During the primary season in CD5, one of the Republican candidates for the nomination sent out a hit piece targeting Schweikert's vulture investment fund that targeted "distressed homeowners" facing fiscal difficulty in Arizona's depressed economy.
Greg Patterson of Espresso Pundit led the chorus of support for Schweikert, criticizing Salvino for criticizing a fellow Republican for doing something that they all consider to be acceptable.
The matter quickly faded in the tumult of a heavily contested primary. There were always dozens of other things clamoring for the attention of voters.
Well, it turns out that Patterson and the other R voters in CD5 should have paid closer attention.
Much closer.
As this website, sponsored by the Arizona Democratic Party, documents, Schweikert's vulture fund entered already devastated neighborhoods (full list of properties here) and driven them further downhill (long list of citations from the City of Phoenix here).
Part of Schweikert's campaign platform is that he is running to stand "up for Arizona values."
OK, I'll accept that from him. All he has to do is show me where the initiating and profiting from the predatory destruction of Arizona's neighborhoods for fun and profit is an "Arizona value."
More on this later.
"Your Loss, His Gain." Worth a visit.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Cherny challenges Ducey to a series of debates
Andrei Cherny, former Assistant Arizona Attorney General, White House staffer, and Democratic nominee for Arizona State Treasurer, in a letter today challenged the Republican nominee Doug Ducey to a series of debates.
The letter, from an emailed press release -
The letter, from an emailed press release -
Dear Douglas,Yes, you can tell that primary season is over - Democrats and Republicans are going after each other directly now. Keep the popcorn handy. :)
Congratulations on your victory last night in the primary. Yesterday’s outcome sets up the clearest choice Arizonans have ever had in a Treasurer’s race and I look forward to a vigorous discussion of our respective backgrounds and approaches to the position.
This new campaign gives you the opportunity to come clean with the people of Arizona and release a full disclosure of your financial and business holdings. I ask you to not only comply with the letter but the spirit of Arizona's Public Official Financial Disclosure Law. Arizonans deserve to have a full picture of each candidate’s financial history, so they have all the information they need to decide who is best suited to protect the billions of dollars of state assets held in trust and to guard against conflicts of interest.
In order to fully discuss all the important issues facing our state, I am proposing a series of four or more debates over the next 69 days before the general election. These debates would be held in different parts of the state with a different theme for each debate. I am proposing debates around the topics of job creation, government transparency, investment strategies, and using the audit power of the Treasurer's office.
My campaign manager, Bill Scheel, will be in touch with your staff to begin making arrangments for these debates. Thank you in advance for being willing to discuss these important issues with Arizonans.
Sincerely,
Andrei
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Preliminary results
It's still to early to call most of the primaries in statewide races, but here are some results from the East Valley part of Maricopa County (OK, and a little bit on statewides...can't resist)... :)
- University Lakes Justice of the Peace: With 33 of 47 precincts reporting, outgoing Democratic State Sen. Meg Burton Cahill has a comfortable lead over Kathy Hayden, 2554 - 1388. I'm comfortable calling that one for Burton Cahill.
- In the D SOS primary, Chris Deschene is up solidly over Sam Wercinski.
- In the D AG primary, David Lujan and Felecia Rotellini are running neck and neck, with Rotellini current ahead by approx. 2400 votes.
- In the R AG primary, it's virtually a dead heat with Andrew Thomas ahead of Tom Horne by 410 votes. Recount coming if it stays this close.
- In the R primary for state treasurer, scandal-plagued businessman Doug Ducey looks to be cruising to the nod.
- In the D primary for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Penny Kotterman looks to be swamping 2006 nominee Jason Williams by a 2 - 1 margin.
- In the R primary for the same office, John Huppenthal looks to be doing even better over his Republican opponents, with a margin of more than 2 - 1 over his nearest competitor.
- In the R US Senate primary, McCain is up 25 points with 8 counties reporting, and has declared victory over JD Hayworth.
- In the CD8 R primary, tea partier Jesse Kelly is ahead of establishment candidate (and darling of the payday loan industry) Jonathan Paton.
- In the CD3 R primary, Ben "Brock Landers" Quayle has a comfortable (but not insurmountable) lead over businessman Steve Moak and former state senator Jim Waring, 13448 - 10624 (Moak) - 10523 (Waring), with 200 of 249 precincts reporting.
- In the CD5 R primary, David Schweikert looks to be cruising to a second consecutive nomination to take on Democratic incumbent Harry Mitchell. With 204 of 248 precincts reporting, he has 20858 votes to Susan Bitter Smith's 13399 and Jim Ward's 13704.
- In the LD8 R primary for state rep, incumbent John Kavanagh and tea partier Michelle Ugenti have large leads for the two nods, but only 32 of 76 precincts have reported. Kavanagh will win one nod, while Ugenti could be upended if the remaining precincts are strongholds for Michael Blaire or Paula Pennypacker. Probably not...
- In the LD7 R primary for state rep, once-ousted (for Clean Elections violations) legislator David Burnell Smith looks like he will get on of the R nods.
- In the LD22 R state rep primary, Eddie Farnsworth looks to be well on his way to a return to the state house, but only 26 of 62 precincts have reported.
- In the Republican primary for West Mesa Justice of the Peace, former state rep Mark Anderson leads Clayton Hamblen 1628 - 927, 16 of 16 precincts reporting.
- In the D primary for Corporation Commission, the race is too close to call. David Bradley and Jorge Luis Garcia have slight leads over former Commissioner Renz Jennings.
- In the R primary for the same seats, Brenda Burns and Gary Pierce look to be cruising to the nominations over Barry Wong.
