The CD5 R forum

It wasn't as interesting as the R Senate debates this week because there were fewer direct attacks on other candidates.

Other than that, however, there wasn't any significant difference between the two forums - all of the R candidates are running against brown people and for big business.

"Highlights" in no particular order:

David Schweikert blamed his 2008 loss to Congressman Harry Mitchell on the "toxic" environment for conservative Republicans engendered by the passage of TARP and the financial sector bailouts (on the plus side, even though he probably didn't realize it at the time, the makes Schweikert one of the few Rs to admit that the blame for the economic meltdown falls upon the Republicans' failed economic ideology and upon the Rs' keepers on Wall St.)

Lee Gentry, also a 2008 candidate, attributed his somewhat lackluster showing (706 votes, fewer than his number of signatures on his nominating petitions) to "building momentum" and equated himself to Michael Jordan when he was cut from his high school hoops team but went on to greatness anyway.  I kid you not...

Chris Salvino wants to address issues along the U.S./Mexico border by building a high wall topped with razor wire and closely spaced blockhouses all along the border.  Sort of a 21st Century Maginot Line, something that didn't work so well for the French in 1940, but...

Susan Bitter Smith blamed Arizona's economic woes on undocumented immigrants, saying that getting rid of them will cure all.

All of them hate Health Care Reform, wanting to repeal the bill passed earlier this year and replace it with tort reform and "the free market."  Most of them mentioned tort reform even before they spoke about patients.

Misspeak of the night - Gentry with "we are a nation of native Americans and legal immigrants" and everybody else should take a number.  I'm pretty sure Native American groups, some of which are in CD5 (Salt River Pima/Maricopa Indian Community), might have something to say about that one...

In a series of yes/no questions, all of them opposed extending Unemployment Insurance benefits for the long-term unemployed, earmarks, the DREAM Act, tax credits/incentives for solar and renewable energy efforts (unless existing energy sources, and corporations, are protected) and favor a Constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage (except for Gentry, who pledged to fight for LGBT issues if elected.  It was the only serious break with Republican orthodoxy in the hour.)  One candidate, I'm not sure which, opposed a Constitution amendment, but only because he thought it would devalue Constitutional amendments, not because he supported the rights of freely consenting adults to enter the relationships that they choose.

In short, the hour was spent with each candidate swearing loyalty and obeisance to the main tenets of Republican thought, and swearing that they were more loyal and obedient that the others - brown people bad, President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Democrats in general bad, and tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy good.

Normally, I can watch one of these things find a candidate who, if not exactly "good", is less bad than the others, but not here.  Other than Gentry's support of LGBT issues (and Gentry doesn't have a snowball's chance in Phoenix of making it through the primary), this bunch is reading from the same pages of the "more conservative than thou" playbook, a playbook that doesn't allow for candidates who will do anything for the districts that they are campaigning to "represent."

One interesting thing about the forum was something that *didn't* come up, something that could have afforded the assembled candidates the ability to separate themselves - abortion rights.

I don't know about the others, but Susan Bitter Smith has a pro-choice record.

It's the sort of thing that doesn't play well in Republican primaries.  Given that the Scottsdale Republic was the sponsor of the forum, that omission may be a clue as to which candidate they plan on endorsing.

They probably don't want to undercut their preferred choice, before she even has a chance to become the nominee.

Not that I'm a cynic or anything... :)

Truth time: I want JD Hayworth to win the R nomination for U.S. Senate

It may seem, to casual readers anyway, that someone as socially liberal and politically supportive of good government would despise self-centered, loud-mouthed blowhards in public office.

And I do.  Thoroughly.

However, there are two reasons that I prefer that Hayworth gain the nomination.

1.  He is far more beatable in the general election than McCain.  To be sure, Hayworth's candidacy has weakened McCain, but he is still a formidable opponent.  Hayworth, on the other hand, lost his last election in 2006 to Harry Mitchell.  His big mistake then was that he was himself - loud, annoying, and extreme, without an understanding of real issues or the needs of his constituents.  All that has changed since then is that Hayworth has gotten louder, more annoying, and moved ever further to the right politically, and still has a tin ear on matters of substance.

2.  In the tragic event that Hayworth wins the general, as a writer, I would have a silver lining.

I would get the chance to coin and use the term "filibluster" to describe Hayworth's primary public actions in office.

