James H. Kelley

Kelley is a Transportation specialist for Renzenberger Inc. and “provides reliable safe transportation solutions to Union Pacific Railroad Personnel,” and is a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst. He was Chair of the LD 29 Republican Party for four years until November 2011 and has his B.S. degree in Sociology from the University of the State of New York in Albany. He has also worked as a substitute teacher and real estate broker.

Kelley just applied unsuccessfully to be appointed by this Pima County Board of Supervisors to be the Independent replacement for LD 29 House Rep. Daniel Patterson, who resigned on April 11, 2012. A five member citizens committee considered Kelley’s application along with nine others, but Kelley did not make the final list of 3 nominees, from which the Board of Supervisors chose attorney Nick Fontana on April 23.

Kelley had temporarily changed his voter registration to Independent on April 11, applied for the vacant LD 29 seat, and changed back to Republican on April 30,2012.

Kelley will be formally announcing his candidacy on Monday on KVOI 1030 AM radio.

Democratic Chair Ramon Valadez was appointed to the Board of Supervisors in September 2003, was a former LD 29 State Senator and LD 10 House Representative (since 1996). Valadez was also born & raised in Tucson.

Nick Fontana, J.D., courtesy of David Snyder Photography

The citizens committee reviewed cover letters and resumes, and a report from the Pima County Recorder’s Office before making their 3 selections of the 11 applicants (one withdrew prior to any review). The replacement had to be an Independent (No party preference) living in LD 29. The 3 nominees were Nicholas Fontana, Albert Jordan and Leon Sierra.

Fontana is a local Tucsonan, born & raised here, graduate of Cholla HS, University of AZ General Studies and UA Law School, and is a sitting Judge Pro Tem at the Tohono O’odham Tribal Court. He does mostly criminal defense work and can be reached at fontanalaw@cox.net. He is a life long Democrat (since March 1984) and only became an Independent on April 14, 2012.

District 2 Supervisor/Chair Ramon Valadez made the first motion to appoint Leon Sierra, 2nd by Richard Elias, but the vote failed 2-3. Then Supervisor Sharon Bronson made a motion to appoint Nick Fontana, 2nd by Ann Day, motion passed 3-2, with Elias & Valadez against.

Fontana will be sworn in shortly and will serve the remainder of former Rep. Daniel Patterson’s term through the end of December, 2012. Patterson resigned on April 11, 2012 facing expulsion by the full AZ House of Representatives, following recommendation of expulsion by the House Ethics Committee. Patterson had been facing allegations of disorderly conduct and domestic violence against both his former campaign manager/girlfriend, and ex-wife.

For Fontana’s resume/cover letter go to www.pima.gov. Neither Fontana nor Jordan were present today at the Board’s vote, but Sierra was in attendance.

Fontana will be the sole Independent in the AZ State House of Representatives.

The 5 member committee were composed of 3 former legislators (State Senator Victor Soltero, State House Rep. Lou-Ann Preble, and Rep. Tom Prezelski), plus two community members– Kristin Almquist (former director of Governor Napolitano’s Tucson office) and Julee Dawson, development director at Tucson Hebrew Academy. Soltero & Prezelski are registered Democrats, Preble is a Republican, and Dawson & Almquist are registered Independent voters. The committee elected Almquist as committee Chair this morning.

Since Patterson resigned as an Independent, though elected as a Democrat twice (2008 and 2010), the successor needs to be an Independent living in District 29. 10 men and one woman had applied to the Pima County Clerk, and the 3 selected for nomination are:

- Nicholas Fontana, J.D. practicing attorney, Judge Pro Tem at Tohono O’odham Tribal Court
- Albert Jordan, aerospace engineer at Raytheon Missile Systems, current Independent candidate for LD 2 House
- Leon Sierra, business representative at the International Union of Operating Engineers, former Marine

Information from Pima County Recorder’s Office provided to the committee in writing this morning: Fontana has been an Independent only since 4/14/12, prior to that a Democrat. Jordan has been registered as an Independent since May, 2002 when he first registered to vote. Sierra was a Democrat and changed to Independent in June, 2011.

For the full list/bios of the 11 who applied, here’s the AZ Daily Star article:http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/apply-to-represent-tucson-in-legislature/article_0adcbdca-4786-5c3c-bf01-a63b05ce29ae.html. Stephania O’Neill withdrew her application before the committee met to deliberate today. Dr. Joseph Scott, husband of Ward 4 Councilmember Shirley Scott was also one of the applicants.