And in the worst news of the night, Bill Montgomery (R-Arpaio's patsy) leads Rick Romley in the race to serve the next two years in the Maricopa County Attorney's office, 117436 - 89390. Withdrawn candidate Boyd Dunn, who endorsed Romley upon his withdrawal from the race, has received 28644 votes. (739 of 1142 precincts reporting.
These numbers could, and probably will,change by tomorrow. I'll update then.
- University Lakes Justice of the Peace: With 33 of 47 precincts reporting, outgoing Democratic State Sen. Meg Burton Cahill has a comfortable lead over Kathy Hayden, 2554 - 1388. I'm comfortable calling that one for Burton Cahill.
- In the D SOS primary, Chris Deschene is up solidly over Sam Wercinski.
- In the D AG primary, David Lujan and Felecia Rotellini are running neck and neck, with Rotellini current ahead by approx. 2400 votes.
- In the R AG primary, it's virtually a dead heat with Andrew Thomas ahead of Tom Horne by 410 votes. Recount coming if it stays this close.
- In the R primary for state treasurer, scandal-plagued businessman Doug Ducey looks to be cruising to the nod.
- In the D primary for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Penny Kotterman looks to be swamping 2006 nominee Jason Williams by a 2 - 1 margin.
- In the R primary for the same office, John Huppenthal looks to be doing even better over his Republican opponents, with a margin of more than 2 - 1 over his nearest competitor.
- In the R US Senate primary, McCain is up 25 points with 8 counties reporting, and has declared victory over JD Hayworth.
- In the CD8 R primary, tea partier Jesse Kelly is ahead of establishment candidate (and darling of the payday loan industry) Jonathan Paton.
- In the CD3 R primary, Ben "Brock Landers" Quayle has a comfortable (but not insurmountable) lead over businessman Steve Moak and former state senator Jim Waring, 13448 - 10624 (Moak) - 10523 (Waring), with 200 of 249 precincts reporting.
- In the CD5 R primary, David Schweikert looks to be cruising to a second consecutive nomination to take on Democratic incumbent Harry Mitchell. With 204 of 248 precincts reporting, he has 20858 votes to Susan Bitter Smith's 13399 and Jim Ward's 13704.
- In the LD8 R primary for state rep, incumbent John Kavanagh and tea partier Michelle Ugenti have large leads for the two nods, but only 32 of 76 precincts have reported. Kavanagh will win one nod, while Ugenti could be upended if the remaining precincts are strongholds for Michael Blaire or Paula Pennypacker. Probably not...
- In the LD7 R primary for state rep, once-ousted (for Clean Elections violations) legislator David Burnell Smith looks like he will get on of the R nods.
- In the LD22 R state rep primary, Eddie Farnsworth looks to be well on his way to a return to the state house, but only 26 of 62 precincts have reported.
- In the Republican primary for West Mesa Justice of the Peace, former state rep Mark Anderson leads Clayton Hamblen 1628 - 927, 16 of 16 precincts reporting.
- In the D primary for Corporation Commission, the race is too close to call. David Bradley and Jorge Luis Garcia have slight leads over former Commissioner Renz Jennings.
- In the R primary for the same seats, Brenda Burns and Gary Pierce look to be cruising to the nominations over Barry Wong.
And in the worst news of the night, Bill Montgomery (R-Arpaio's patsy) leads Rick Romley in the race to serve the next two years in the Maricopa County Attorney's office, 117436 - 89390. Withdrawn candidate Boyd Dunn, who endorsed Romley upon his withdrawal from the race, has received 28644 votes. (739 of 1142 precincts reporting.
These numbers could, and probably will,change by tomorrow. I'll update then.
It's Up To Me AZ: A Day of Civic Action
On Thursday, September 23, a group of civic organizations, including Arizona Town Hall, the Arizona Foundation for Women, Center for the Future of Arizona, Girl Scouts - Arizona Cactus Pine Council, and The OʼConnor House, will hold an all-day event at the Wyndham in Phoenix. The goal of the event is to bring together Arizonans interested in working to improve Arizona through civil discourse and civic engagement.
The day's activities begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue until 8:30 p.m.
They include:
Who Votes? Who Helps? Who Speaks for Arizona? at 7:30 a.m.
The Status of Women in Arizona: A Special Report and Call to Action by the Arizona Foundation for Women at 9:15 a.m.
Arizona Town Hall Fall Luncheon, activities starting at 10:30 a.m., lunch at noon.
It’s Up To Me AZ: The Action Starts Now starting at 1:45 p.m.
Inspiration & Action for AZ, reception and dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.
Sign up and get more info here. Interested folks can sign up for the entire day's slate ($200) or can pick events a la carte (as low as $free).
While I haven't participated in any events put on by any of these particular organizations, I have been part of the last two sessions put together by Project Civil Discourse (a May discussion of the sales tax question that was on the ballot then, and one this month on immigration). The discussions were perceptive and yes, heartening. If only because while we didn't all agree on the issues under discussion, we could *talk* and not *yell.*
After covering the lege for years, that was definitely refreshing. :)
Anyway, it's worth a look.
Later!
The day's activities begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue until 8:30 p.m.
They include:
Who Votes? Who Helps? Who Speaks for Arizona? at 7:30 a.m.
The Status of Women in Arizona: A Special Report and Call to Action by the Arizona Foundation for Women at 9:15 a.m.
Arizona Town Hall Fall Luncheon, activities starting at 10:30 a.m., lunch at noon.
It’s Up To Me AZ: The Action Starts Now starting at 1:45 p.m.
Inspiration & Action for AZ, reception and dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.
Sign up and get more info here. Interested folks can sign up for the entire day's slate ($200) or can pick events a la carte (as low as $free).
