bumper sticker image from the SOS website

In 1987 the Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution declaring May 5 as “Free Baja Arizona Day”. 24 years later the Start our State (SOS) campaign kicked off officially today at The Shanty, 401 E. 9th Street, on “Free Baja Arizona Day”. Signatures on the petition to formally form a new state in Southern Arizona are now being collected. More than 48,000 signatures of Pima County residents need to be collected before July 15, 2012 to get this initiative on the November 2012 ballot. These petitions with valid signatures will be submitted to the Pima County Division of Elections.

Co-Chairs Paul Eckerstrom and Peter Hormel, as well as Treasurer David Euchner (all Tucson attorneys) are spear heading this effort. I wrote about this movement before (click here), but Tucsoncitizen.com blogger attorney Hugh Holub (“View from Baja Arizona”) is the expert on this issue. For an in-depth article on this movement read Hugh’s article “Baja Arizona – American’s 51st State?” (click here).

About 75 people listened to Paul speak tonight about the reasons to leave the State of Arizona and what the Arizona legislature has done over the years to reduce public education funding, cut the University of Arizona funding, as well as targeting Pima County and the Hispanic population down here. He said it wasn’t a “mission impossible”, as recent polls in the AZ Daily Star and KOLD TV said that there were 58% and 63% in support for this movement, respectively. Voters in Santa Cruz and Coconino Counties have also expressed interest in joining on, but would need to start up their own initiative drives.

In attendance tonight were LD 29 State Rep. Daniel Patterson, Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich, former LD 28 House candidates Ted Prezelski and Tim Sultan, attorney Bill Risner (election integrity), Adam Kinsey (Executive Director of Pima County Democratic Party).

For more info: www.startourstate.com, or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/startourstate (with 3363 fans). On the Facebook page you can also vote for the name of the new state.

The SOS committee meets every Thursday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Shanty to collect petition signatures and donations (also can be made online via Pay Pal). They are selling Free Baja Arizona t-shirts, bumper stickers, buttons. Email address is startourstate@gmail.com. Mailing address for checks is Start our State, P.O. Box 308, Tucson, AZ 85702.

Free Baja Arizona!

http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/042011_tucson_elections

A three-judge panel ruled in favor of Tucson’s current election system Wednesday, saying it’s a matter of “purely local concern.”

The Arizona Court of Appeals overturned a lower court decision in favor of a 2009 state law that sought to change city elections.

Members of the city council are now run in primaries by ward, but are elected city-wide. Candidates run on a partisan basis.

A 2009 law, sponsored by then-state senator Jonathan Paton, would have changed Tucson’s system to a nonpartisan, ward-only election system.

More legal analysis here from “AZBlueMeanie” at Blog for Arizona:
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2011/04/victory-for-the-city-of-tucson-over-patons-law.html

and from the Pima County Democratic Party:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeff Rogers
Chair, Pima County Democratic Party

Office – (520) 624-4700
jrogers@pimadems.org

“Court Ruling a Victory for Tucson, Repudiation of the Radical Right.

Tucson voters won a major court victory today when the state Appeals Court ruled that city residents and not lawmakers in Phoenix, get to decide how to hold their elections.

The court ruled unconstitutional a 2009 law that would have forced Tucson to hold elections concealing party affiliation from voters and required the city to vote by ward only

City voters have repeatedly rejected such propositions at the polls, making “Paton’s Law” all the more insulting to Tucsonans.

The ruling is a repudiation of former state Sen. Jonathan Paton and his southern Arizona Republican cronies, including the bill’s co-sponsor Sen. Frank Antenori who have sought to impose every bit of their extreme agenda on an unwitting public, said Pima County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Rogers.

“The law was an attempt to rule Tucson from Phoenix, plain and simple,” Rogers said. “Folks down here want to protect their main stream values and the court’s decision simply allows them to continue to do that.”

In their decision, judges pointed out that how cities like Tucson hold their elections is a purely local concern and that the state has no right to interfere with local issues.”

“Phoenix political bosses have declared war on Tucson,” Rogers said. “They block funds to combat border violence, prohibit the city from giving bids to the most qualified contractor and it’s our local Republican lawmakers like Paton, senators Frank Antenori and Al Melvin, who are either cheer leading or leading the way. Voters will remember that.”

###

–
Adam D. Kinsey
Executive Director
Pima County Democratic Party
Office – 520.326.3716

Conclusion: City of Tucson elections will stay the same for now — partisan and city-wide ward elections– unless there is an appeal to the AZ Supreme Court. The Mayor and Wards 1, 2 and 4 are up for election this November, 2011.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pima Dems to Honor Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik

The Pima County Democratic Party will honor Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik at a dinner on Saturday, April 16 at the Hotel Tucson City Center. Former presidential candidate and Colorado Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder will deliver the keynote address to more than 400 expected attendees. Democratic National Committeeman Fred DuVal will serve as master of ceremonies.

Tickets for the event are in limited supply but may be purchased online through the PCDP’s website, www.PimaDems.org or by calling (520) 326-3716. Tickets are $75 with proceeds will go to the Pima County Democratic Party.

Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik Tribute Dinner

Time: 5:00 pm Registration and No-Host Cocktails
6:30 pm Dinner

Location: Hotel Tucson City Center, 475 N. Granada Ave. (south of E. 6th Street)

Honoree: Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik

Kenote Speaker: Former U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colorado)

Guest Speakers: Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (CD 7)

Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall

Hon. Terry Goddard (former Arizona Attorney General)

Hon. Dan Eckstrom (former Pima County Supervisor)

Master of Ceremonies: Fred DuVal

Contact: Adam Kinsey
Executive Director, Pima County Democratic Party

Cell – (520) 834-6384
Office – (520) 326-3716
director@pimadems.org

Website for Pima County Sheriff’s Dept. (click here). “A veteran of over 50 years in local law enforcement, Clarence W. Dupnik has served as the Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, since his appointment in February 1980. County voters endorsed the choice nine months later by electing him to his first four-year term and ratified that decision by re-electing him six additional times.” Dupnik is up for re-election in 2012.

Pima Dems Endorse Incumbent Council Members for Reelection

Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Pima County Democratic Party, the Executive Committee voted last night 36-0-1 to endorse Council Members Regina Romero, Paul Cunningham and Shirley Scott for reelection to the Tucson City Council. The bylaws state that the motion to endorse must carry by at least 75% of the voting members present.

The committee did not take this decision lightly but recognizes that this fall’s election will be a challenging one and that these three dedicated public servants deserve nothing less than our full support.

Councilmember Regino Romero in Ward 1 faces Democrat Joe Flores in the August 30 primary. Click here for an earlier blog about that race. Councilmembers Paul Cunningham (Ward 2) and Shirley Scott (Ward 4) are running unopposed in the primary (so far), with Scott facing a Republican Tyler Vogt in the General. Political newcomer Tyler Vogt is the older brother of LD 30 Rep. Ted Vogt.

Romero has been on the Council for one term, since December, 2007; Cunningham was appointed last May, 2010; Scott is running for her 5th four-year term.

Questions about the Pima County Democratic Party can be directed to Chair Jeff Rogers or Executive Director Adam Kinsey at director@pimadems.org, or 520-326-3716. Website is www.pimademocrats.org.