Phoenix voters are hearing that Daniel Valenzuela is the “conservative voice” merely four days before Tuesday's mayoral election.

There is nothing wrong with being a conservative. But wouldn’t Phoenicians like to know that throughout the campaign – if in fact that’s true?

On Saturday, residents were hit with targeted mailers touting Valenzuela – a registered Democrat – as the “respected” conservative choice for mayor. The other side of the mailer smears Valenzuela's rival Kate Gallego by connecting her to Hillary Clinton – more specifically, to Clinton's infamous characterization about Donald Trump supporters as a "basket of deplorables."

“Kate Gallego was a 'super delegate' for Hillary Clinton – and shares her liberal agenda and contempt for 'deplorable' Americans with conservative values.”

The mailer is courtesy of Advancing Freedom, Inc., an Oklahoma group that's behind other attack ads on Gallego and whose funding is a total mystery.

Why not condemn those hit pieces?

Not so veiled is the veering to the right – now very far right – by Valenzuela backers in the mayoral runoff Tuesday. There's even a Valenzuela campaign ad, authorized by his camp, running on Breitbart, a far-right site that appeals to Trump supporters.

Valenzuela’s campaign points out, correctly, that the candidate has no control over what independent groups do on his behalf.

“That is not our message and the piece is not from the campaign,” said Valenzuela’s campaign spokeswoman Michelle Kauk. “We are focused on our positive message of public safety, hiring more first responders, investing in education programs like CodePHX and creating great jobs. We can’t control what independent expenditures say about us, whether they’re supporting us or putting out misleading ads against us.”

Fair enough. But Valenzuela could condemn the hit pieces, ask for all independent expenditures to stop and, most important to voters, clarify his political ideology.

Where does Valenzuela stand?

But Phoenicians have heard nothing, zero, zilch. Instead, the campaign resorted to generalities when asked on Saturday.

“Daniel’s been called a lot of things in his life, including an underdog. He is running to be mayor for all Phoenicians and will work with the community to problem solve on the issues facing everyday Phoenix residents,” Kauk said in a statement.

The questions remain unanswered: Is Valenzuela really a conservative but isn’t willing to say it himself? Is he OK with the Trump-like mayoral election?

Never mind that Phoenix mayoral races are nonpartisan. This election threw that notion out the window.

Why aren't more Latino leaders troubled?

The silence of top Latino leaders is equally dismaying, especially of lawmakers supporting Valenzuela.

When asked, Sen. Robert Meza, D-Phoenix, told me he supports Valenzuela “no matter what.” The only Latinos raising concerns publicly early Saturday were Rep. Raquel Teran, who supports Valenzuela, and Sen. Martin Quezada, who supports Gallego.

Teran told me she’s disappointed, saying “this is out of control” and that she hopes Valenzuela would denounce the independent attack ads.

Quezada, meanwhile, went deeper on Twitter.

Here the thing, though. Win or lose, Valenzuela will come out as the candidate whose political values are unrevealed. His continued silence has left too many scratching their heads, wondering about his commitment and alliances – not just the powerful chambers and unions and conservatives backing him.

Winning at all costs isn't winning

Everyone should be concerned about the influence of "dark money" in this and other races. People should have the guts to publicly state their support for a particular candidate.

And they should also have the guts to call out things when they're wrong. The silence of Latinos, particularly those who pound a constant drumbeat of anger over Trump's divisive rhetoric, is particularly disappointing. They should be demanding that Valenzuela denounce the tactics. What does that say about them?

I'm a member of The Arizona Republic editorial board that endorsed Gallego for mayor. I’ve also written that Phoenix City Hall would be OK with either of them winning. I no longer believe that.

Quezada is on point: Winning at all cost isn’t winning. Being a conservative is one thing. Telling voters four days before the election is a whole different matter. Especially about a candidate whose voting record and issues are strikingly similar to his rival's.

At the very least, Valenzuela’s silence allows outside groups to define him. And call him into question. How can anyone – conservative or liberal – really trust a mayor who either is easily manipulated or hides his true political ideology?

Elvia Díaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.

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