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2024 GOP Candidate for LD29 Admits to Putting Dead Woman’s Name on Petitions

1/7 Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes says Austin Cole Smith, a potential 2024 candidate for Legislative District-29, was sentenced to 2-years of supervised probation and is not allowed to run for public office for 5-years. He must also pay a $5,000 fine. The GOP candidate pleaded guilty to attempted fraud schemes and practices and illegally signing of election petitions. Smith admitted to signing the name of a deceased woman to his nomination petitions in March of that year and then lying to the Secretary of States Office when he turned them in.

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