Before the August 24 Arizona primary, I wrote an article noting that there seemed to be a woman candidate running for almost every Arizona public office (click here), but of course there are less now in the General Election.

Here’s a list of the women candidates seeking office in Southern Arizona and statewide. Most of these candidates have been endorsed by the Arizona Women’s Political Caucus (AWPC), EXCEPT for Republicans Governor Brewer, candidates Ruth McClung, Brenda Burns, Gail Griffin, Peggy Judd, and Terri Proud, and Democratic candidate Margaret DiFrank.

The AWPC only endorses women candidates who are pro-choice.

Congressional District 7: Ruth McClung (R), candidate
Congressional District 8: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D), incumbent

Governor Jan Brewer (R), incumbent (appointed)
Attorney General – Felecia Rotellini (D), candidate
Superintendent of Public Instruction – Penny Kotterman (D), candidate
Corporation Commission (2 seats) – Brenda Burns (R), candidate

Southern AZ legislators:

LD 25 Senate – Gail Griffin (R) candidate, former legislator
LD 25 House (2 seats) – Rep. Pat Fleming (D),incumbent and Peggy Judd (R) candidate

LD 26 Senate – Cheryl Cage (D), candidate
LD 26 House (2 seats) – Terri Proud (R) candidate, and Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D), incumbent

LD 27 Senate – Rep. Olivia Cajero Bedford (D), candidate, current legislator
LD 27 House – Sally Ann Gonzales (D), former legislator

LD 28 Senate – Senator Paula Aboud (D), incumbent

LD 29 Senate – Senator Linda Lopez (D), incumbent (unopposed)

LD 30 House – Andrea Dalessandro (D), candidate

Clerk of Superior Court – Margaret DiFrank (D) candidate, Clerk Patti Noland (R), incumbent

After the General Election 5 of the 6 Southern Arizona State Senators could be women, mostly Democrats — incumbents Senators Paula Aboud and Linda Lopez, plus veteran legislator Olivia Cajero Bedford, former legislator Gail Griffin, and newcomer Cheryl Cage.

Here’s their mission statement of AWPC:

“The Arizona Women’s Political Caucus is the state affiliate of the National Women’s Political Caucus. We are the only multi-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to increasing the number of pro-choice women in elected and appointed office. We work to help women attain leadership positions at all levels of government.”

Early voting starts on October 7 for the November 2nd General Election.

“Pima County Interfaith Council (PCIC) is an independent organization made up of congregations, schools, and other not-for-profit organizations. Since 1990, PCIC has organized thousands of leaders all over Pima County to actively participate in public life and in the management of their community.” (from their website, www.pimacountyinterfaith.org.)

Over 1000 community leaders, business leaders & clergy and members from over 50 institutions (churches, synagogues, schools & non-profits) across Pima County convened today at 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Tucson Conventon Center’s Copper Ballroom to present an agenda that builds stronger families & communities in Southern Arizona, through “values reflection, inquiry, and constructive action.”

Sitting politicians (federal & state) and candidates seeking those offices were asked questions pertaining to workforce development, education, services to families, and immigration.And they were asked to promise to meet with PCIC delegations after the General Election.

Here’s a list of who attended today (supposedly all Democrat & Republican candidates of these offices were invited):

Congressman Raul Grijalva (D), CD 7
Ruth McClung (R), candidate in CD 7

State Senate candidate Chery Cage (D), LD 26
State House candidate Terri Proud (R), LD 26
State House Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D), LD 26

State House caniddate Robert Compton (R), LD 27
State House caniddate Sally Ann Gonzales (D), LD 27
State House candidate Macario Saldate (D), LD 27

State Senator Paula Aboud (D), LD 28
State Senate candidate Greg Krino (R), LD 28
State House Rep. Steve Farley (D), LD 28
State House candidate Ken Smalley (R), LD 28
State House candidate Bruce Wheeler (D), LD 28

And for the statewise offices:
Gubernatorial candidate Terry Goddard (D), current Attorney General
Attorney General candidate Felecia Rottellini (D)
Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Penny Kotterman (D)
Corporation Commission candidate David Bradley (D), current LD 28 House rep.

Statements were also made by TPD Chief Robert Villasenor and Councilmember Regina Romero in support of Proposition 400, to raise the city sales tax by one half cent/dollar.

Question asked of the State Legislature candidates:
Will you vote to enact additional revenue sources so that funding for vital services such as education & health care can be protected? (All State Senate & House candidates responded “yes” in their one minute replies, some with conditional responses.)

Questions asked of the Gubernatorial candidate:
1. What measures will you take & what leadership will you provide to ensure that budgets are not balanced on the backs of our children & most vulnerable citizens?
2. Will you support our efforts to expand innovative job training initiatives like Job Path throughout the state?

