Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC) held debates between contested races in the Southern AZ legislative districts, with candidates participating in Clean Elections program and also those running traditionally. “Candidates who participate in Clean Elections to run for office are required to attend one debate in the general election unless they are running unopposed. Candidates who are not running with Clean Elections funding are allowed to join the debate, but their attendance is optional.”

Click on this link & go to the respective date to find the debate you’re interested in viewing. Mostly audience questions were asked at each debate so there were a wide range of questions and answers by these candidates.

http://www.cleanelections101.com/debates

LD 2 House race: September 20 — Chris John Ackerley (R), Andrea Dalessandro (D), Rosanna Gabaldon (D) – all three are Clean Elections candidates
State Senate seat in LD 2: Senator Linda Lopez (D, incumbent in LD 29) faces write-in opposition from Don Woolley (R) and there was no CCEC debate.

LD 11 House & Senate: September 24 — Senate: Jo Holt (D) vs. Al Melvin (R) – Holt is participating in Clean Elections
House: Dave Joseph (D), Steve Smith ( R) – Joseph is participating in Clean Elections. Adam Kwasman (R) is running traditionally so his presence was optional & he did not attend.

LD 9 House & Senate: October 4 — Senate: Steve Farley (D) vs. Tyler Mott (R) – Mott is a Clean elections candidate
House: Ethan Orr (R), Mohur Sarah Sidhwa (D), Victoria Steele (D) – Sidhwa is a Clean elections candidate

LD 10 House: October 10– Todd Clodfelter (R), Stefanie Mach (D), Ted Vogt (R), Bruce Wheeler (D) – only Clodfelter is a Clean elections candidate
State Senate seat in LD 10 has two candidates, both running traditionally, so no CCEC debate was held between Senator Frank Antenori (R, incumbent in LD 30) and David Bradley (D).

LD 14 House & Senate: October 10– Senate: Pat Fleming (D) vs. Gail Griffin (R) – Fleming is a Clean Elections candidate
House: David Gowan (R), Robert Leach (D), David Stevens (R), Mark Stonebraker (D) – Leach & Stonebraker are Clean Elections candidates. The 3 Republicans are running traditionally for the Senate and two House seats, and did not attend this debate as their presence was optional.

Being as early voting for the Nov. 6 general started on October 11, if you’re undecided, please view these videos to listen & consider whom to vote for in your Legislative District – one for State Senate, two for State House.

Read this comprehensive report from Alyssa Newcomb of Cronkite News, about how some Arizona clean election candidates spent their campaign money:

http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2010/11/special-report-some-clean-elections-money-went-toward-laptops-hiring-relatives-nra-dues/

What is the Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC):

The Citizens Clean Elections Act was passed by the people of Arizona in 1998 to level the playing field when it comes to running for office. The Act allows candidates, running for the Legislature or statewide offices the opportunity to forgo special interest money by collecting a certain number of $5 donations. In return, the candidate will receive full funding for their campaigns.

Excerpts from this Cronkite News report about Southern Arizona politicians and/or candidates in the recent 2010 elections:

“Cronkite News confirmed computer purchases through campaign finance reports or interviews with candidates. Some candidates who listed amounts paid to stores that offer computers as “miscellaneous” expenses didn’t return calls seeking comment:

– Gene Chewning, Independent, State Rep. District 27, Tucson

– Robert Compton, Republican, State Rep. District 27, Tucson”

Chewning was a candidate in LD 27 House, lost in the General, ran before for this House seat in 2006 as a Republican. Compton also ran for House in LD 27, lost in the General, and this was his first bid for public office.

Democratic Sen. Manuel V. Alvarez, who lost his re-election bid, said living in the small Cochise County town of Elfrida made hiring his family the easiest option. He paid three relatives a total of $2,759.99 to install signs, work on advertisements and consult.“In a town of 300, where are you going to find people to work for you and your campaign?” he asked.

State Senator “Manny” Alvarez (D) represents District 25, but lost in the General to Gail Griffin (R), who was not a Clean Elections candidate.

Eric Carbajal-Bustamante, a Tucson Democrat who lost in the primary, reported spending $385.59 on office supplies at IKEA, a furniture and furnishings store; and Ken Smalley, a Tucson Republican who lost in the general election, reported spending $229.87 on a “post-debate discussion” with staff members at T.G.I. Friday’s.“This is small stuff, talking about me taking the campaign staff out,” Smalley said. “Did you know you can spend up to $800 on equipment?”
Smalley’s campaign finance reports also noted that he spent $403.66 on a printer at OfficeMax.Carbajal-Bustamante didn’t respond to repeated phone messages.

Bustamante (D) lost a bid for LD 27 House in the primary, and Smalley (R) lost his bid for LD 28 House in the General. Bustamante ran before for LD 29 House in 2008, and Smalley has run before for Tucson City Council and Pima County Treasurer.

“Todd Lang, executive director of the Arizona CItizens Clean Elections Commission, says his staff doesn’t micromanage campaigns. However, he said the commission is aware of the tension between not wanting to interfere and keeping in mind that candidates are spending public money.”

I guess it would also be up to the Arizona voters to let the CCEC know what you think is appropriate campaign spending for these candidates, such as hiring their relatives. Apparently the candidates get to keep these laptops & other equipment they purchased.

How to contact the Citizens Clean Elections Commission in Phoenix:
602-364-3477 Main
602-364-3487 Fax
877-631-8891 Toll Free (928 & 520 Area Codes)

Email
ccec@azcleanelections.gov

State Senator Manny Alvarez

Eric Carbajal Bustamante

Gene Chewning

Robert Compton

Ken Smalley

Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC) debate between LD 29 House candidates is scheduled for Tuesday, September 28 at 6 p.m. at the PCC Community Room, 4905 E. Broadway. This room is north of Broadway Blvd., just east of Arcadia Avenue.

LD 30 Democratic Senate candidate Linda Lopez is running unopposed, but Democratic House Representatives Dr. Matt Heinz and Daniel Patterson have opposition from a Republican candidate, Pat Kilburn.

Lopez is running “clean”, as are Kilburn and Patterson, with Heinz running traditionally. This CCEC debate is only mandatory for the candidates participating in the clean elections program.

–Rep. Matt Heinz, practicing physician at Tucson Medical Center, incumbent legislator since 2009, www.heinzforarizona.com. He ran before for House of Rep. in the LD 28 primary in 2006.

–Pat Kilburn, retired federal agent & small business owner, www.votekilburn.com. Ran before for this same seat in November, 2008.

–Rep. Daniel Patterson, incumbent legislator since 2009, Southwest Director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, www.danielpatterson.net.

Watch this debate live, or later on the CCEC website (click here). These three men will also be appearing on KUAT AZ Illustrated Channel 6 on October 5, at 6:30 p.m.

Registered voter totals in LD 29 from Pima County Recorder’s Office:
31,394 Democrats, 15,155 Republicans, 636 Libertarians, 138 Greens, 21,409 Others, 68,732 Total registered voters.

Rep. Matt Heinz

Pat Kilburn

Rep. Daniel Patterson