Chris DeSimone and Joe Higgins (morning radio talk show hosts on KVOI “Wake Up Tucson”) will be the guest speakers at the

Eastside Republicans meeting
April 20, 2011
6:30 p.m.
Bear Canyon Branch Library, 8959 E. Tanque Verde Rd. (community room)

Their topic is “Pima County– who are the players and what’s the impact”.

“Wake Up Tucson offers a unique perspective about the southern Arizona region. The topics range from small business, tourism, politics, economic opportunities and education. Tucson and the surrounding communities are at a turning point. The challenges and obstacles are great. Now more than ever the community needs to engage in a discussion about our options. The host are highly involved in the community and bring first hand accounts to their listeners. Wake Up Tucson is a radio show with a mission and purpose to educate the community and engage the listeners to get involved in our community. ”

KVOI’s radio dial is 1030AM, and this “Wake up Tucson” show airs 8 to 10 a.m. weekdays.

Meeting is free and open to the public.

Higgins ran for District 1 Pima County Supervisor in the September 2008 Republican primary against current Supervisor Ann Day.
He got 47.19% of the vote (8798 votes) to Day’s 52.75% (9835 votes). She is up for re-election in 2012. And I hear that Higgins is considering another bid for this office.

More info: Lori Oien, 520-749-3471, oienjmo@msn.com, Parralee Schneider, 520-749-0312, pmstucson@aol.com.

If you can’t get enough political news and opinions from the regular media outlets, check out the rolling blogsites (online only) from these others:

On the “liberal” side:

–Blog for Arizona, www.blogforarizona.com, by Michael Bryan, David Safier, “AZBlueMeanie”, Craig McDermott (“Random Musings“), and Jenn F

–The Observer, www.tucsonobserver.com by Bob Ellis and Mark Kerr (latter was formerly here at Tucsoncitizen.com). The Observer has a print edition as well.

–The Range (Tucson Weekly), www.tucsonweekly.com/blogs/theRange/ by a host of reporters including Jim Nintzel, Dan Gibson, Mari Herreras, and others.

–Rum Romanism Rebellion, www.rumromanismrebellion.net by Ted Prezelski aka “Tedski” (former Democratic candidate for LD 28 House and brother of former LD 29 House Rep. Tom Prezelski)

In the middle:

–Pueblo Politics (AZ Daily Star, www.azstarnet.com/blogs/pueblo-politics/, by Rhonda Bodfield & Andrea Kelly, Star reporters

On the “conservative” side:

–Arizona News-Telegraph, www.arizonanewstelegraph.com by former Republican LD 30 Rep. Randy Graf, with James Kelley, Hugh Holub, Jonathan DuHamel (the latter two are here at Tucsoncitizen.com as well, respectively as “View from Baja Arizona” and “Wry Heat“)

–The Cholla Jumps, www.thechollajumps.workdpress.com, by James Kelley (formerly here at Tucsoncitizen.com)

–Sonoran Alliance, www.sonoranalliance.com by ? (“We are an alliance of political writers and activists dedicated to reporting and promoting conservative news, ideas, opinion and principles throughout Arizona and the Sonoran Southwest.”)

–Tucson Choices, www.tucsonchoices.com by KVOI radio talk show hosts Joe Higgins (former Republican District 1 candidate for Pima County Supervisor) and Chris DeSimone, and others

Plus the wide range of political blogsites here at Tucsoncitizen.com, from the liberal “3 Sonorans” and “Tucson Progressive“, to the conservative “Compound Captive” and “Fort Buckley“. And I think “The Data Port” might be an Independent in the middle. See the list to the right on our home page of all the blogs under Politics & Government (Pol. & Govt.).

Many of these blogsites have lists & hyperlinks to other political blogrolls as well, in Arizona and elsewhere.

Let me know which are your favorites, or of any I may have overlooked in Southern Arizona.

Keep on blogging.

10/24/11 Updates: Hugh Holub (Views from Baja Arizona) passed away suddenly on 9/17/11. R.I.P. Hugh. Blogger 3 Sonorans reported today that The Cholla Jumps will no longer be blogging after 11/1/11, and liberal Poco Bravo (Luke Knipe) has returned online:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2011/10/23/one-blog-dies-another-one-experiences-rebirth/. And former Star reporter Andrea Kelly is now at KUAT Channel 6 TV.

Radio talk show “Wake Up Tucson” (1030 AM KVOI) is hosting “The Great State Debate” on Friday May 7, between LD 28 State House Rep. Steve Farley and LD 30 State Senator Frank Antenori, at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites, 5151 E. Grant Road. The event will be in the Fire + Spice Bistro restaurant at high noon, to 1:30 p.m.

“Wake Up Tucson” is aired 6 to 8 a.m. daily by two businessmen hosts Joe Higgins and Chris DeSimone. Higgins challenged District 1 Pima County Supervisor Ann Day in the Republican primary of September, 2008.

From their website:
“Wake Up Tucson offers a unique perspective about the southern Arizona region. The topics range from small business, tourism, politics, economic opportunities and education. Tucson and the surrounding communities are at a turning point. The challenges and obstacles are great. Now more than ever the community needs to engage in a discussion about our options. The host(s) are highly involved in the community and bring first hand accounts to their listeners. Wake Up Tucson is a radio show with a mission and purpose to educate the community and engage the listeners to get involved in our community. ”

Democrat Steve Farley ran unsuccessfully for Tucson City Council (Ward 6), before being elected to the Arizona State House, where he has served for over three years, since 2007. Republican Frank Antenori was formerly a State House Rep. in LD 30 for one year prior to be appointed by the Pima County Board of Supervisors in March, 2010 to the State Senate. Both men are up for re-election this November. Antenori ran for CD 8 U. S. House in 2006, but lost to former LD 30 State House Rep. Randy Graf in the Republican primary.

Sounds like it will indeed be a “great state debate” about this past legislative session, and the future of our state.

LD 28 Rep. Steve Farley

LD 30 Sen. Frank Antenori