While I haven't participated in any events put on by any of these particular organizations, I have been part of the last two sessions put together by Project Civil Discourse (a May discussion of the sales tax question that was on the ballot then, and one this month on immigration). The discussions were perceptive and yes, heartening. If only because while we didn't all agree on the issues under discussion, we could *talk* and not *yell.*
After covering the lege for years, that was definitely refreshing. :)
Anyway, it's worth a look.
Later!
Fun with campaign signs - Primary Day edition
Pic taken at approx. 8:45 a.m. The woman on the right is CD5 R candidate Susan Bitter Smith with some campaign operatives (hers mostly, but at least one was a Salvino volunteer) looking at the signs in the dumpster at the Scottsdale Elks Club on Oak St. Turns out that while the Elks are willing to allow their facility to be used as a polling place, they are not willing to allow campaigns to put up signs on their property. Signs that were placed on the property itself were removed and disposed of.
Bitter Smith et. al. were "undisposing" of some. :)
BTW - This is the polling place for her precinct, so her personal presence isn't much of a surprise.
Pic of the Mills sign taken in Tempe, though I've seen them elsewhere and heard of them being elsewhere. Didn't he drop out of the race?
BTW - I didn't see any Brewer signs at polling places during my travels this morning.
Pic NOT taken at a polling place, but on a high traffic corner. As such, I'm not going to say where I saw it, but can say that tens of thousands of commuters are able to see the upside down Schweikert sign.
Every day. :)
Monday, August 23, 2010
Primary Day is here: prediction time
Greg at Espresso Pundit went all in with his predictions, and Donna at Democratic Diva steadfastly and with dignity declined to make any predictions to avoid undermining/offending the ultimate winners in the Democratic primaries.
While I am not the "pundit" that Patterson is, neither am I as dignified as Donna (hey, I'm a Red Sox fan, and *you* try shouting "Yankees Suck!!" while maintaining proper decorum :) ). As such, I'm going to make my own predictions.
Disclaimer: My predictions are not an indication of a preference in Democratic primary races; in fact, I'll be predicting a winner who is other than the candidate I voted for in a couple of the races. In addition, my predictions in Republican races are based on very distant observations, not on any knowledge of how R primary voters think.
In other words, no wagering allowed on any of this. :)
On to the fearless predictions...
R Senate - McCain over Hayworth easily. It may not be the blowout that it should be, but it won't be that close.
D Senate - This one is tough. I'll go with Parraz over Glassman in a very close race. The info about Glassman's campaign, however, may have come out too late to affect the outcome since early ballots were sent out, and returned, weeks before the info came to light.
R CD5 - Schweikert. Far from a perfect candidate but he's run a solid primary campaign. I think the big question is if Ward will hold on to second. Look for Bitter Smith or Salvino to possibly sneak into the silver medal position.
R Maricopa County Attorney - Should be Romley in a cakewalk, but if Patterson is correct about this being a low turnout election (and I think he is), Montgomery could make it interesting.
R CD3 - Got no clue, other than it won't be Quayle. Even R primary voters want more substance in a candidate.
R AG - Horne in a close one. Thomas is just too damaged by his professional and ethical missteps.
D AG - Just a "feeling", but Rotellini seems to have the support of most of the Ds that I know. Having said that, any of the three Ds running (Rotellini, Lujan, Rabago) would make a better AG than either Horne or Thomas. (Of course, so would I, and my legal experience consists of serving as a juror in a Scottsdale shoplifting case...but I digress. :) )
R Superintendent of Public Instruction - Huppenthal. In any other state he'd have been relegated to the political scrap heap years ago, but in AZ, he's a Republican hero. With the name recognition to go with it among R primary voters.
D Superintendent of Public Instruction - No clue, not even a "feeling". Both Kotterman and Williams are dedicated educators and well-qualified for the position. I just have no idea who is going to win the D nod.
D Secretary of State - Wercinski, though with Deschene's outside-of-Maricopa County contacts, he could make this one a barn burner.
R CD1, CD8, Treasurer - Don't know, don't care. Kirkpatrick, Giffords, and Cherny will be the best choices in November, no matter who the Rs nominate in August.
R Governor (just for kicks) - Brewer. Includimg me, there are maybe 10 people in AZ who realize that Jette is an intelligent, thoughtful candidate. Everybody else's loss. I wouldn't vote for him, but AZ needs more candidates like him who are less chained to an absolutist ideology and more concerned with finding real-world solutions to real-world problems.
CQPolitics has coverage here; FiveThirtyEight.com coverage here.
While I am not the "pundit" that Patterson is, neither am I as dignified as Donna (hey, I'm a Red Sox fan, and *you* try shouting "Yankees Suck!!" while maintaining proper decorum :) ). As such, I'm going to make my own predictions.
Disclaimer: My predictions are not an indication of a preference in Democratic primary races; in fact, I'll be predicting a winner who is other than the candidate I voted for in a couple of the races. In addition, my predictions in Republican races are based on very distant observations, not on any knowledge of how R primary voters think.
In other words, no wagering allowed on any of this. :)
On to the fearless predictions...
R Senate - McCain over Hayworth easily. It may not be the blowout that it should be, but it won't be that close.
D Senate - This one is tough. I'll go with Parraz over Glassman in a very close race. The info about Glassman's campaign, however, may have come out too late to affect the outcome since early ballots were sent out, and returned, weeks before the info came to light.
R CD5 - Schweikert. Far from a perfect candidate but he's run a solid primary campaign. I think the big question is if Ward will hold on to second. Look for Bitter Smith or Salvino to possibly sneak into the silver medal position.
R Maricopa County Attorney - Should be Romley in a cakewalk, but if Patterson is correct about this being a low turnout election (and I think he is), Montgomery could make it interesting.
R CD3 - Got no clue, other than it won't be Quayle. Even R primary voters want more substance in a candidate.
