The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, Pima Community College and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will present a debate for candidates for Congressional District 3. This district covers roughly the west side of Tucson, south to the border, and as far west as Yuma. The forum will be on Tuesday, October 9 at the Proscenium Theater on the campus of Pima Community College’s West Campus, 2202 West Anklam Road, Tucson 85709, from 6:30 to 8 PM. The moderator will be Christopher Conover of AZPM, and the debate will be taped by AZPM. All candidates have been invited. For further information, contact the League at 520-327-7652.

5 term (10 years) incumbent CD 7 Congressman Raul Grijalva (Democrat) is facing a challenge by two women candidates, Republican Gabriela Saucedo Mercer and Libertarian Blanca Guerra in the CD 3 House race.

Campaign websites:
–Raul Grijalva (D), Congressman in CD 7, www.standwithraul.com
–Blanca Guerra (L), former paralegal & rancher, www.guerraforcongress.com
–Gabriela Saucedo Mercer (R), activist, www.saucedomercer.com

This debate is going to be live stream videotaped by Arizona Public Media (AZPM) on October 9, and shown on Channel 6 on October 10, for those of you who can’t attend in person. Website: https://www.azpm.org/

Vote wisely on or before November 6.

AZPM “Az Illustrated” political reporters Christopher Conover and Andrea Kelley hosted a debate tonight between CD 8 Congressman Ron Barber and LD 29 House Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz, who are running in the Democratic primary for the new CD 2 House seat. You can view the video online by clicking here.

There have been no live debates between these two candidates for the AZ Primary coming up on August 28.

Congressman Barber was elected to his seat in June, 2012 in a special general election, facing off with Republican Jesse Kelly, who had challenged previous CD 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Nov. 2010. Barber had worked for 5 years as Giffords’ District Director in Tucson, and had been shot twice alongside her on January 8, 2011 at the Tucson Tragedy shooting. Jared Loughner recently plead guilty to the shootings which killed six and wounded 13 others. Campaign website: www.ronbarberforcongress.com.

LD 29 House Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz has served 2 terms in the Arizona House of Representatives, and is a doctor at Tucson Medical Center. He also ran unsuccessfully for LD 28 House in 2006. Campaign website: www.heinzforcongress.com.

Charlie Manolakis, who recently ran for the CD 8 House seat as a Green candidate, has now switched back to a Democrat, and is a write-in candidate for the CD 2 House seat, but was not part of this AZPM debate. He can be contacted at charlesomega@aol.com.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face off in the General election with either retired Colonel Martha McSally, who came in 2nd in the 4-way special CD 8 House Republican primary in April, 2012, or political newcomer Mark Koskiniemi. To view their earlier July 23 debate on AZPM Channel 6, click here.

Vote wisely on or before the Arizona primary on August 28.

Congressman Ron Barber

LD 29 Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz

Arizona Public Media’s “Az Illustrated” political reporters Christopher Conover and Andrea Kelly moderated a debate between the two CD 2 Republican candidates for Congress, retired Colonel Martha McSally and political newcomer Mark Koskiniemi today. The online Channel 6 debate can be seen by clicking here.

McSally ran in the April special primary for the same office in CD 8 and came in 2nd in the 4-way race, losing to Jesse Kelly, who then went on to lose to Democrat Ron Barber in June. McSally and Koskiniemi face off in the August 28 primary, and the winner will challenge either newly elected Congressman Barber or LD 29 Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz.

Campaign info & websites:

Mark Koskiniemi, a procurement officer for Pima County (on leave), former General Manager/Managing Director for the Australian and New Zealand operations of Buckman Laboratories, http://www.koskiniemi4az2.com/

Martha McSally, retired Colonel in Air Force (first female pilot to fly in combat and first to command a fighter squadron in combat), former Professor of National Security Studies at the George C. Marshall Center in Germany, www.mcsallyforcongress.com.

Watch the video and vote wisely. Early voting starts August 2.

Martha McSally

Mark Koskiniemi