YUMA, Ariz. — A former Arizona legislator from Buckeye is threatening to sue a legislative candidate of his own political party who is accused of running in a district where he doesn’t live.
Former State Rep. Joel John (R) sent a letter through his attorney to Arizona House candidate Gary Snyder.
John is a Buckeye farmer with a history of volunteer work in the Republican Party. He served a term in the state House from 2021-2023 and has been active in GOP politics.
Snyder is an independent business owner who unsuccessfully ran for office at least twice previously and is making a bid for the state House in Legislative District 25.
The July 12 letter from John’s attorney urges Snyder to withdraw from the four-way primary race. It contains a draft of a civil complaint that John’s attorney says will be submitted to Yuma County Superior Court if Snyder wins the election on July 30.
“If you do not withdraw, and the voters do not end your candidacy, a court of law will,” the letter states.
12News reported last month that Snyder claims to live at a relative’s house located in LD25. Public records – and Snyder’s own public comments as recently as February - do not support that claim. Rather, Snyder has lived at a home 40 miles southwest in San Luis. Snyder has not responded to several requests by 12News for comment.
“While you have given no public explanation that my client has seen for why a grown man with a wife and children would move back in with your Mom, your efforts to claim your Mom’s residence in Yuma as your own are unavailing,” said attorney Tim La Sota in the letter to Snyder. “You are just the type of carpetbagger that the framers of the Arizona Constitution sought to protect Arizonans from.”
Voters in the Yuma area have dealt with alleged carpetbagger candidates before. The 25th legislative district stretches from portions of Yuma to the northeast of Buckeye and Surprise.
The primary race includes incumbent Michael Carbone (Buckeye) and challengers Nick Kupper (Surprise) and Steve Markegard (Surprise.)
*Editor's Note: The above video is from an earlier broadcast.*
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