Filing deadline for signature petitions was yesterday at 5 p.m. and here’s the list of candidates for Pima County in 2012. The Primary Election is on August 28 and the General Election is on November 6.

Pima County Assessor
Bill Staples (D), incumbent

Pima County Attorney
Claudia Ellquist (G)
Barbara LaWall (D), incumbent

Pima County Sheriff
Dave Croteau (G)
Clarence Dupnik (D), incumbent
Terry Frederick (R)
Vinson Holck (R)
Chester Manning (R)
Mark Napier (R)
Walter Setzer (R)

Pima County Recorder
Bill Beard (R)
F.Ann Rodriguez (D), incumbent

Pima County Treasurer
Beth Ford (R), incumbent
Elaine Richardson (D)

Pima County School Superintendent
Linda Arzoumanian (R), incumbent
Mace Bravin (R)

Pima County Supervisor District 1 (open seat)
Mike Hellon (R)
Ally Miller (R)
Stuart McDaniel (R)
Vic Williams (R)
Nancy Young Wright (D)

Pima County Supervisor District 2
James Kelley (R)
Ramon Valadez (D), incumbent

Pima County Supervisor District 3
Tanner Bell (R)
Sharon Bronson (D), incumbent

Pima County Supervisor District 4
Ray Carroll (R), incumbent
Sean Collins (R)

Pima County Supervisor District 5
Richard Elias (D), incumbent
Fernando Gonzales (R)

So the primaries to watch are for Pima County Sheriff (5 Republicans) and Pima County Supervisor District 1 (4 Republicans).

For other Pima County races (Justices of the Peace, Constables), go to Blog for AZ (click here).

For more information about the candidates go to:
Pima County Democratic Party
Pima County Republican Party

First Lady Michelle Obama

Blog for Arizona is reporting about the April 30 fundraiser reception to hear First Lady Michelle Obama speak at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church, 4 p.m.

Fundraiser categories:

$100.00 Gen44 Young Professionals
Limited Availability – 1 General Admission Ticket

$150.00 Guests
Limited Availability – 1 General Admission Ticket

$500.00 Sponsor
Per Person – Includes Premium Seating

$5,000.00 Host
Per Person – Includes Photo Line and Premium Seating

$10,000.00 Chair
Per Person – Includes Greet Committee, Acknowledgement in Program, Photo Line, and Premium Seating

RSVP online here: https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/o2012-April30TucsonReception

During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Democrat Michelle Obama (wife of Presidential nominee Barack Obama) came to Tucson and spoke at the Fox Tucson Theatre (for free!). She’s a former practicing attorney & health administrator, and a terrific speaker.

It’s “good to go” for recovering Congresswoman Giffords (CD 8)!

Latest from ABC news:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/gabrielle-giffords-ready-shuttle-launch-doctors-report-improvement/story?id=13446310&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4db4674e20f5e3fa%2C0

Endeavour, from wikipedia

“Giffords will have company with her, including her family, her husband’s family, her staff and President Obama, with his wife Michelle and their daughters Malia and Sasha. Her staff has warned this will not be a public appearance for Giffords though they have suggested they may release a photo post launch.”

A launch party is scheduled at the Trident Grill here in Tucson on Friday, April 29:

Space Shuttle Endeavor Launch Watch Party With The Cactus Roots Team

Friday, April 29, 11:00 a.m.: Mark Kelly will command the Space Shuttle Endeavour as it heads to the International Space Station on Friday, April 29, and while we all can’t be at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to see him and his crew lift off into space, we can watch together here in Tucson. Please join us, and if you have any little astronauts of your own — bring them along. Every child who comes out will receive an official STS-134 mission patch! We will be cheering for both Mark and Gabrielle as we watch the launch at the Trident Grill, 2033 E. Speedway Blvd. (East of Campbell Avenue). Appetizers will be served, and the rest of the menu will be available at a discount. All are welcome, and we hope to see you there.

Event info from Blog for AZ website, go to their website to sign up, click here.

And keep praying for the Congresswoman’s full recovery from that tragic shooting on 1/8/11. More about her current medical condition from AZcentral.com:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/04/24/20110424gabrielle-giffords-medical-condition.html

UPDATE 4/29/11 9 a.m.: Endeavour launch delayed 48 hours due to mechanical problems with power generator. Stay tuned.