I attended the first hour and half of today’s meeting. The committee stated their criteria of selection would be political engagement/experience, knowledge of legislative process, availability of the candidate to move to Phoenix till the Legislature adjoined, how long been an Independent, and grasp of the issues facing the Legislature.

On Monday at 9 a.m. the Pima County Board of Supervisors will select and appoint one of these for the job. Public input is encouraged through the Pima County website (click here) or by calling/writing to your respective District 1 to 5 Supervisors. You can send comments to COB_mail@pima.gov. If you have anything to say about any of these 3 nominees, now is the time to speak up. Their cover letters and resumes are online by clicking on their respective names.

Patterson had been elected as a Democrat to LD 29 twice in 2008 and 2010 and earlier this year changed his voter registration to Independent on April 2, 2012. Upon his resignation that AZ Secretary of State informed the Chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors Ramon Valadez that a replacement should be an Independent (No Party Preference) in LD 29, since Patterson was an Independent when he formally resigned.

Today the Pima County Board of Supervisors appointed a 5 member citizen’s committee to review applications and submit 3 names to them within a week. The deadline for applicants is 3 p.m. Wednesday April 18, to Pima County Clerk Robin Brigode.

The Supervisors, after some discussion this morning about publicity and transparency, appointed to the citizen’s committee:

–former LD 29 State Senator Victor Soltero (D)
–former LD 29 State House Rep. Tom Prezelski (D, who ironically lost to Patterson in Sept.2008 in the Democratic primary)
–former LD 9 State House Rep. Lou-Ann Preble (R)
–Kristin Almquist (I), former Director of Tucson office for Governor Janet Napolitano
–Julee Dawson (I), Development director at the Tucson Hebrew Academy

The Board’s motion to appoint these individuals was passed unanimously and gave the committee a deadline of 3 p.m. Friday to select 3 names for the appointment, in order to allow community input over the weekend. Then the Supervisors will select the appointee at a special board meeting at 10 a.m. on April 23.

Present at today’s meeting was Independent* James Kelley, a transportation specialist for Union Pacific Railroad personnel, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, formerly “The Cholla Jumps” blogger here at Tucsoncitizen.com before he created his own blogsite (no longer in operation). Kelley is the only applicant so far for this LD 29 House seat.

At today’s meeting District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll inquired if Pima County Elections or the Recorder’s Office could attempt to send a “robo-call” to all Independents living in LD 29 to inform them of this vacancy and how to apply. The discussion seemed to indicate that this type of publicity would be cost-prohibitive, especially with the contested CD 8 House primary election tomorrow.

* Update: Kelley told me at the meeting today that he is an Independent, but according to Pima County Recorder’s Office, he is still registered as a Republican (and has been since June, 2003). I’ve called Kelley for clarification on this, as he has served as Chair of the LD 29 Republican Party in the past. I just spoke with Kelley and he did register as an Independent on April 11, 2012 (the same day Patterson resigned), and has written confirmation of this from the AZ Secretary of State.

bumper sticker image from the SOS website

In 1987 the Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution declaring May 5 as “Free Baja Arizona Day”. 24 years later the Start our State (SOS) campaign kicked off officially today at The Shanty, 401 E. 9th Street, on “Free Baja Arizona Day”. Signatures on the petition to formally form a new state in Southern Arizona are now being collected. More than 48,000 signatures of Pima County residents need to be collected before July 15, 2012 to get this initiative on the November 2012 ballot. These petitions with valid signatures will be submitted to the Pima County Division of Elections.

Co-Chairs Paul Eckerstrom and Peter Hormel, as well as Treasurer David Euchner (all Tucson attorneys) are spear heading this effort. I wrote about this movement before (click here), but Tucsoncitizen.com blogger attorney Hugh Holub (“View from Baja Arizona”) is the expert on this issue. For an in-depth article on this movement read Hugh’s article “Baja Arizona – American’s 51st State?” (click here).

About 75 people listened to Paul speak tonight about the reasons to leave the State of Arizona and what the Arizona legislature has done over the years to reduce public education funding, cut the University of Arizona funding, as well as targeting Pima County and the Hispanic population down here. He said it wasn’t a “mission impossible”, as recent polls in the AZ Daily Star and KOLD TV said that there were 58% and 63% in support for this movement, respectively. Voters in Santa Cruz and Coconino Counties have also expressed interest in joining on, but would need to start up their own initiative drives.

