Phoenix City Councilman double dipping with state contract

Jim Waring is making six figures every year his contract with ADE is renewed.

Phoenix City Councilman Jim Waring, a Republican¹, was given a $115,000 contract with the Arizona Department of Education under Republican Tom Horne to “serve as liaison between the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and other governmental agencies.”

While Waring doesn’t appear to be doing anything illegal it still raises the question why ADE would hire a city elected official already earning a taxpayer salary to do a contract job where he would be double-dipping from taxpayers.

ADE tells me that Waring was originally hired as a full-time employee before being moved to a contract employee.

“Waring joined AZED with the rest of the Executive Team Jan. 1 and has been at work since day one of this administration. We determined that the appropriate method to compensate Jim is as a contractor and made that change. He has been fully compensated for all his work,” communications director Doug Nick said via email.

Here’s what the contract entails:

Waring is expected to “lead ADE's outreach to the constituent education communities” in a full-time capacity the contract states, but given his elected duties representing District 2 in the City of Phoenix, it’d be hard to believe he is doing either job full-time.

Notably one of Waring’s responsibilities is to “support the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) with outreach and support of the ESA program's objectives.”

The ESA program under Horne has already been quite a disaster with parents already calling on ESA director Christine Accurso to be fired.

It’s unclear what exactly Waring has done so far to help with positive messaging.

Waring did at least check the box with the City of Phoenix to let them know he was taking on the contract, a city spokesman told me.

“Councilman Waring has fulfilled all city obligations related to this inquiry, notifying the law department in advance. As with all members of the Phoenix City Council, he is required to declare any conflict of interest and abstain from voting should there be items before the Council that present a legal conflict,” communications director Dan Wilson said.

The contract states it’s on a yearly basis and can be renewed up to five times meaning the full amount could be worth half a million dollars in Waring’s pocket from taxpayers.

As councilman, Waring is paid a yearly salary of $60,000 like his other council colleagues.

Ironically, Waring’s conservative voice (which is outnumbered by liberal council members) has been used to push for less government spending. Just not when it goes into his own pocket.

Click here to view the contract in its entirety.

1. The council is technically nonpartisan, but Waring is a longtime Republican who used to serve in the Arizona Legislature.