OK, I won't really be the one coining it (it's already in use to describe the various R moves to block extended UI benefits and more), but still... :)

It doesn't speak well of me, but I'm really not sure which reason is more important to me.  :))

This week's events...

Edit on 7/20 to correct a mistake on the date of one of the events...

Most of this week's politically-focused events are candidate forums, as should be expected as we approach the day when early ballots drop for August's primary.

...The final Clean  Elections primary debates will be held this week (statewide list here; legislative races here).

- Tuesday, the Republican candidates for Corporation Commission (Brenda Burns, Barry Wong, and Gary Pierce) will face off on KAET's Horizon at 7 p.m.

-Tuesday, the Republican candidates for the House in LD22 will face off from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at ASU Polytechnic Campus, Cooley Ballroom, 7001 E Williams Field Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212


- Wednesday, the Democratic candidates for the Corporation Commission (Renz Jennings, Jorge Luis Garcia, and David Bradley) will have their debate, also at 7 p.m. on KAET's Horizon.

- Wednesday, the Republican candidates for the House in LD30 will face off from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM at Pima Community College East Campus, 8181 E Irvington Road, Tucson, AZ.

Edit to correct the date of the event below...

- On Thursday, July 29, as previously noted, the candidates (both R and D) will participate in a forum on arts education.  The forum will take place from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. , Phoenix, AZ 85050.  Open to the public, registration requested.

 
The highlight of the week, for me anyway, will be Monday's debate between the Republican candidates in CD5.  It will take place at 2 p.m. in the studio of Scottsdale's CityCable11.  It isn't open to the public (no room for an audience) but it will be broadcast live with a replay at 9 p.m.  In addition, it will also be replayed on July 25 at 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m.  Note:  I couldn't find any indication that the forum will be broadcast on Tempe's version of CityCable11, though it wouldn't be a surprise if it eventually makes its way to that outlet.
 
This forum probably won't be as popcorn-riffic as Friday's Republican Senate debate (or, apparently, Saturday's), but look for front-runners (and perennial candidates) Susan Bitter Smith and David Schweikert to spend their time cutting each other down, while the other candidates spend theirs trying to elevate themselves into the top tier by clawing into the top two.
 
 
Later...

Army suicides up; VA outreach down. Harry Mitchell wants answers

This week, from the Stripes Central blog at Stars and Stripes -

More soldiers killed themselves last month than any other month on record. There were 21 active-duty and 11 reserve soldier suicides in June, including seven in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Army reported on Thursday.


The news came just weeks after Gen. Peter Chiarelli told Congress that the Army was encouraged by a 30 percent drop in suicides among active-duty soldiers this year compared to last year at this time. Although he said there was more to do, he thought the decrease showed the Army's prevention efforts were working.

But this latest data reflects more of the same. Through the first six months of 2009, 88 active-duty soldiers committed suicide. For this year, that number is 80. The trend is most troubling among reserve component soldiers; those deaths jumped from 42 to 65.

On Wednesday, Arizona Congressman Harry Mitchell chaired a hearing of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee looking into the efforts of the Veterans Administration to reach out to veterans suffering from PTSD and other service-related disorders. (Air Force Times coverage here)

In his opening statement, Mitchell questioned why the VA had discontinued successful public announcements, especially during a period of rising need. 
 
He called for increased, not reduced, efforts to reach out to veterans suffering from long-term effects of their service.
 
From a press release -

The VA can't just sit back and wait for veterans to come to them. They need to go to the veterans."

 
 
 

The Republican Senate Debate

Earlier this evening, the three candidates for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate appeared at a forum televised on Phoenix channel 3 (KTVK). (Video of tonight's forum, as well as last week's Democratic forum, can be found here)

I wasn't going to write about it as I figure the R bloggers in AZ will do that (figure Sonoran Alliance will annoint Hayworth the hands-down winner, Political Mafioso will do the same for McCain, and somebody will declare Deakin to be the "future of the Republican Party" or some such tripe), but I'm sitting through one of the ugliest innings that I have ever seen as the DBacks mail it in against the Padres,

As such, I have the time for a few comments.

First, the summary:

Candidate 1: You support amnesty/earmarks/big government!  I'm the *real* conservative! 

Candidate 2: I'm rubber and you're glue!  Everything you say bounces off me and sticks to you!

Candidate 3: At least you both agree with me on that.


