Tucson is under investigation for vaccine mandate

TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is investigating whether Tucson violated state law by imposing a mandatory mask mandate on its employees.

Prosecutors are investigating at the request of Senator Kelly Townsend, a Republican from District 16.

She filed a so-called SB1487 inquiry asking if “Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Tucson City Council are violating the 2021-18 executive order by requiring city officials to get a COVID vaccination as a condition of employment “.

EO 2021-18 was issued by Governor Doug Ducey after the city passed the vaccine mandate. In it, the governor says local jurisdictions cannot issue vaccine mandates.

Brnovich has issued a statement that local governments do not have the legal authority to impose vaccination mandates, but he has not commented specifically on the Tucson case.

He gave the city until September 1 to respond to the question. The public prosecutor has 30 days to comment.

“It’s no longer about the virus and health,” Townsend said. “This is about the rule of law.”

When she talked about Romero, she said it was “very clear” that Romero thinks she is above the law.

Romero released a statement to KOLD News 13 calling the investigation a “politically motivated tactic” that distracts from the immediate threat that Covid-19 poses to public health.

“I am confident that this complaint will be rejected,” wrote Romero.

Romero is supported by Councilor Steve Kozachik, who was a leading proponent of the mandate.

“We have a responsibility to the public,” said Kozachik. “We do not believe that we are violating the implementation ordinance of the state legislature and are continuing with it.”

When the city passed the vaccination mandate, an estimated 1,000 of its workers were not vaccinated. The council approved a measure stating that if 750 of these workers were vaccinated by August 20, the mandate would be revoked.

The city estimates that there are still around 850 unvaccinated people, most of them in the police and fire department.

A superior court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Tucson Police Union to prohibit the act.

“We’re moving towards tyranny,” Townsend said. “We have to rule it and we have to obey the law.”

She says that those who don’t like the law can work to change it, but they can’t just ignore it.

But city guides say the law can and should be challenged when it comes to public health.

“Kelly Townsend needs a revelation that this is not a joke, this is not tyranny,” Kozachik said. “We simply tell our employees that it is your duty to get vaccinated.”

Copyright 2021 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved.

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