Ross eyes political comeback after beating charges

Kevin Ross insists his is a political comeback story, not one of revenge or redemption. Four years ago, Ross was running for a third term as Maricopa County assessor when he was indicted on three felony counts just months before voters headed to the polls. Although he eventually beat the charges, it was too late. Ross was soundly defeated by Keith Russell, a political unknown at the time, in the Republican primary. Ross accused Russell of helping to orchestrate his political downfall in an $8 million civil claim alleging that Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard used false testimony and withheld evidence to obtain the indictments. A judge threw out one of the charges. Ross was acquitted on the second. The lone conviction against Ross was later overturned by the Arizona Court of Appeals. Russell is also named as a potential... [read full story]