Seriously, this was less a candidate forum and more a remake of an 80s slasher flick - they were cutting at each other from the word go.  Hayworth and McCain spent no time telling what they would do to serve Arizona and its residents.  Neither did Deakin, but he was almost an afterthought as McCain and Hayworth spent the hour launching haymakers at each other.

McCain and Hayworth made it obvious from the beginning that participating in the forum wasn't one of the ir priorities. 

Frequently, the answers they gave had very little or nothing to do with the questions asked and a lot to do with criticizing the other.

Hayworth dropped names, citing endorsements from Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, and other nativist individuals and organizations.

McCain didn't mention people so much as run down the list of big corporations that he will aid if he is re-elected.  (trolling for campaign cash?)

Deakin tended vacillate between "stop Obama" and "restore constitutional government!"  He may have dropped some names, but by the time the third question was asked I was tuning out the responses.  I kept an eye on the screen waiting/hoping that one of the candidates would jump across the lectern trying to throttle one of the others.

It didn't happen, but I kept hoping for a popcorn moment. :))

Anyway, the big winner(s) of Friday's debate had to be the Democratic candidates. 

They were far from perfect during their debate, but they focused on the issues facing the state and the country while avoiding personal attacks.

Whichever one is the eventual nominee can point to their performance and compare it to the Republican nominee's. 

And no matter who the eventual nominees are, the D will come off as the candidate who is more professional, mature, and concerned for Arizona.

Arts Education forum for State Superintendent candidates

The Arizona Citizens for the Arts and the Arizona Alliance for Arts Education will be presenting a forum with/for all five candidates for State Superintendent of Public Education (Ds: Penny Kotterman and Jason Williams; Rs: Beth Price, Margaret Dugan, and John Huppenthal) .

From the announcement -

All Candidates for the post have been invited to the event where they will answer a series of questions related to the Arizona Arts Standards, development of arts education curriculum for students and their commitment to provide access to quality arts education in Arizona schools.

Date:  Thursday, July 29, 2010
Time: 5:30p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Place: Musical Instrument Museum
           4725 E. Mayo Blvd.

           Phoenix, AZ 85050
 
The forum is free and open to the public.  Register here.
 
According to this AZCentral.com piece, as of yesterday, all five candidates have pledged to be there, though that is subject to change without notice.

Meet and greet LD1 candidates to discuss education issues

Posting, with permission, an email from a regular reader in Sedona Karen McClelland, a Sedona Oak Creek School Board member -

ATTENTION ALL EDUCATION ADVOCATES

DISCUSS EDUCATION ISSUES WITH ALL THE STATE LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES

The budget news for Arizona for next year is still bleak. All of our local schools have reduced budgets for next year. Most laid off staff members and cut programs. We are hearing that we may face budgets cuts during the upcoming school year even before the budget for 2011-2012 is discussed.

It is more vital than ever that we let our state legislature know that we view Education as a TOP PRIORITY for the state. preserving and improving our public education system is vital for the future of Arizona's economy. We need to be sure sure that ALL our elected officials view education as an essential INVESTMENT in our future and NOT as an expense.

Please come and let all the candidates for State Legislature and State Senate in LD1 hear your concerns.

I am hosting informal houseparties for each candidate. These are not fundraising events and I hope that Republicans, Democrats, parents, community members, teacher and board members attend each meeting. The meetings will be at my home in the Village of Oak Creek, Sedona .

I do need RSVPs.

Please call me at 284-0001 or email me at klm@esedona.net and I will send you the directions.

The meeting dates are:

Monday, July 26 4 p.m. Lindsay Bell, Democratic Candidate for State Legislature

Wednesday, August 11 4 p.m. Noel Campbell. Republican Candidate for State Legislature

Wednesday, August 18 4 p.m. Karen Fann . Republican Candidate for State Legislature

Thursday, August 26 4p.m. Senator Steve Pierce, Republican Candidate for State Senate


Rep. Andy Tobin , Republican candidate for State Legislature will also be here in mid August and

Bob Donahue, Democratic Candidate for State Senate will be here the first week in September. We are still finalizing dates.

 Karen McClelland, Vice-President Sedona Oak Creek School Board
Yavapai County Director, Arizona School Board Association
**and Candidate for re-election to Sedona Oak Creek School Board for a third term!**

Later...

Republican mayor says U.S. in a civil war

...While the neo-Nazi Mexican hunting squads "patriotic citizen anti-immigrant patrols" may not have made it to the area around Yuma as yet, Yuma is a lot closer than Fort Sumter.  Maybe MCAS-Yuma should be on alert...

