Arizona Treasurer Race: Candidates Clash Over Ad Campaigns
With the Arizona state treasurer election fast approaching, tensions are high between candidates Elijah Norton and Nick Mansour. The ongoing battle has intensified, with both candidates exchanging heated accusations and refusing to back down.
Elijah Norton, a contender for Arizona state treasurer, has been adamant about continuing his controversial ad campaign against Democratic opponent Nick Mansour. Despite receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Mansour’s camp, Norton has responded with a detailed letter defending his claims.
Norton accuses Mansour of dishonesty, alleging that Mansour misrepresented both his record and Norton’s. In response, Mansour’s senior campaign adviser, Eric Chalmers, criticized Norton for his aggressive tactics. “The evidence is overwhelming that Elijah cannot be trusted to tell the truth, let alone oversee billions of taxpayer dollars,” Chalmers commented.
Norton’s Claims Regarding Medicare Fraud
One of Norton’s primary attacks centers around allegations of Medicare fraud, claiming that Mansour was involved during his tenure at Braden Partners. Norton has even established a website, ConmanNickmansour.com, to present his case.
Mansour, who worked with Braden Partners for a short period, insists he was not involved in any Medicare-related activities and left before any investigations began. He elaborated in his cease-and-desist letter that he was not implicated in the whistleblower complaint.
Mansour’s Attacks on Norton’s Business Practices
Mansour has countered with his own attacks, focusing on Norton’s business history. Norton, the head of Veritas Global Protection Services, also founded RED Auto Protection and CarGuard Administration. Mansour highlights that these companies have faced over 100 lawsuits combined.
Additionally, Mansour’s campaign criticized Norton for spending over $4 million on his own campaign, accusing him of attempting to “buy” the election.
Allegations Concerning Arizona College of Nursing
Norton has released ads accusing Mansour of financial improprieties during his tenure as chairman of the Arizona College of Nursing. A lawsuit filed by students in 2022 alleged the college overcharged and mismanaged credits, though it did not specifically mention Mansour.
Despite these claims, the Arizona State Board of Nursing’s 2022 findings of noncompliance did not involve Mansour directly.
Social Media Clashes and Past Legal Battles
The candidates’ rivalry has also spilled onto social media. Norton shared a Venmo transaction by Mansour labeled “hookers and blow,” which Mansour dismissed as a joke. Mansour, in retaliation, brought up a DUI charge against Norton from 2018, which Norton claimed did not result in a conviction.
Previously, in a 2022 GOP primary race, Norton sued an ally of his opponent David Schweikert over attack ads, resulting in a settlement of over $50,000. Read more here.