R AG - Horne in a close one. Thomas is just too damaged by his professional and ethical missteps.
D AG - Just a "feeling", but Rotellini seems to have the support of most of the Ds that I know. Having said that, any of the three Ds running (Rotellini, Lujan, Rabago) would make a better AG than either Horne or Thomas. (Of course, so would I, and my legal experience consists of serving as a juror in a Scottsdale shoplifting case...but I digress. :) )
R Superintendent of Public Instruction - Huppenthal. In any other state he'd have been relegated to the political scrap heap years ago, but in AZ, he's a Republican hero. With the name recognition to go with it among R primary voters.
D Superintendent of Public Instruction - No clue, not even a "feeling". Both Kotterman and Williams are dedicated educators and well-qualified for the position. I just have no idea who is going to win the D nod.
D Secretary of State - Wercinski, though with Deschene's outside-of-Maricopa County contacts, he could make this one a barn burner.
R CD1, CD8, Treasurer - Don't know, don't care. Kirkpatrick, Giffords, and Cherny will be the best choices in November, no matter who the Rs nominate in August.
R Governor (just for kicks) - Brewer. Includimg me, there are maybe 10 people in AZ who realize that Jette is an intelligent, thoughtful candidate. Everybody else's loss. I wouldn't vote for him, but AZ needs more candidates like him who are less chained to an absolutist ideology and more concerned with finding real-world solutions to real-world problems.
CQPolitics has coverage here; FiveThirtyEight.com coverage here.
Privatization of Scottsdale city services on deck
The City has posted on its website the agendas for next week's meetings of the Scottsdale City Council, and the Council will be jumping right into controversy upon its return from its summer break.
At the tail end of the agenda for next Monday's meeting is an item titled "Alternative Service Delivery Options for Residential Solid Waste Collection." In other words, "privatizing trash pick up in Scottsdale."
The item is an 18 page analysis of the City's current solid waste collection system (the City does it all) and the possible alternatives - outside vendors bid on the contract, outside vendors and City staff bid on the contract, and the City completely exits the waste collection business, leaving residents totally on their own. It seems clear from the analysis the the City staffers preparing the it that they don't think this is a good idea (from page 2 of the .pdf -
Of course, there another line in the analysis that the Council will probably keep in mind when casting their votes on the matter. Also from page 2 of the .pdf -
That item is titled "Alternative Service Delivery Options for Fleet Parts Management."
Any organization as large as the City of Scottsdale has a large number of motor vehicles in use at any given time that regularly need maintenance. For the sake of efficiency, they keep a supply of auto parts on hand.
Like the previous item relating to solid waste service privatization, there has been no community involvement with this, but it is less relevant - fleet parts management has no direct impact on private citizens.
Also like the previous item, no significant cost savings are anticipated, at least in part because any savings that would be realized would go to "enterprise" funded operations like Solid Waste and Water Resources (enterprise funded operations are funded primarily by fees, not the City's General Fund).
Also on tap for Tuesday: a special meeting with an executive session for the purposes of "evaluating" the City Auditor (Sharron Walker) and City Clerk (Carolyn Jagger). It's a little outside the usual period for employee evaluations - normally they're done right around the end of fiscal years. I may be reading too much into this one, but it's worth keeping an eye on - City Clerk Jagger is the one long-time City Charter Officer who hasn't been forced out/fired since Jim Lane ascended to the Mayor's office.
Later...
At the tail end of the agenda for next Monday's meeting is an item titled "Alternative Service Delivery Options for Residential Solid Waste Collection." In other words, "privatizing trash pick up in Scottsdale."
The item is an 18 page analysis of the City's current solid waste collection system (the City does it all) and the possible alternatives - outside vendors bid on the contract, outside vendors and City staff bid on the contract, and the City completely exits the waste collection business, leaving residents totally on their own. It seems clear from the analysis the the City staffers preparing the it that they don't think this is a good idea (from page 2 of the .pdf -
"The analysis indicates that changing the means of delivering residential solid waste services would not be likely to result in an overall cost reduction."However, the City Council majority group (Lane, Nelssen, Littlefield, and Borowsky) may have a different opinion.
Of course, there another line in the analysis that the Council will probably keep in mind when casting their votes on the matter. Also from page 2 of the .pdf -
"There has been no community involvement in the preparation of this study."Like Monday's agenda, the last item on Tuesday's agenda concerns privatization of a City operation.
That item is titled "Alternative Service Delivery Options for Fleet Parts Management."
Any organization as large as the City of Scottsdale has a large number of motor vehicles in use at any given time that regularly need maintenance. For the sake of efficiency, they keep a supply of auto parts on hand.
Like the previous item relating to solid waste service privatization, there has been no community involvement with this, but it is less relevant - fleet parts management has no direct impact on private citizens.
Also like the previous item, no significant cost savings are anticipated, at least in part because any savings that would be realized would go to "enterprise" funded operations like Solid Waste and Water Resources (enterprise funded operations are funded primarily by fees, not the City's General Fund).
Also on tap for Tuesday: a special meeting with an executive session for the purposes of "evaluating" the City Auditor (Sharron Walker) and City Clerk (Carolyn Jagger). It's a little outside the usual period for employee evaluations - normally they're done right around the end of fiscal years. I may be reading too much into this one, but it's worth keeping an eye on - City Clerk Jagger is the one long-time City Charter Officer who hasn't been forced out/fired since Jim Lane ascended to the Mayor's office.
Later...
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Central Arizona Project Board of Directors* - 15 candidates, 5 seats available
* = On the ballot, the CAP Board will be listed as the "Central Arizona Water Conservation District."
