Nick Martin joins the Arizona Guardian

By Nick R. Martin | July 13th, 2010 | 2:22 pm | 16 Comments »
Arizona Guardian logo

Starting this week, my work will be appearing regularly on the political news site, the Arizona Guardian. The specifics are still being worked out, but the broad outline was hatched over the long Fourth of July weekend. I’ll be covering a number of political races as well as helping the Guardian grow as a company. This is a great opportunity to work with a fledgling company that has a bright future.

Yes, the Guardian is a paid-subscription site, which means you’ll have to pony up some cash to read it. You may remember I wrote a fairly in-depth profile about the company last year in Phoenix magazine. At the time, I said it was too expensive for most people, but the company’s target readers — lobbyists, lawyers and politicians — were often willing to pay the price because it gives them the kind of news they need for success.

That model has worked for the Guardian so far. Now, the founders are hoping to build on that accomplishment. They are open to new ideas and experiments, and that’s where I’ll be playing a role. What does that mean specifically? I’ll let you know once we figure it out.

Heat City will still be here. This site will remain a place for me to write stories that don’t have a home anywhere else. The only difference now is that my political (and sometimes legal) stories will be appearing in the Arizona Guardian.

As a special offer for readers of Heat City, the Guardian is also offering a 60 percent discount to new subscribers. This means individual readers can get access for just $12 a month (down from $30) and businesses, such as law firms, news organizations and creative agencies, can give all their employees access for just $60 a month (down from $150). When you sign up, simply enter the coupon code heatcity for your discount.

Finally, if you’ve been one of the generous people who has financially supported Heat City over the past year and a half, we are planning something special for you. Look for it in your email box over the next week.


  • Congratulations!

  • Congratulations!

  • Congrats. There’s something to be said for keeping a roof over your head ; )

  • Congrats Martin! Go kick some butt….

  • Congrats. There's something to be said for keeping a roof over your head ; )

  • Congrats Martin! Go kick some butt….

  • Diane D’Angelo

    That’s great news, Nick!

  • Diane D'Angelo

    That's great news, Nick!

  • Paul Giblin

    Nick Martin, yeah, I’ve heard of him. Good guy.

  • Paul Giblin

    Nick Martin, yeah, I've heard of him. Good guy.

  • Payday Paton uses senate campaign funds as personal slush fund

    PHOENIX – Former payday lending lobbyist and CD8 Republican primary candidate Jonathan Paton is unethically funding his congressional race with money from his state senate campaign, according to a complaint filed today by the Arizona Democratic Party.

    “Corporate lobbyist Jonathan Paton has found another way to give himself a payday – he writes himself checks to the tune of thousands of dollars from his old campaign accounts,” said Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Luis Heredia.

    In February and March 2010, Paton wrote himself five checks totaling more than $8,300 in mileage reimbursements from his state senate account, despite filing his federal candidacy in January 2010.

    In total, between the January 31st and June 30th campaign finance reports, Paton has reimbursed himself a total of $19,415.67 for travel. That adds up to 43,631 miles in campaign-related travel in less than a year and a half.

    Payday Paton’s new campaign web ad touts a record of “honesty and integrity.” But his record shows he’s just another corporate lobbyist trying to take a payday at voters’ expense.
    “By writing himself checks from his state account at the same time as he runs for Congress, Jonathan Paton is unethically funneling money to his next campaign. This is why we can’t elect a corporate lobbyist to Congress. Paton should give up his state senate slush fund and pay back his donors,” said Heredia.

    A copy of the complaint submitted to the Citizens Clean Elections Commission today by the Arizona Democratic Party is available for download. Read more about this lobbyist-turned-legislator’s payday past at http://www.paydaypaton.com.

    See the complaint here:
    http://azdem.org/assets/Lang_letter.PDF

  • Payday Paton uses senate campaign funds as personal slush fund

    PHOENIX – Former payday lending lobbyist and CD8 Republican primary candidate Jonathan Paton is unethically funding his congressional race with money from his state senate campaign, according to a complaint filed today by the Arizona Democratic Party.

    “Corporate lobbyist Jonathan Paton has found another way to give himself a payday – he writes himself checks to the tune of thousands of dollars from his old campaign accounts,” said Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Luis Heredia.

    In February and March 2010, Paton wrote himself five checks totaling more than $8,300 in mileage reimbursements from his state senate account, despite filing his federal candidacy in January 2010.

    In total, between the January 31st and June 30th campaign finance reports, Paton has reimbursed himself a total of $19,415.67 for travel. That adds up to 43,631 miles in campaign-related travel in less than a year and a half.

    Payday Paton’s new campaign web ad touts a record of “honesty and integrity.” But his record shows he’s just another corporate lobbyist trying to take a payday at voters’ expense.
    “By writing himself checks from his state account at the same time as he runs for Congress, Jonathan Paton is unethically funneling money to his next campaign. This is why we can't elect a corporate lobbyist to Congress. Paton should give up his state senate slush fund and pay back his donors,” said Heredia.

    A copy of the complaint submitted to the Citizens Clean Elections Commission today by the Arizona Democratic Party is available for download. Read more about this lobbyist-turned-legislator’s payday past at http://www.paydaypaton.com.

    See the complaint here:
    http://azdem.org/assets/Lang_letter.PDF

  • Mdell27

    Congratz.. Yes its a bit pricey for me, especially being unemployed, lol. But it looks like a good outfit to work for. I am sure you will do well. Looks like they are trying to compete with the Arizona Capitol Times?

  • Mdell27

    Congratz.. Yes its a bit pricey for me, especially being unemployed, lol. But it looks like a good outfit to work for. I am sure you will do well. Looks like they are trying to compete with the Arizona Capitol Times?

  • Mdell27

    Congratz.. Yes its a bit pricey for me, especially being unemployed, lol. But it looks like a good outfit to work for. I am sure you will do well. Looks like they are trying to compete with the Arizona Capitol Times?

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