We expect our candidates for Town Council to demonstrate that they have the requisite experience and knowledge to serve effectively as our representatives. We also expect our candidates to demonstrate that they have sound judgment, value collegiality, and have a temperament that is conducive to respectful interactions with constituents, staff, and other elected officials.
Without regard to their experience and knowledge, candidates who have repeatedly demonstrated that they lack judgment do not value collegiality and are incapable of controlling their emotions and are unfit to serve.
Rick Watts publicly suggested that Ashley Earle, Gayle Earle’s daughter-in-law, should be “beaten” presumably to dissuade her from continuing her public support of Joe Arpaio’s mayoral candidacy. Gerry Friedel instigated a barroom brawl at Batchelor’s Pad on the night of the primary election that resulted in an assault charge being brought against his wife, Barbara.
Watts, a ROT-supported candidate for Town Council and Friedel, the ROT-supported candidate for mayor, have conclusively demonstrated that they lack judgment, do not value collegiality, and are incapable of controlling their emotions. Their bad behavior has resulted in threatened and actual acts of violence, two reports filed with the MCSO, and brought more unwanted attention to our town.
RICK WATTS PICKS ANOTHER FIGHT –
The Candidate’s “Euphemism” Lands Him in Hot Water.
In considering the most recent controversy resulting from Watts’ poor judgment, it is important to recall his less than collegial interaction with Vice Mayor Kalivianakis, who months after the relevant events he continues to attack.
The earlier controversy arose out of Watts’ service on the Planning and Zoning Commission and his conviction that he is an expert on 5G technology, a topic under consideration. Watts repeatedly demanded that the Town Council provide him with a document discussing 5G prepared by an outside attorney who had been retained by the Council. The Council did not share the document with Watts or other members of the Planning
Commission based on the advice of the Town Attorney, who was apparently concerned that the communication would lose its privileged status if it was disclosed to a person who did not qualify as a “client.” Watts did not accept the determination but responded by publicly accusing the Council of “misdirection, stalling, and concealing information.” Watts also lambasted Vice Mayor Kalivianakis for the following statement made during the June 4, 2024, meeting: “The Planning and Zoning Commission is not made of telecommunications experts. They are farmers. They are butchers. They are people of the town.”
The Vice Mayor subsequently apologized to any members of the P&Z who may have found her reference to “farmers and butchers” disrespectful or demeaning.
Watts refused to accept the apology and during a sternly delivered three-minute lecture made it clear that he was deeply offended that he had been compared to “farmers” and “butchers.” Watts concluded with: “I can accept the Council’s direction but not its insults.” After Vice Mayor Kalivianakis responded to his critique Watts jumped up from his seat, turned his back on the Council, and as he moved to the back of the chamber looked down at the floor, shook his head, and angrily said, “bullshit!”
Months later, Watts still cannot let it go, as demonstrated by the following communication:
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The recent controversy arose out of a comment made during a telephone conference call with other ROT-supported candidates, including Gayle Earle. The topic under consideration was the obvious risk that Joe Arpaio’s insistence on remaining in the race would “split the vote.” Watts was irritated by Ashley Earle’s continued, ardent support of the former sheriff.
According to Chris Earle, Ashley’s husband, Watts said: “If Ashley was my kid, I’d take a baseball bat to them.” According to Watts, what he actually said, was: “If Ashley were my kid, I would take her out behind the barn and take a bat to her.”
Subsequently, during a meeting of the Fountain Hills Republican Club, Ashley and Chris Earle confronted Watts and demanded that he repeat his “threat” to their faces. According to Ashley, in response Watts told her “that I should be afraid that he is going to come at me with a baseball bat.” Also, according to Ashley, Watts then said: “let’s take this outside.” At that point cooler heads prevailed, and no one went outside. Ashley, however, filed a report with the MCSO claiming that Watts had threatened to harm her.
On the evening of June 29—primary election eve—Ashley used her Facebook page to vent, the resulting conversation follows:
Recently, Watts attempted to provide “context” in an effort to explain his behavior:
There are issues with the sufficiency and credibility of Watts’ attempt to explain his actions by providing context. However, most would accept his representation that there was “no physical malice intended.” But clearly there was “malice,” a word that encompasses an intent to cause distress”.