From the Yuma Sun -

Yuma mayor at immigration forum: SB 1070 has created a civil war

America is in a civil war, said Yuma Mayor Al Krieger ­— and it's over SB 1070.


At an immigration forum Tuesday evening, Krieger and other panelists discussed the controversial law that will go into effect July 29. The law would make it a state crime to be in the country illegally, enforced by local law enforcement, a job currently done by federal law enforcement.

{snip}

Krieger said the definition of a civil war is when the states and federal governments differ (in opinion). “So we basically have an undeclared civil war today.”

Krieger apparently has confused "civil actions" with "civil wars".


Civil actions - the lawyers get thousands of billable hours

Civil wars - the morgues get thousands of dead people


Guess which one is going on right now?


Of course, perhaps this all should be taken with a grain a salt.

This is the same Mayor Al Krieger who used a speech given on Memorial Day. a day to honor fallen members of America's military branches, to deride gay members of the military as "lacy-drawered" and "limp-wristed." 

It could be that Krieger is just a loud-mouthed bigot looking to get attention any way that he can, and has found that spouting incendiary statements brings that attention to him.

The Witch Hunt Begins...

...and apparently, Utah is trying to bump Arizona off the top of the list of "places most friendly to nativists" because the witch hunt is starting there...

From the story on  MSNBC.com -

Advocates of tougher immigration enforcement joined civil rights activists in condemning circulation this week of a list of alleged illegal immigrants to Utah state agencies and news organizations, saying it sent the wrong message to violate privacy laws in seeking to enforce immigration laws.

The 30-page document included addresses, phone numbers and birthdates for about 1,300 people it said were in the country illegally. Some of the names — almost all of which were of Latino origin — also were accompanied by Social Security numbers and medical information, such as “baby due 4/4/10.”


A cover letter demanded that the people on the list be “deported immediately” with a call to “DO YOUR JOB AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES! WE DEMAND ACTION.” It identified the senders as Concerned Citizens of the United States, a previously unknown group.

The news isn't all bad, not yet anyway.  So far, major news outlets have refused to publicize the list. (Note:  I frequently pick on the MSM for many things, but on this one, they have my respect)

However, the possibility that the list could be publicized has people of Hispanic descent in Utah, including those who are there legally (or are even citizens) absolutely terrorized.

Which was likely the idea behind the list's creation and release.


There's no doubt that crossing the border into the US without proper documentation is illegal, but this is evil.

And no matter what Russell Pearce, Jan Brewer, and their supporters say, "evil" is far worse than "illegal."

More signs of a state education system in freefall

Republican hearts all over the state were gladdened this week with the publishing of a couple of stories related to Arizona's underfunded public education system (49th or 50th in per pupil funding, 51st if the District of Columbia is included in the stats!).

From the Cronkite News Service, via Arizona Capitol Times -

Arizona school districts struggle to keep superintendents

By Melanie Kiser, Cronkite News Service

Published: July 12, 2010 at 11:48 am

When Elizabeth Celania-Fagen signed on as the superintendent of Arizona’s second-largest school district in 2008, she said she planned to raise her family in Tucson and serve at least five to 10 years.

{snip}

Ann-Eve Pedersen, a TUSD parent and president of the Arizona Education Network, a nonprofit group that advocates for public school students and educates the public about education issues, said the departure points to a much bigger problem.


“If we’re a state where funding is so low that we are driving out good superintendents and good principals and good teachers and we can’t attract those folks, then that is very bad news for the overall quality of education in our state,” she said.

Superintendents in Arizona have long earned less than counterparts across the country while confronting levels of spending per student that rank among the nation’s lowest, according to a number of state and national associations and government agencies.

Deep cuts to public education funding have spread resources even thinner in recent years.

A Cronkite News Service review of 94 superintendents’ contracts in districts with about 1,000 or more students found 40 in the first two years of their superintendency. At least nine districts will get new chiefs this summer.

“This is unusually high,” said Dan Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, or AASA.

 That was followed today with this story from the Arizona Republic -

Arizona students still lag in science on AIMS exam

Many Arizona educators are about as enthused over the state's standardized science test as the 53,300 sophomores who took them last spring.

Three years of AIMS science scores indicate that just over a third of Arizona students are learning the science concepts the state says they should by 10th grade.

The latest AIMS figures, being released today, show that only 35 percent of 10th-graders passed the AIMS science exam in the spring. That's slightly better than the 33 percent last year and the 32 percent the year before.

