Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby staked Cochise County in in national spotlight with a series of legal escapades that brought them to the fore of election skepticism and landed in court.
From rural, picturesque corner of southeast Arizona, two Republican inspectors tried throw sand in gears of electoral process, from trying last a month to manually count each ballot cast in order to deliberately miss the deadline to validate the election results.
They and the county were sued for their efforts for violation of the electoral law. They have drawn admiration from election deniers, condemnation from outraged Democrats, and amusement from spectators.
Here is some background on duet, who seems to be testing boundaries of public and legal patience. it should It should be noted that the two did not complain about the victories counted in chalk. up Republican Party candidates on Cochise County vote.
Chairman Ann English, the only Democrat on ternary panellooked in annoyed as she colleagues defied legal advice and moved forward with votes which have become legal bait.
“How much times you must deliberately not follow law?” English asked.
Peggy Judd: She attended the “Stop theft” rally outside the US Capitol with her family
Judd is a duplicitous term warden from the northern district city of Wilcox, where she was born and raised.
She served one term in Arizona house of Reps ten years ago where she was the silent protector more noted for constant communication of her husband how for Her legislative priorities.
She introduced a law that sought help county governments, such as a bill that would allow counties to impose a 1% tax on alcohol sales. And she took a special interest in social questions, with sentence allow grandparents raising grandchildren qualify for cash assistance or legislation that required mediation for divorce couples, with Target of trying to save family together. Accounts are not shared.
Judd and her family attended a “Stop theft” rally near the US Capitol. on January 6, 2021, cross-country journey with of caravan of Donald Trump supporters.
Judd suggested that the violence that broke out that day was “false flag” event set up from Antifa. Antifa is a political movement. of long away-left militants who speak out against neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations and others events.
She is also compared the march to the Capitol to freedom marches led by the late Martin Luther King Jr. She said that she did not enter the Capitol, and told media exits she was there more watch over her grandchildren, so she daughter as well as son-in- right can take part in daytime activities.
Her comments about events of January 6 provoked such condemnation that she shut down her Facebook page and said she felt “punishedand “desecrated” media as well as people in her community. Calls for her resignation letter went unnoticed.
Judd, together with Crosby, who voted in February to reject a $1.9 million federal grant for COVID-19 Relief Efforts. She claimed without evidence that the vaccine changed virus, which county health officials denied in official indications.
An opponent of vaccine, she was unvaccinated and in one point is infected with a virus.
As the 2022 election approaches, Judd advocated for the county to manually count each ballot as a check. on “our already perfect system” of machine tabulation. She represented the squad of volunteers will gather to count each race on each ballot is a micro version of state Senate recount of 2020 presidential election in Maricopa County, which took months before complete as well as added votes for Joe Biden.
She insisted even when the DAs said board action is not permitted by law. Judd claimed that it would way reassure local skeptics and insist on lack of interest in change possible vote Exodus.
“It’s important, I guess. one of in more important things we have done,” she said at the October meeting. “We need our district to unite and say: “Yes, cool, it worked out out great. Thanks.'”
Late last month, she told the New York Times real reason for the delay in certification was in protest against the electoral process in Maricopa County. Concern over li Cochise County table machines were approved by an accredited laboratory, she said, just reason to postpone.
“It’s the only thing we have to stand on” she said, referring to the vote. machine demand.
Judd intended on saving legal costs for Cochise taxpayers, leading a drive find private financing for attorney’s fees necessary for the defense against law challenges. It raised questions about ethics, if not legality, of using private money to pay for services that benefit the county.
Tom Crosby: former Border Patrol agent, Trump supporter, vaccine skeptic.
Crosby former Sierra Vista council member who won county elections board in 2020. During his campaign, he emphasized his support for former President Donald Trump, emphasizing his conservative login details.
He served as an agent and pilot for the US Border Patrol. work which eventually led him to the Tucson sector of the Border Patrol. of US-Mexico border.
Robert Montgomery, chairman of the Cochise County Republican committee, defended Crosby. work.
“He saved more lives like a border guard than the whole (security) apparatus in this county,” Montgomery said, noting that as a pilot, Crosby was able to detect people wandering in desert and get their attention of agents on Earth.
Cochise executives assigned Montgomery to the Palomino Fire Department. board move which caused protests from some local residents. Among them was Jeff Sturges, who complained that Montgomery role as one of 11 “fake voters” from Arizona in 2020 presidential election not deserving of appointment of trust.
Sturges was a thorn in in side of Crosby and Judd during a recent public meetings.
After Sturges criticized Crosby support for postponing the certification and asking the executive to resign, Crosby became disconcerted, interpreting the Democrat’s criticism as a compliment.
“I hear, ‘Good job, Crosby,'” the boss said, referring to himself.
During board discussions, Crosby showed disdain for expert advice in the field, in contrast with judd, who tried to strike more inviting tone.
For example, in June when the DA warned him that he was flirting with violation of The state’s open assembly law, Crosby replied, “We’ll see. You are not a judge.”
In November, Crosby said he trusted expertise of participants of in public who questioned the certificates of summing up the results of the elections machines as much as expertise of state elections director.
He joined Judd in rejected COVID-19 aid funding and compared COVID-19 vaccines to Agent Orange, a herbicide used during the Vietnam War. caused crayfish in veterans.
Before you live in Arizona, Crosby worked as a security guard at Point Loma Naval Base. in San Diego and as a patrol officer on San Diego trolley system, according to his own biography.
He lives in Sierra Vista with his wife of 30 years. They have two children.
Contact a correspondent at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl.
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