words, not a physical battle. It's not a yelling match; we seek words that spark curiosity and thoughtful consideration. ACV adopted this prayer in an effort to receive God’s guidance. We, you and all of us need to find the right words, said at the right time, to allow others to see how the proposed bill serves both citizens and government. It is a desire to promote positive outcomes from a freedom to exchange ideas.
Dear heavenly Father, you have blessed the United States of America with founding fathers that served you. You gave them the wisdom to for the first time in recorded history to create a nation for the sole purpose of serving its people. While not perfect, a government by the people and for the people has prevailed for over 250 years. With your love and grace, our nation’s laws have evolved as people’s needs have changed.
We seek your wisdom and ask for your guidance in preserving the public’s trust in Arizona County government. A citizen’s voice is meaningless unless acknowledged and addressed with respect. We envision new laws to ensure all citizen concerns are heard. Your desire for peace and love will be served by a thoughtful government response. Your desire for justice will be served when citizen input has been addressed, promoting transparency and making governance decisions that are efficient, effective, safe and benefit the majority of people.
Please guide us towards finding the right words to justify new laws. With your grace, new laws will restore public confidence in government by ensuring citizen voices are heard. A government by the people can’t serve its people unless each voice has an opportunity to be heard. It’s a daunting change, but necessary to address our fast-paced society, where those in control may not always slow down to hear from the meek.
Heavenly Father, it is through our understanding of your desire for love and peace that we seek these new laws. Please grant us the will to carry these ideas forward to our Arizona Legislature and Governor. With devotion to you, we will be patient, place our trust in you, and accept any outcome. We pray that our vision serves you. Amen.