In attendance tonight were LD 29 State Rep. Daniel Patterson, Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich, former LD 28 House candidates Ted Prezelski and Tim Sultan, attorney Bill Risner (election integrity), Adam Kinsey (Executive Director of Pima County Democratic Party).

For more info: www.startourstate.com, or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/startourstate (with 3363 fans). On the Facebook page you can also vote for the name of the new state.

The SOS committee meets every Thursday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Shanty to collect petition signatures and donations (also can be made online via Pay Pal). They are selling Free Baja Arizona t-shirts, bumper stickers, buttons. Email address is startourstate@gmail.com. Mailing address for checks is Start our State, P.O. Box 308, Tucson, AZ 85702.

Free Baja Arizona!

U.S. Senate: incumbent Senator John McCain (R)

U.S. House CD7: incumbent Congressman Raul Grijalva (D)

U.S. House CD 8: incumbent Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D)

Governor of Arizona: incumbent Governor Jan Brewer (R)

Secretary of State: incumbent Ken Bennett (R)

Treasurer: Doug Ducey (R)

Attorney General: Tom Horne (R)

Superintendent of Public Instruction: John Huppenthal (R)

Corporation Commission (2 seats): Brenda Burns (R), incumbent Gary Pierce (R)

State Mine Inspector: incumbent Joe Hart (R)

————-

In Southern Arizona legislative districts:

LD 25 Senate: Gail Griffin (R)
House: Peggy Judd (R) & Rep. David Stevens (R), incumbent

LD 26 Senate: Senator Al Melvin (R), incumbent
House: Terri Proud (R) & Rep. Vic Williams (R), incumbent

LD 27 Senate: Rep.Olivia Cajero Bedford (D)
House: Sally Ann Gonzales (D) & Dr. Macario Saldate (D)

LD 28 Senate: Senator Paula Aboud (D), incumbent
House: Rep. Steve Farley (D), incumbent & Bruce Wheeler (D)

LD 29 Senate: Senator Linda Lopez (D), incumbent
House: Rep. Daniel Patterson (D) & Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz, (D), both incumbents

LD 30 Senate: Senator Frank Antenori (R), incumbent
House: Rep. David Gowan (R) & Rep. Ted Vogt (R), both incumbents

Prop. 106 Health Care Services YES

Prop. 107 Preferential Treatment/Discrimination YES

Prop. 109 Hunting & Fishing NO

Prop. 110 State Trust Lands NO

Prop. 111 Lt. Governor NO

Prop. 112 Initiative Petitions NO? (lost by only 123 votes, recount to occur after November 29, may take about 10 days thereafter for all 15 counties to recount their ballots)

Prop. 113 Secret Ballot for Unions YES

Prop. 203 Medical Marijuana YES (won by 4341 votes, only decided on 11/13/10 with final tallies)

Prop. 301 “Growing Smarter” NO

Prop 302 “First Things First” NO

City of Tucson Prop. 400 (proposed sales tax increase) – NO

City of Tucson Prop. 401 (proposed City Charter changes) – NO

For Pima County election results, click here.

Clerk of the Superior Court: Patti Noland (R), incumbent

TUSD Governing Board (2 seats): Adelita Grijalva, incumbent & Michael Hicks

The Arizona voters have spoken.
Ballots Cast: 1,750,877 of 3,146,418 registered voters.

U.S. Senate: incumbent Senator John McCain (R)

U.S. House CD7: Congressman Raul Grijalva (D)

U.S. House CD 8: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D)

Governor of Arizona: incumbent Governor Jan Brewer (R)

Secretary of State: incumbent Ken Bennett (R)

Treasurer: Doug Ducey (R)

Attorney General: Tom Horne (R)

Superintendent of Public Instruction: John Huppenthal (R)

Corporation Commission (2 seats): Brenda Burns (R), incumbent Gary Pierce (R)

State Mine Inspector: incumbent Joe Hart (R)

————-

In Southern Arizona legislative districts:

LD 25 Senate: Gail Griffin (R)
House: Peggy Judd (R) & Rep. David Stevens (R), incumbent

LD 26 Senate: Senator Al Melvin (R), incumbent
House: Terri Proud (R) and Rep. Vic Williams (R)

LD 27 Senate: Rep.Olivia Cajero Bedford (D)
House: Sally Ann Gonzales (D), Dr. Macario Saldate (D)

LD 28 Senate: Senator Paula Aboud (D), incumbent
House: Rep. Steve Farley (D), incumbent & Bruce Wheeler (D)

LD 29 Senate: Senator Linda Lopez (D), incumbent
House: Rep. Daniel Patterson (D), Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz, (D), (both incumbents)

LD 30 Senate: Senator Frank Antenori (R), incumbent
House: Rep. David Gowan (R), Rep. Ted Vogt (R), (both incumbents)

For Pima County election results, click here.