In a year when many school board races aren't races at all because they have just enough candidates to fill the open spots on the boards (and many other entities, like local fire boards, don't have enough candidates to even fill the open seats; full candidate listing here), the CAWCD has 15 candidates for 5 seats, or three candidates for every single opening.
For a position that is extremely low-profile and unpaid, that is a lot of interest.
There are 15 members of the board, serving six year terms, staggered in such a way that five seats are up every two years. Ten members are from Maricopa County and five are from the other counties that receive water through the Central Arizona Project. 2010 is a "Maricopa County" year.
It's probably too early for a full post listing each candidate's background and qualifications, but here is a brief listing of each candidate (Shaun McKinnon of the Arizona Republic also has a brief rundown here) -
Note: campaign websites were included when I could easily find them, but considering that most of the candidates are running as "$500 Threshold Exemption" candidates, the dearth of campaign websites isn't surprising.
Tim Bray of Scottsdale - an incumbent with a background in real estate
TC Bundy of Glendale, a business "consultant" (in quotes because that is such an amorphous word that it is meaningless)
Frank Fairbanks of Phoenix, the now-retired longtime Phoenix City Manager
Joseph Hobbs of Avondale, a telephone company employee/consultant and former candidate for Arizona Corporation Commission, running on an anti-government platform.
Jim Holway of Phoenix, campaign website here. Long experience in water resources management and urban planning.
Raymond Johnson of Glendale, lousy name for a Google search. He's an insurance broker, according to his campaign paperwork.
Ray Jones of Phoenix, a self-employed "consultant". I think he is a professional engineer working in the area of water resources, but I'm not sure. He used to be the president of Arizona American Water (personal note: given the mess that AZAmWater has created in Scottsdale and elsewhere in this state, his ties to that company alone disqualify him from receiving my vote.)
Arif Kazmi of Chandler, campaign website here. A career professional engineer with wide experience in water resources and water projects.
Karl Kohlhoff of Gilbert, a water consultant and member of the Planning Commission for the Town of Gilbert.
Mark Lewis of Scottsdale, an incumbent. He lists his occupation as Executive Director of the Water Resources Institute LLC, but while I can find evidence of a company by that name lobbying the legislature, I cannot find any records with the ACC or Secretary of State indicating that the organization was established in Arizona.
Cynthia Moulton of Phoenix. She's retired (from what I do not know) and is a Tea Partier.
Brian Munson of Scottsdale, a manager for ASARCO, a mining company with a long and "colorful" history in the southwestern U.S.
John Rosado of Peoria, campaign website here, a retiree who is also running for the Peoria Unified School District board. Running on an anti-enviroment/education platform (depending on the office he is talking about).
Sid Wilson of Phoenix, the former General Manager of CAWCD.
Andy Yates of Scottsdale, a small business owner. Has the resume of a Republican operative/future candidate paying his dues. I'm guessing here, but he seems to intend this as just a stepping-stone.
Since water is the single most important issue impacting Arizona's future (no matter what the Russell Pearces and Jan Brewers of the state say about stopping immigrants), this race merits close attention.
Later...
In a year when many school board races aren't races at all because they have just enough candidates to fill the open spots on the boards (and many other entities, like local fire boards, don't have enough candidates to even fill the open seats; full candidate listing here), the CAWCD has 15 candidates for 5 seats, or three candidates for every single opening.
For a position that is extremely low-profile and unpaid, that is a lot of interest.
There are 15 members of the board, serving six year terms, staggered in such a way that five seats are up every two years. Ten members are from Maricopa County and five are from the other counties that receive water through the Central Arizona Project. 2010 is a "Maricopa County" year.
It's probably too early for a full post listing each candidate's background and qualifications, but here is a brief listing of each candidate (Shaun McKinnon of the Arizona Republic also has a brief rundown here) -
Note: campaign websites were included when I could easily find them, but considering that most of the candidates are running as "$500 Threshold Exemption" candidates, the dearth of campaign websites isn't surprising.
Tim Bray of Scottsdale - an incumbent with a background in real estate
TC Bundy of Glendale, a business "consultant" (in quotes because that is such an amorphous word that it is meaningless)
Frank Fairbanks of Phoenix, the now-retired longtime Phoenix City Manager
Joseph Hobbs of Avondale, a telephone company employee/consultant and former candidate for Arizona Corporation Commission, running on an anti-government platform.
Jim Holway of Phoenix, campaign website here. Long experience in water resources management and urban planning.
Raymond Johnson of Glendale, lousy name for a Google search. He's an insurance broker, according to his campaign paperwork.
Ray Jones of Phoenix, a self-employed "consultant". I think he is a professional engineer working in the area of water resources, but I'm not sure. He used to be the president of Arizona American Water (personal note: given the mess that AZAmWater has created in Scottsdale and elsewhere in this state, his ties to that company alone disqualify him from receiving my vote.)
Arif Kazmi of Chandler, campaign website here. A career professional engineer with wide experience in water resources and water projects.
Karl Kohlhoff of Gilbert, a water consultant and member of the Planning Commission for the Town of Gilbert.
Mark Lewis of Scottsdale, an incumbent. He lists his occupation as Executive Director of the Water Resources Institute LLC, but while I can find evidence of a company by that name lobbying the legislature, I cannot find any records with the ACC or Secretary of State indicating that the organization was established in Arizona.
Cynthia Moulton of Phoenix. She's retired (from what I do not know) and is a Tea Partier.
Brian Munson of Scottsdale, a manager for ASARCO, a mining company with a long and "colorful" history in the southwestern U.S.
John Rosado of Peoria, campaign website here, a retiree who is also running for the Peoria Unified School District board. Running on an anti-enviroment/education platform (depending on the office he is talking about).
Sid Wilson of Phoenix, the former General Manager of CAWCD.
