Nelson ready to take on Thomas for top cop job

Republicans aren't the only ones with tough primary battles set for September.

On the Democratic side Tim Nelson and Gerald Richard are locked in a race to see who will emerge from the primary and face County Attorney Andrew Thomas to become the top cop in Maricopa County.

For Nelson the race is simple.

"Andrew Thomas has abused his powers in ways that make us less safe," Nelson said Monday, including:

- Diverting funds that could be used for crime fighting to pay for advertising touting his record

- Expanding outside legal counsel costs from $5 million to $16 million, much of that going to attorneys and firms that contributed to his campaign

- High turnover on the office, including 80 attorney vacancies

- The office going from wining four out of five cases when Thomas took office four years ago to now winning just more than two out of three cases.

"You have to come to the office with the priority of putting public safety first," said Nelson, who promises to put the fiscal house of the County Attorney's Office back in order. "And I will work to restore public trust in the office."

Nelson, who lives in central Phoenix with his wife and two children, touted his experience in courtroom and administration as two key assets that will let him hit the ground running.

He has been Gov. Janet Napolitano's general counsel, worked on a variety of legal and policy issues and ran the Arizona Attorney General's Anti-Trust office when Napolitano was attorney general.

There is no question he's smart. The legal resource Martindale-Hubbell has a peer evaluation for Nelson of AV, meaning his legal ability is very high to preeminent and his ethical standards are very high.

But most people select a county attorney based on performance and there Nelson says Thomas has missed the boat.

He said that the emphasis on prosecuting illegal immigrants for smuggling themselves across the border has ended up making people less safe because the organized crime rings that smuggle and often kidnap illegals continue to operate. At the same time the illegal immigrants that are often held for ransom are now afraid to go to the authorities for fear they will be arrested.

"To go after a few smugglees plays tight into the hands of the coyotes," Nelson said.

Instead, he said the office should focus on the organized crime rings that bring illegal immigrants into the country or kidnap illegal immigrants and hold them for ransom.

But Nelson must first get past Richard in the primary before turning around and taking on Republican Thomas.

Nelson said that he has nothing against Richard, who lives in Ahwatukee Foothills.

But he did say that he has more overall court experience, administrative experience managing large departments and, most importantly, the money to wage a successful campaign against Thomas.

Financial reports show that, in June, Richard had $40,651 in cash while Nelson had $177,463 compared with Thomas who was sitting on $213,599.