Watts must have known that his incendiary suggestion that Gayle Earle “take a bat” to her daughter-in-law would cause her, as well as her son and daughter-in-law, distress. If Watts was concerned that Ashley’s support of Arpaio might cause voters to defect from Friedel’s camp, why didn’t he offer to “calmly and civilly” discuss those concerns with her?
As evidenced by his recent explanation, Watts still does not understand that what was most offensive and shocking was not his “intent” but his suggestion, “tongue-in-cheek” or otherwise, that a woman should be beaten for expressing an opinion. “Maybe a poor choice of words” does not come close: how about “abhorrent”?
Watts’ judgment and temperament are more than concerning, they are disqualifying. Rick Watts is not fit to serve as a member of the Town Council.
FRIEDEL’ S VINDICTIVENESS RESULTS IN A BARROOM BRAWL
In recent days, Gerry Friedel’s vindictive and mean-spirited nature has become more apparent. The ill at ease guy, who struggles to appear affable, engaged, and sincere in his weekly video performances, has been replaced by an angry guy who, while still clearly ill at ease, is ready to engage in scorched-earth politics. The kind of scorched-earth politics where the truth doesn’t matter and you eagerly sacrifice, whatever is left of your integrity, to mindlessly attack your opponent.
Friedel’s emergence as a consistently malevolent and angry man will be addressed at a later date. For now, let’s focus on his instigation of the debacle at Batchelor’s Pad.
Those familiar with the facts of the June 30 Batchelor’s Pad brawl won’t be surprised to learn that they do not differ significantly from the dramatized” version that was circulated on social media as “The Dust Up” and now posted on the Flourish website.
On the night of the July 30th election, the “true Republicans” convened a watch party at
Batchelor’s Pad. In the beginning the attendees were in good spirits and hopeful
(considering the voter turnout) that their concerted effort, to convince Republicans that a vote for Arpaio was a wasted vote, would result in a primary victory for Friedel. The atmosphere became less convivial when the early returns established that the vote was, in fact, splitting.
As the evening wore on a person (whose identity is known by Friedel but not by this author) became aware that Vice Mayor Kalivianakis was meeting with Arpaio. For months the Vice Mayor had been attacked on social media and during Town Council meetings as a “traitor” to those who supported her as one of ROT’s “conservative” candidates.
The yet to be identified person, trespassed onto Arpaio’s property, stood outside his office, took a surreptitious photo of the two siting together through the window.
The trespasser’s photo was sent to Friedel who then forwarded it to Vice Mayor
Kalivianakis, who was still visiting with Arpaio, and unaware that she had been stalked. Because the Vice Mayor is nothing, if not plucky, she texted a response to Friedel saying that if he wanted her to stop by his watch party he should have just asked. Shortly thereafter, accompanied by her boyfriend, the Vice Mayor entered the premises where she encountered a mostly hostile crowd!
To her credit, Vice Mayor Kalivianakis has been circumspect in discussing the ensuing chaos, pending the results of the MCSO investigation. Upon her arrival she was verbally assaulted by several people and physically assaulted by Friedel’s wife, Barbara. During the ensuing melee, the Vice Mayor’s boyfriend, who had attempted to come to her aid, was ejected from the restaurant, sustaining injuries in the process, that were subsequently documented.
When it was clear that the crowd could not be controlled, MCSO was called, at approximately 9:00 p.m., by one of the attendees. Three vehicles responded and their flashing lights attracted the attention of Mayor Dickey’s supporters who were meeting just up the street. Friedel’s watch party came to an abrupt and ignominious end.
In the aftermath, Vice Mayor Kalivianakis charged Barbara Friedel with assault. The MCSO recently completed its investigation and forwarded the completed report to the Maricopa County Prosecutor.
To date, Friedel has not issued a public statement or even acknowledged his role in instigating the confrontation. At a minimum, one would expect a man who aspires to be our mayor and constantly complains about a “lack of transparency” to apologize to Vice Mayor Kalivianakis for the injury she sustained, and to the community , for the public embarrassment resulting from a barroom brawl, at an event he sponsored. But Gerry Friedel is a man, whose outsized ego and narcissism are so entrenched, that the mere thought of admitting to and apologizing for his use of a trespasser’s surreptitious photo to lure the Vice Mayor to a gathering where he knew she would be met with hostility and was physically assaulted by his wife, is impossible for him.
Gerry Friedel is unfit for office.