AZ Morning Briefing, 10-2: Biggs Debates A Blank Lectern, Petersen and Maupin, Ammel Meltdown Continues, Where Do the Candidates Live? And More

•BIGGS STANDS ALONE–Highlighting the fact that Governor Hobbs refuses to debate him, Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican opponent released a 15-minute video yesterday where he debated an empty podium. Comedian Rob Schneider, calling himself “Roberto Schneidecky,” moderated the “debate” while wearing a porkpie hat. In front of a crowd of amused Grand Canyon University students, Schneider, who has campaign for Biggs, lobbed softball questions while Biggs gamely smacked them around. “THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR’S DEBATE IS FINALLY HAPPENING!!” tweeted the star of Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo, the Grownups movies, and the co-star of 50 First Dates.

•MAUPIN THE FLOOR–Attorney General Kris Mayes’ campaign attacked her opponent, Senate President Warren Petersen, Thursday for campaigning alongside Rev. Jarrett Maupin, whom Mayes’ office indicted earlier this year on nine felony fraud counts. Maupin, who pleaded not guilty, says he supported Petersen before the indictment and hasn’t discussed his criminal case with him. He says he expects a pardon from President Trump and deliberately hired Bob McWhirter—Mayes’ 2022 Democratic primary opponent—as his lawyer. Maupin himself is a certified candidate for Phoenix City Council District 8 on the Nov. 3 ballot.

•AMMEL’S PUBLIC MELTDOWN CONTINUES–Investigators allege former Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s ex-boyfriend Matthew Ammel, already in legal trouble for an early-September trashing of Sinema’s Cave Creek House, violated his release conditions by trying to contact Sinema through someone else and by possessing a large hunting-style knife. Authorities also say a North Carolina officer warned that Ammel was trying to obtain a gun and tactical equipment and had made threats against a judge. Ammel is a highly trained ex-soldier with extensive tactical weapons experience. This previously prurient situation seems to be heading toward a sort of tragic opera ending.

•SUPREME COURT WON’T STOP THE PRISON HEALTH TAKEOVER—U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan denied Arizona’s emergency stay request Thursday, so a court-appointed receiver will take control of health care in the state prison system Oct. 19 while Arizona continues its underlying appeal in the Ninth Circuit. Former Ohio corrections director Annette Chambers-Smith will be running the system, covering roughly 25,000 prisoners.

•NO STINKING CAMPAIGN SIGNS–Capitol Times reports that roughly one-third of Maricopa County voting locations will prohibit electioneering anywhere on their property this November, with host sites citing safety, property damage and other problems from prior elections. Normally campaigns can operate outside the statutory 75-foot limit, but locations given an emergency/non-electioneering designation can prohibit political activity across the entire site. If we can take one lesson away from this election season it’s this: People hate campaign signs.

•GET EM WHERE THEY LIVE–The Republic issued a highly-useful and amusing roundup this morning of candidates who may not actually live in the districts they’re running to represent. These include: Democrat Tammy Caputi, running to represent one area of Scottsdale but actually sleeping in another; Republican Senator Janae Shamp, running to represent Surprise but actually living in Wickenburg, and Senator Wendy Rogers, who represents Northern Arizona but seems to spend a lot of time in Tempe. “It doesn’t really, frankly, matter that she might have a home in Tempe as well,” Rogers’ lawyer said.

The story also intimates that Freedom Caucus member Rachel Keshel represents Tucson but actually lives in Vail, Colorado. Rep. Laurin Hendrix claims a home in Mesa, in his district, that is apparently a crash pad for his family, but apparently recently bought a home in Queen Creek. “I probably own 50 homes,” he said to the Republic. “Sometimes I live in them, sometimes I don’t.” Same, same.