Questions asked of the Attorney General candidate:
1. What role can you play as attorney general that would benefit our families that are abused by mortgage companies? 2. Will you ensure that the enforcement of SB 1070 is done in a humane manner, and that local police departments receive accurate & just interpretations of the law?

Question asked of the Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate:
In light of the budget crisis, what leadership will you provide to improve public education in the State of Arizona?

Tucsoncitizen.com fellow blogger David Morales (“3 Sonorans”) was present videotaping this candidate session, so hopefully he will be able to provide a video later with the specific responses.

Protesting outside the Tucson Convention Center were Independent candidates Ted Downing and Dave Ewoldt (both for LD 28 Senate), and Green Party candidate Kent Solberg (for LD 27 House), who were apparently not invited to participate. Solberg handed out a statement which read that “Limiting debate, discussion & points of view is not discussion and is not consistent with the Pima County Interfaith Council’s stated goals and purposes.”

Also in the audience today were former Mayor George Miller, former TUSD Superintendent Stan Paz, current TUSD Governing Board candidate Miguel Ortega and member Adelita Grijalva, and former Pima County Attorney candidate Claudia Ellquist.

For more information on PCIC:
639 E. Speedway Blvd. #1, Tucson, Arizona
520-903-2333, office@pimacountyinterfaith.org

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Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission schedule for upcoming General Election debates:

Statewide races, all telecast on KAET Horizon Channel 8 in Phoenix, to be posted online at their website within 72 hours after the debates. D indicates Democrat, G indicates Green Party, I indicates Independent, L indicates Libertarian, R indicates Republican. Most of these candidates will be invited, but not all attend the debates, as it’s only mandatory for those participating in “clean” elections. To find out who’s a participating candidate, click here.

Governor
September 1, 7 to 8 p.m.
(Governor Jan Brewer – R, Larry Gist- G, Attorney General Terry Goddard- D, Barry Hess- L)

Attorney General (9/3/10 UPDATE: DEBATE CANCELED DUE TO NEITHER BEING A “CLEAN” ELECTIONS CANDIDATE).
September 8, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Tom Horne- R, Felecia Rotellini – D)

Superintendent of Public Instruction
September 15, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(John Huppenthal -R, Penny Kotterman- D)

Secretary of State
September 22, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Sec. of State Ken Bennett – R, Chris Deschene – D)

Treasurer (9/3/10 UPDATE: DEBATE CANCELED DUE TO NEITHER BEING “CLEAN” ELECTIONS CANDIDATE).
September 29, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Doug Ducey – R, Andrei Cherny – D)

Corporation Commission (2 seats)
October 4, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Commissioner Gary Pierce – R, David Bradley – D, Brenda Burns – R, Jorge Luis Garcia – D)

State Mine Inspector
October 06, 2010, 7 PM – 7:30 PM
(Inspector Joe Hart – R, Miguel Cruz – D)

Legislative Districts (Southern Arizona), all “Clean” candidates in House & Senate are required to participate, and others running traditionally may do as well. One seat is open in the State Senate, two seats in the State House in each legislative district.

District 26 (9/3/10 UPDATE:DEBATE CANCELED AS ALL CANDIDATES NOT PARTICIPATING IN CLEAN ELECTIONS, RUNNING TRADITIONALLY)
September 16, 6 p.m.
PCC Northwest Campus, 7600 N. Shannon Rd.
(State Senate: Cheryl Cage – D, Senator Al Melvin – R;
State House: Terri Proud – R, Rep. Vic Williams- R, Rep. Nancy Young Wright – D)

District 27
September 9, 6 p.m.
PCC West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Rd.
(State Senate: Olivia Cajero Bedford- D, Duke Schechter- R is a write-in candidate,as is Jaime Vasquez – R; State House: Gene Chewning – I, Robert Compton – R, Sally Ann Gonzales – D, Dr. Macario Saldate – D, Kent Solberg – G)

District 28
September 14, 6 p.m.
PCC Community Room, 4905 E. Broadway
(State Senate: Senator Paula Aboud – D, Ted Downing – I, Dave Ewoldt – I, Greg Krino – R;
State House: Rep. Steve Farley – D, Ken Smalley- R, Bruce Wheeler- D)

District 29
September 28, 6 p.m.
PCC Community Room, 4905 E. Broadway
(State Senate: Senator Linda Lopez – D, unopposed;
(State House: Rep. Matt Heinz – D, Pat Kilburn – R, Rep. Daniel Patterson – D)

District 30
September 30, 6 p.m.
PCC East Campus, 8181 E. Irvington
(State Senate: Senator Frank Antenori – R, Dr. Todd Camenisch – D;
State House: Andrea Dalessandro – D, Rep. David Gowan – R, and Rep. Ted Vogt -R)

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