Andy Yates of Scottsdale, a small business owner. Has the resume of a Republican operative/future candidate paying his dues. I'm guessing here, but he seems to intend this as just a stepping-stone.
Since water is the single most important issue impacting Arizona's future (no matter what the Russell Pearces and Jan Brewers of the state say about stopping immigrants), this race merits close attention.
Later...
Friday, August 20, 2010
Congressman Harry Mitchell - Renewing Arizona's Economy
From an email from Congressman Harry Mitchell -
Dear [cpmaz]Later...
Since coming to Congress, I have been working to improve our nation’s energy policy by making investments in clean, green American-made energy, such as solar and wind power. These investments will not only help meet our energy needs, but also be a major and sustainable boost to Arizona’s economy.
In 2008, I successfully fought to extend the 30-percent solar investment tax credit to help our state’s solar industry grow and create jobs. With the help of solar tax credits and grants, Arizona Public Service and Abengoa Solar are developing the world's largest solar energy plant outside Gila Bend. The Solana solar generating station will create an estimated 1,500 jobs and provide clean, emission-free energy for 70,000 homes. Solana is expected to stimulate an estimated $1 billion in local economic development.
I believe that energy policies must shift our focus away from foreign petroleum imports and dirty fuels like coal, towards clean, domestically abundant alternative energies. That’s why last year, I opposed the “cap and trade” bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, because instead of investing in carbon-neutral energies like solar, the measure would have doubled down America’s reliance on coal. I believe this was a step backward at a time when it is so vitally important for us to move forward. I was also concerned about a provision that would give the federal government power to overrule Arizona’s decisions about where we choose to place our power lines.
Nevertheless, I believe that we still need to work to find clean, alternative domestic sources of energy. I supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act because, in part, it makes significant investments in our nation's alternative energy infrastructure through both tax incentives and competitive grants. This investment will create more than a half a million green jobs dedicated toward moving America forward. Since coming to Congress, I have been working to improve our nation’s energy policy, by making investments in clean, green American-made energy, such as solar and wind power. These investments will not only help meet our energy needs, but also be an economic boon to our Arizona economy.
I have also supported increased energy efficiency. In 2007, I backed the first increase in fuel efficiency standards in more than a generation, raising federal standards to 35 mpg. I also supported extending personal tax credits to individuals for solar panels on their homes as well as expanded tax credits for people who buy hybrid cars.
As always, I look forward to being able to provide you with regular updates and continue our dialogue in support of clean, renewable energy in the future.
Sincerely,
Harry
AZ employment figures stagnant; Brewer silent.
On AZ's economic situation, as with the (formerly) escaped murderers, Brewer continues her silence, perhaps hoping the problem will go away before she has to demonstrate anything resembling real leadership...or even a simple awareness of the problems facing the average Arizona family.
From the Yuma Sun -
- The official Governor's website doesn't mention the news at all.
- Her campaign website doesn't mention the current news either. In fact, in her list of issues that she considers most important to her campaign, "jobs" is eighth on the list behind things like restricting a woman's access to legal abortions, shrinking the size of government, reducing or eliminating regulations that corporations have to follow, and, of course, demonizing those "darn immigrants."
In fact, the only things lower on her list of priorities are fighting against healthcare reform and protecting education and public safety - like anyone who hasn't watched her in action for the last 18+ months hasn't already figured out that students, teachers, cops and firefighters are last on her priority list (but hey, they are first on hers#!t "do not like" list.)
In short, her list of "priorities" is a shout out to her corporate supporters and to the nativist/misogynist wings of the GOP.
Contrast this with Terry Goddard, the Democratic candidate for Governor.
Number one on his list of priorities is jobs. Full plan here. Press release on Goddard's economic recovery plan here.
Number two on the list is education. Full plan here.
What else is on the list?
Issues that face and affect all Arizonans.
What isn't on the list?
Anything designed to troll for corporate campaign contributions or to appeal to the basest, most extreme factions of the political base.
Maybe the first step in doing a job, any job, well is to *want* to do the job well.
Only one of Arizona's candidates for Governor wants to do the job well, or even cares to do it well.
Vote for Terry Goddard in November.
From the Yuma Sun -
The troubled economy continues to take its toll on jobs in Yuma County, as seen in the area's 22.8 percent unemployment rate for July released Thursday by the Arizona Department of Commerce.On her websites...
That compares to 22.6 percent in June and 20.6 percent in July 2009.
Arizona's unemployment rate remained flat at 9.6 percent for the third consecutive month, according to the Department of Commerce's monthly nonfarm seasonally adjusted unemployment report. Since February, the state's rate has fluctuated only a tenth of a percentage point.
Nationally, the rate remained 9.5 percent.
- The official Governor's website doesn't mention the news at all.
- Her campaign website doesn't mention the current news either. In fact, in her list of issues that she considers most important to her campaign, "jobs" is eighth on the list behind things like restricting a woman's access to legal abortions, shrinking the size of government, reducing or eliminating regulations that corporations have to follow, and, of course, demonizing those "darn immigrants."
In fact, the only things lower on her list of priorities are fighting against healthcare reform and protecting education and public safety - like anyone who hasn't watched her in action for the last 18+ months hasn't already figured out that students, teachers, cops and firefighters are last on her priority list (but hey, they are first on her
In short, her list of "priorities" is a shout out to her corporate supporters and to the nativist/misogynist wings of the GOP.
Contrast this with Terry Goddard, the Democratic candidate for Governor.
Number one on his list of priorities is jobs. Full plan here. Press release on Goddard's economic recovery plan here.
Number two on the list is education. Full plan here.
What else is on the list?
Issues that face and affect all Arizonans.
What isn't on the list?
Anything designed to troll for corporate campaign contributions or to appeal to the basest, most extreme factions of the political base.