The 2010 AIMS Results can be downloaded from the website of the Arizona Department of Education.  It's there as a spreadsheet, so I cannot link directly to the report.

The constant, crushing, pressure on public school funding and the academic viability from the Republicans is paying off - the system is failing to educate students, and the people who could best lead a turnaround are being forced from the state.

Welcome to Arizona in the 19th 20th 21st century. 

It doesn't have to be that way, though - contribute to or volunteer with the Arizona Democratic Party.

Help change the makeup of the Arizona Legislature, and help change Arizona's education system.

Buh bye, Buz

From the Arizona Capitol Times -

After spending $3.2 million of his own money on his campaign, Northern Arizona businessman Buz Mills bowed out of the governor’s race, leaving Jan Brewer virtually unopposed in the Republican primary.

{snip}

Mills said he dropped out due to the way S1070 shifted the public’s focus to illegal immigration and away from the economic and tax issues that formed the foundation of his campaign. The strict new illegal immigration law, which Brewer signed on April 23, gave Brewer a tremendous boost in the polls.

“SB 1070 has regrettably taken the focus off of job creation and fixing the state budget. So even though the chasm between Brewer’s policies and mine is dramatic, SB 1070 has politically mitigated those issues. I have therefore decided to suspend the campaign,” Mills said in a press statement.

No word yet if Jan Brewer has yet thanked Russell Pearce for his clearing the Republican field for her...

A list to make your eyes water

I wish I could take credit for this one, but the list is from an email from Chad Campbell, Democratic State Representative from LD14 and House Democratic Whip.

The list -

For the past 18 months, Arizona’s economy has languished. Jobs have been lost, schools have been starved of funding and the budget deficit has loomed. Have the Republicans who control the Arizona State Legislature worked to fix these problems? No. But they HAVE kept themselves busy!


Here are 15 of the most outrageous things the Republicans have been spending their time (and our resources) on:

1) Cut $1.2 billion out of Arizona’s already dismally funded public education system and forced schools to loan the state government another $1 billion to help balance the state budget.

2) Voted to give a $1 billion tax cut to special interests and the rich.

3) Tried to make milk the official state drink.

4) Eliminated the need for a person to get a permit and complete training to carry a concealed weapon.

5) Passed legislation banning human-animal hybrids in Arizona. We should all be thankful that imminent threat was taken care of…

6) Voted to deny over 47,000 children access to KidsCare.

7) Allowed guns in bars.

8) Increased property taxes and asked voters to tax themselves, but refused to close tax loopholes that allow country club memberships, spas and pet grooming to be exempt from the sales tax. Clothes and school supplies are subject to the tax.

9) Voted to override renewable energy requirements created by the Arizona Corporation Commission, jeopardizing solar industry jobs and economic investments statewide.

10) Made it a crime for teachers to talk to students of color about their own history and heritage.

11) Based environmental policies on the belief that the Earth is only 6,000 years old, as cited by a state senator.

12) Cut off services to 36,500 seriously mentally ill patients, creating a public safety threat as those individuals start to wander through Arizona’s communities homeless, untreated and unmedicated.

13) Jumped on the extreme band wagon of the so-called “birther” movement that questions President Obama’s citizenship, requiring US Presidential candidates to show proof of US citizenship to be on the Arizona ballot.

14) Eliminated funding for Science Foundation Arizona, a public private partnership created to stimulate both high tech economic development and science and math education efforts to ensure Arizona has a high-tech work force. The $25 million annual state funding would have leveraged $100 million in private funding for the project over four years.

15) Passed bills that make it harder for childless couples to take advantage of infertility research to have a family.

We’ve had over 40 years of a Republican controlled legislature that has refused to address the serious issues facing our state, so this shouldn’t be surprising. These examples come from the past couple of years alone!

I would love to hear if you have any examples of the outlandish actions we’ve seen from the Republican leadership in Arizona. Reply to this email to tell me your favorites!

And more importantly, please join our fight to get our state back on track by electing representatives who understand the importance of the challenges we face. To volunteer with the Democratic Party, please visit http://www.azdem.org/action/volunteer/ or contact me via my website at http://www.chadcampbell.org/.

Later...