Clerk of the Superior Court: Patti Noland (R), incumbent

TUSD Governing Board (2 seats): Adelita Grijalva, incumbent & Michael Hicks

City of Tucson Propositions 400 (proposed sales tax increase) and 401 (proposed City Charter changes) –both NO

I will be publishing updates on the LD 26 House race and some of the state-wide propositions which are too close to call at press time. Check the Secretary of State’s website for Propositions 106 to 302.

Congratulations to all the winners!

11/3 Update: Hugh Holub “View from Baja Arizona” reports that Pima County has about 35,000 ballots (early & provisional) to still count, so the outcomes of the close races may still change. Read his article:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2010/11/03/pima-county-cant-run-an-election/

UPDATE: Tucson Weekly is reporting that there are 38,000 uncounted ballots, so this process may take till Saturday:

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2010/11/03/election-2008-whats-left-to-count-an-estimated-50k-ballots

Looks like Propositions 110, 112 and 203 are too close to call.

UPDATE, 4:30 p.m. 11/3/10: 100% of the precincts are now counted, 43.77 % voter turnout, waiting for the hundreds of early/provisional ballots statewide to be counted. I will be checking & reporting only if the lead changes in any of the close races:

CD 7, CD 8, LD 26 House, Propositions 110, 112 and 203.
Grijalva ahead by 3915 votes, Giffords by 2348 now, small changes since this morning (3885 and 2447 respectively).
And I understand that neither Jesse Kelly nor Ruth McClung will concede till all votes are counted. Congressman Grijalva has declared victory per other news sources (AZ Daily Star & KUAT).

UPDATE: 11/4 5:22 p.m. results from SOS website: Grijalva’s lead has now increased to 5,982 votes and Giffords by 3,055.

UPDATE: 11/5 email from SOS office states that : “As of Friday afternoon, there are an estimated 135,000 early ballots and 83,000 provisional ballots statewide that are yet to be processed and counted.” Deadline is November 12. Grijalva’s lead has increased to 6,327 and Giffords’ to 3,848 (5 p.m.).

7:33 p.m. Giffords has declared victory and Kelly has conceded, but I did not waver from the original declaration of her win on Wednesday morning, Nov. 3. Only races still undetermined are in LD 26 House and those 3 propositions (all still losing): 110, 112, and 203.

UPDATE 11/6: Ruth McClung sent out an email that she will not concede till all votes are counted, with Grijalva’s lead at 6061 this morning (8 a.m.). So stay tuned till next week sometime. (Giffords lead today is 3641, but that race seems decided as her lead was 2447 on 11/3). Voter turnout figures are now at 49.38%. Prop. 112 have switched to yes vote.

11/9 UPDATE: no changes in LD 26 House, Prop. 110 & 203 (still losing), but Prop. 112 now winning. Voter turnout reported at 52.26%.

11/9 further update: Per Sec. of State’s office:”As of Tuesday afternoon, there are just over 30,000 early ballots and slightly fewer than 59,000 provisional ballots statewide that are yet to be processed and counted.” Imagine that, a week after the General election and this many votes still to be counted, by Friday’s deadline.

11/10 Pima County counting complete per AZ Daily Star blog, and Rep. Nancy Young Wright has lost by 745 votes in LD 26. Voter turnout in Pima County was 65%.
http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/pueblo-politics/article_5dac3222-ed0f-11df-97d3-001cc4c002e0.html. Maricopa County ballots still being processed.

11/12 Prop. 203 (medical marijuana) took the lead today by 4421 votes! Prop. 112 in a dead heat of 43 votes (ahead) which may trigger a recount, depending on what happens with the remaining 10,000 ballots to be counted by Maricopa County tomorrow. Stay tuned. Recount is automatic if the vote difference is 200 votes or less for these statewide propositions.

U.S. Senator Mark Udall

He also asked the hundreds of loyal Democrats in the room to “carry on for my dad Mo”. He spoke of how the previous Bush Administration had “driven the bus into the ditch” economically, and that it was not time to “give them back the keys” to the bus, but to get the bus out of the ditch & put the bus into “D” for drive (and Democrat), not “R” for reverse (and Republican).