Maybe the first step in doing a job, any job, well is to *want* to do the job well.
Only one of Arizona's candidates for Governor wants to do the job well, or even cares to do it well.
Vote for Terry Goddard in November.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Last escapee and accomplice recaptured
From the Arizona Republic -
From an emailed statement from Terry Goddard, Arizona's Attorney General and a candidate for Governor -
After nearly three weeks on the run, Arizona fugitives John McCluskey and Casslyn Welch were caught in Apache County on Thursday evening.We should all be grateful that McCluskey and Welch were captured before they could add to their body count, and should be especially grateful to the conscientious U.S. Forest Service ranger, U.S. Marshals, and the deputies/officers from the Apache County Sheriff's Office who were instrumental in the safe capture of the murderous escapee (and his accomplice) from one of Arizona's privately-run prisons.
The fugitive couple were caught at a campground near Sunrise Ski Resort at about 7 p.m.
With state, local and federal law-enforcement agencies around the country participating in the manhunt, it was the work of a keen-eyed forest ranger that did the couple in.
The ranger, whom authorities did not immediately identify, saw a car parked about 700 yards off a highway in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests near the ski resort.
{snip}
After Thursday's sighting, the U.S. Forest Service contacted the U.S. marshals command post in Phoenix, which coordinated the nationwide manhunt. Through the make and model of the car and the origin of the stolen license plate, investigators determined the couple in the car might be McCluskey and Welch.
The Apache County Sheriff's Office sent a tactical-response team and arrested the couple.
From an emailed statement from Terry Goddard, Arizona's Attorney General and a candidate for Governor -
"We are fortunate McCluskey and Welch were apprehended without further loss of life.
This escape shined a bright light on inadequate prison security, on improper assignment of convicted murders to facilities not meant for such dangerous criminals, and Arizona's over-reliance on private, for-profit prisons. I called on the governor to take several immediate steps to prevent future escapes. She has ignored them and done little in response.As of this writing, Jan Brewer, neither in her position as Governor nor in her position as candidate for Governor, has published a statement on the successful capture of the escapee from a private prison by dedicated public employees.
"Unless the Brewer Administration does more to tighten security and to carefully re-examine the operations of Arizona's private prisons, we should not be surprised if other violent convicts make their escape."
Last U.S. combat brigades out of Iraq
From the Christian Science Monitor -
While rejoicing over the developments in Iraq is understandable, it should be tempered with the knowledge that American troops, our friends, neighbors, fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, brothers and sisters, will still be fighting, and possibly dying, in a hellhole halfway around the world.
Remember with gratitude those who have already sacrificed their lives or their health in service to the country, be happy for those who have made it home, and pray that those who are still serving over there (and not just in Iraq) also make it home.
Soon.
The last US combat brigade crossed into Kuwait Thursday morning after a series of night maneuvers through the desert, marking a new chapter in the seven-year-conflict in which the struggle for political power has replaced direct combat.While it is encouraging to see the official "combat" troops exiting Iraq, the remaining troops aren't exactly "non-combat" troops. Their offical classification might be as "trainers" or some such euphemism, many will still be fighting, and possibly dying, in George W. Bush's war of false pretenses.
More than 1,200 infantrymen and other soldiers moved out by road in 360 armored vehicles over the past five days in night-time operations kept under wraps until the last troops crossed the border. Fighter jets accompanied them along a route cleared of bombs and landmines. More than 2,000 of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldiers had already flown out of the country.
The road march by the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team complies with President Obama’s Sept. 1 deadline for all combat brigades to be out of Iraq, fulfilling a major campaign promise.
They leave behind 50,000 other US troops in an unsettled Iraq still struggling to form a government, and many Iraqis fear that the prospect of US troops withdrawing entirely next year along with the political chaos could reactivate fighting here.
While rejoicing over the developments in Iraq is understandable, it should be tempered with the knowledge that American troops, our friends, neighbors, fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, brothers and sisters, will still be fighting, and possibly dying, in a hellhole halfway around the world.
Remember with gratitude those who have already sacrificed their lives or their health in service to the country, be happy for those who have made it home, and pray that those who are still serving over there (and not just in Iraq) also make it home.
Soon.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Brewer's rationalization for privatizing prisons debunked by national media
Jan and her clan will, of course, try to spin/deny it, but since one of the sources for the article is a report prepared by the Arizona Department of Corrections more than a year into her stay on the 9th Floor...
From Fortune/CNN -
The ADC report mentioned in the article can be found here; reports for prior years can be found on this page.
More on the Brewer Administration's ties to private prison companies here (KTAR.com) and here (Rachel Maddow via Crooks and Liars.com)
From Fortune/CNN -
What's costlier than a government run prison? A private oneOther highlights from the article -
Early this month, three convicted murderers escaped from a prison in Kingman, a small town along Route 66 in northwest Arizona. According to reports, the inmates had broken free from the facility by using a pair of wire cutters. They'd escaped from a medium-security facility operated by Utah-based Management & Training Corp, a private corrections company.
The incident set off a political furor, not over the fact that the three violent criminals were being held in a medium-security prison, but over the security of the facility itself, and, ultimately, over Arizona's widespread use of private correctional facilities.
Arizona Attorney General Goddard says that his state Department of Corrections has nearly zero oversight over the prisons that house out-of-state inmates in his state.
"They don't have to show proof of financial responsibility, they don't have to comply with Arizona prison construction standards, they don't have to report disruptions. . .and both the training and staffing is up to the private operator," Goddard says. "There were a couple of private prisons that went on lockdown and refused to allow the Department of Corrections to come in."
{snip}
Despite claims from companies like CCA, the jury seems to be out on whether private prisons end up saving governments money. An audit by the accounting firm MAXIMUS conducted for Arizona compared the cost of public and private corrections facilities in 2007 and found that, on average, private facilities ended up saving the state $5.49 per inmate per day.
