Arizona Tourism Head Resigns After Contract Raises Questions
Lisa Urias will resign at the head of Arizona’s tourism office, the governor’s office told The Center Square on [last] Friday morning.
”This appearance of conflict is not acceptable,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said Friday at a media availability.
Her resignation comes after an Arizona Agenda report, which revealed that Urias Communications, played a role in the state’s logo redesign effort. Specifically, the brother of CEO Jason Coochwytewa was given $27,500 to do the artwork. The tourism department said that she does not play a daily role in how the communications firm functions, according to ABC 15 Arizona.
The contract raised questions amongst Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Teresa Martinez, who requested that Attorney General Kris Mayes and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell look into it.
“These reported facts, if true, raise significant questions about potential violations of Arizona’s conflict of interest laws,” Martinez said in a letter. “All government officials must act responsibly, ethically, and transparently.”
Hobbs said she does “not want to speculate” on a potential investigation when asked if she would support one.
The Arizona Department of Education is also saying that there was no $250,000 contract with Urias Communications, but $15,225 was spent with the firm for “meeting planning services,” according to a news release.
“The document that has gained attention is not a contract at all, but a Competition Impractical document that was never approved,” the department said in the release. “ADE has spent $15,225 with Urias for meeting planning services, but there has not been, nor will there be, a contract or expenditure for $250,000. Nor has any prior administration engaged in such a contract.”
Urias strongly denies the allegations outlined in the Arizona Agenda report.
“In light of the Senate Confirmation members making it clear they will not confirm me as Tourism Director—despite the recent allegations being untrue and unfounded—I have tendered my resignation to the Governor,” Urias said in a statement.
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This article was published by Center Square and is reproduced with permission.
Image Credit: Arizona Office of Tourism