Jon Kyl wants to drag the entire US into the same fiscal abyss that Arizona is in

Ummm...in case that anyone has forgotten (and apparently, Kyl has), blindly and irresponsibly cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy while not addressing the issue of reduced revenue (aka - "paying for the cuts") is what has led to the generational budget deficit that is destroying Arizona's future...and present.



ThinkProgress coverage here.

Ezra Klein coverage in the Washington Post here.

This week's upcoming events

Mostly Clean Elections debates, but there are a few others.

...On Tuesday, the CCEC will hold a debate for the Libertarian candidates for Governor.  It will be televised on KAET's Horizon.

Since only one (Alvin Yount) is running Clean, there's no assurance that any of the others will attend.

In legislative races/debates...

Monday

LD21
Republican Candidates House of Representatives

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Chandler City Council Chambers
Downtown Chandler Library, 2nd Floor
22 S Delaware St
Chandler, AZ

LD28
Democrat Candidates House of Representatives

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Pima Community College District Office
Community Board Room
4905 E Broadway
Tucson, AZ


Wednesday

LD3
Republican Candidates House of Representatives

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce Conference Center
1251 Highway 95
Bullhead City, AZ 86429

LD10
Republican Candidates House of Representatives

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
ASU West Campus, La Sala Ballroom
4701 W Thunderbird Rd
Glendale, AZ 85306


Thursday

LD1
Republican Candidates House of Representatives

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Prescott City Council Chambers
201 S Cortez Street
Prescott, AZ 86303


As interesting as the debates are, the highlight of the week (for political geeks, anyway :) ) should be Tuesday's Meet the Candidates Reception sponsored by the Arizona Capitol Times.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM (Arizona Time)

Wyndham Phoenix Hotel
602-333-0000
50 East Adams Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
United States

Tickets required and available at the link above ($40?).

Later...

Candidate updates

Had a few minutes to spare while waiting for, then watching, the first Democratic U.S. Senate debate...

...Dean Martin is "suspending" his campaign for governor - he was the front-runner for a brief bit, but is now polling well behind unelected incumbent Jan Brewer.  The AZ Capitol Times also speculated (subscription required) that Buz Mills will also soon be exiting the race, though the Arizona Guardian says that Mills is in for the long haul (subscription required here, too).  If Mills also leaves the race, that would leave dark horse Matthew Jette as Brewer's only challenger.

...In CD8, Republican Andy Goss has withdrawn from the race to face off against incumbent Democrat Gabrielle Giffords.  He has thrown his support behind Jesse Kelly.

...In the race to serve out Andrew Thomas' unexpired term as Maricopa County Attorney, Republican Boyd Dunn, Mayor of Chandler, has withdrawn from the race.  He had a few signs up, but was already shaping up to run a distant third behind interim (and formerly elected) County Attorney Rick Romley (Arpaio adversary) and MCAO deputy (aka: prosecutor) Bill Montgomery (Arpaio bootlicker ally).  Greg Patterson of Espresso Pundit has a snit coverage here.


Speculations on the major races (no smack talk either :) ):

...Brewer has the SB1070/nativist momentum and will win the GOP nod for governor whether or not Mills remains in the race.

...In the Democratic primary for Arizona Secretary of State, Sam Wercinski seems to have a momentum and money advantage over Chris Deschene.  However, this race could be closer than expected because Wercinski has ties to the old Napolitano machine, and they aren't popular with grassroots Ds right now.

...Race for Attorney General:  No clue, for either side of the ballot.

...In the R primary for State Treasurer, Thayer Verschoor has more signs up than the other candidates (Barbara Leff, Doug Ducey).  Of course, my observations are mostly limited to the East Valley section of Maricopa County.  And Verschoor lives here in the East Valley section of Maricopa County.

...Race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction: No clue, for either side of the ballot.

...In the race for Arizona Corporation Commission, Rs Brenda Burns and Gary Pierce *seem* to be doing better than fellow R Barry Wong - hence Wong's call to cut off utilities to anyone who cannot prove legal residency in the U.S. 

No clue on the D side of the ballot.

...In the R primary for U.S. Senate, John McCain seems to have finally noticed the candidacy of JD Hayworth, and is methodically squashing it.  Caveat:  It's an R primary, and I have no clue as to the mindset of R primary voters.

...The D primary for U.S. Senate seems pretty wide open right now, though Rodney Glassman is the presumptive frontrunner, if only because he has been meeting, greeting, and talking to Ds all over the state for much longer than the other three candidates combined (John Dougherty, Cathy Eden, and Randy Parraz).

Later...