But more recently, an internal Arizona Department of Corrections report released in February 2010, found that, in 2009, those savings narrowed to around $2.75 per inmate per day, and in certain instances, private facilities were found to cost even more per day than public ones.
The ADC report mentioned in the article can be found here; reports for prior years can be found on this page.
More on the Brewer Administration's ties to private prison companies here (KTAR.com) and here (Rachel Maddow via Crooks and Liars.com)
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Fox News makes it official - they're here to help the Republican Party
No, it's not exactly shocking news to anyone who has followed the mainstream media for the last couple of decades, but up until now, they had tried to maintain at least the pretense of being "fair and balanced."
From the Washington Post -
OpenSecrets.org coverage here.
Fox News' parent company also owns the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal, hardly bastions of jounalistic neutrality. Now that News Corp is officially out of the partisan closet, don't expect any improvement on that front.
It's one thing for an MSM organization to have a theme in its commentary shows (MSNBC definitely leans left, Fox News definitely leans right, and CNN is pretty much neutral) because those are supposed to have an opinion, but when an MSM organization openly chooses a side, with both its financial resources and by using its credibility as a news organization to push false stories to inflict political damage on those they view as opponents, they lose all credibility as a news organization.
While Fox News had no credibility with me personally, they still had the support of some of the other members of the MSM (witness their promotion to the front row at in the White House press briefing room).
The next few days and weeks will show whether or not this direct financial support of a partisan organization will undermine that support.
Later...
From the Washington Post -
Rupert Murdoch, who has never been shy about making his political views known, has voted with his sizable checkbook.The RGA's financial filing with the IRS shows the contribution (page 54). (link courtesy Politico's coverage)
Murdoch's News Corp. has made a $1 million donation to the Republican Governors Association, triggering swift criticism from Democrats that a contribution of that magnitude casts a shadow on his media properties, particularly Fox News.
"For a media company -- particularly one whose slogan is 'fair and balanced' -- to be injecting themselves into the outcome of races is stunning," Nathan Daschle, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, said Tuesday.
OpenSecrets.org coverage here.
Fox News' parent company also owns the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal, hardly bastions of jounalistic neutrality. Now that News Corp is officially out of the partisan closet, don't expect any improvement on that front.
It's one thing for an MSM organization to have a theme in its commentary shows (MSNBC definitely leans left, Fox News definitely leans right, and CNN is pretty much neutral) because those are supposed to have an opinion, but when an MSM organization openly chooses a side, with both its financial resources and by using its credibility as a news organization to push false stories to inflict political damage on those they view as opponents, they lose all credibility as a news organization.
While Fox News had no credibility with me personally, they still had the support of some of the other members of the MSM (witness their promotion to the front row at in the White House press briefing room).
The next few days and weeks will show whether or not this direct financial support of a partisan organization will undermine that support.
Later...
Goddard challenges Brewer to series of debates...
...but Brewer says "Nope. Only the one that I am legally obligated to attend."*
*That's not a real quote, but it's the real meaning of the press release that I'll quote later in this post...
Earlier today, Terry Goddard, Arizona's Attorney General and Democratic candidate for Governor, challenged unelected incumbent Jan Brewer to a series of debates.
From his letter to the Brewer campaign (with minor adjustments to the format for readability here) -
I didn't actually expect her to go for six debates, especially the one in Kingman, location of the privately-operated prison that housed the recently-escaped murderers, but to be so openly contemptuous of her adversary and the people of Arizona? I most definitely did not expect that.
Oh, and in case someone thinks that Brewer was being nice when she deigned to agree to the Clean Elections forum (full schedule here), you should remember that she *has* to appear at that one. It's a requirement for those candidates who accept Clean Elections funding.
*That's not a real quote, but it's the real meaning of the press release that I'll quote later in this post...
Earlier today, Terry Goddard, Arizona's Attorney General and Democratic candidate for Governor, challenged unelected incumbent Jan Brewer to a series of debates.
From his letter to the Brewer campaign (with minor adjustments to the format for readability here) -
The people of Arizona deserve the opportunity to see for themselves which candidate has the vision and experience to lead Arizona back to prosperity.Her response, from a emailed press release -
I propose the following topics and host communities. Of course, I will work with your schedule to maximize this important opportunity for Arizona:
Balancing Arizona’s Budget - Tucson
Public Safety and Protecting Arizona - Kingman
Immigration and Securing Arizona’s Border - Sierra Vista
Jobs for Arizona - Yuma
Creating a World Class System for Education in AZ - Phoenix
Tourism, Energy, the Environment and Reviving Rural AZ - Flagstaff
"Terry Goddard is Obama's Arizona apostle.Yeah, I'm biased, but one of the things that struck me is that the Brewer campaign doesn't understand the difference between "challenging" (which is what Goddard did , respectfully [read the linked letter]) and "insulting" (the Brewer response.)
"Governor Brewer will participate in the televised debate sponsored by the Clean Elections Commission on September 1st. The scheduling of any possible future debates will be revisited after that time. In the meantime, we anticipate that Mr. Goddard will use his campaign funds to try to redefine 30-year record of failure. We look forward to seeing his TV commercials in the weeks to come."
I didn't actually expect her to go for six debates, especially the one in Kingman, location of the privately-operated prison that housed the recently-escaped murderers, but to be so openly contemptuous of her adversary and the people of Arizona? I most definitely did not expect that.
Oh, and in case someone thinks that Brewer was being nice when she deigned to agree to the Clean Elections forum (full schedule here), you should remember that she *has* to appear at that one. It's a requirement for those candidates who accept Clean Elections funding.
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