Also speaking tonight were Rep. Chris Deschene, candidate for Arizona Secretary of State, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (CD 8 U.S. House), and finally Attorney General Terry Goddard, running for Governor. Goddard joked that something was “wrong with our immigration policy” to allow the Udalls (Mark and Tom) to leave the State of Arizona. Tom Udall is former U.S. Rep. Stewart Udall’s son and now U.S. Senator of New Mexico. Mark and Tom’s fathers Mo and Stewart Udall were brothers, and both represented Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Goddard said there was “no gap of enthusiasm in Southern Arizona”, and that there was “no bigger push than now” to take back the state and bring the “prosperity train” back to Arizona. (Incidentally, Goddard is a graduate of Rincon High School while Giffords is a graduate of University High School, which shares the same campus in Tucson.)

Also attending tonight ‘s rally were Rep. Daniel Patterson (LD 29 House candidate), Bruce Wheeler (candidate in LD 28 House), Dr. Macario Saldate (candidate in LD 27 House), Vince Rabago (former AG candidate), and Tim Sultan (former candidate in LD 28 House). Congressman Raul Grijalva (CD 7) was initially scheduled to attend tonight, but was unable to due to a scheduling conflict.

Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party Jeff Rogers also spoke of the tremendous activity in the four Democratic headquarters in Southern Arizona . He emphasized that this was a “pivotal time” in Democratic politics in Arizona, due to the necessity of electing Terry Goddard to Governor, in order for him to veto bills coming from the Republican Arizona legislature.

Pima County Democratic Party headquarters in Tucson is located at 4639 E. 1st. Street, phone 520-326-3716. Website is www.pimadems.org.

LD 30: Dr. Todd Camenish (D) for Senate;
no endorsements for House (2 seats)
http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/article_83353865-fba0-5be5-8623-e58ff430eb23.html

LD 29: Rep. Matt Heinz (D), Pat Kilburn (R), Rep. Daniel Patterson (D) for House (2 seats)
http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_272ed619-d0d5-5150-9429-64ef25fe166d.html

LD 28: Senator Paula Aboud (D);
Rep.Steve Farley (D), Bruce Wheeler (D) for House (2 seats)
http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_6f210c1c-b162-5f30-a047-a8c5568191df.html

LD 27: Dr. Macario Saldate (D), Kent Solberg (G) for House (2 seats)
http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_c43e72bb-a51e-5b3d-b1b4-6337a88f82fc.html

LD 26: Cheryl Cage (D) for Senate;
Rep. Vic Williams (R), Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D) for House (2 seats)
http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_1546a09c-6763-5823-9979-94f7a72225ba.html

And for the TUSD Governing Bd. race, the Star endorsed current board member Adelita Grijalva and Armand Salese:
http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_8a0c264e-1ff8-59cd-ad68-d55cc28de2db.html

And for other endorsements read my previous blog “Do Tucson newspaper endorsements matter?” (click here.) Still waiting for any Star endorsements in the races for Governor and Secretary of State.

Vote wisely, on or before November 2nd.

From the University of Arizona’s Mel & Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health website:

The health and wellness of Arizonans is a hot topic of debate this election season. Get to know the candidates and where they stand on health issues next Wednesday, Oct. 20th at the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Graduate students from the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health will host the open forum titled, “Voting on Health: A Southern Arizona Candidate Forum.”

This is an opportunity for voters to hear what the legislative candidates have to say about their role in promoting the wellbeing of Southern Arizonans, and their plans to address key issues that affect the health of individuals living in this region. The forum in open to the public.

Participating Arizona legislative candidates running for state offices in the November 2nd election:

Paula Aboud (D) for State Senate, District 28
Dr. Ted Downing (N/I) for State Senate, District 28
Dave Ewoldt (I) for State Senate, District 28
Steve Farley (D) House seat, District 28
Pat Fleming (D) House seat, District 25
Sally Gonzales (D) House seat, District 27
Peggy Judd (R) House seat, District 25
Pat Kilburn (R) House seat, District 29
Bruce Wheeler (D) House seat, District 28

Drachman Hall, 1295 N. Martin Avenue, Room B109, Tucson, AZ. Parking is free in the Drachman Hall East lot after 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Refreshments will be served from 6:30-7 p.m.)

That’s the information on the website, but the latest update is that these candidates are also attending:

Gene Chewning (I), House seat, District 27
Dr.Todd Camenisch (D), Senate seat, District 30
Robert Compton (R), House seat, District 27
Ruben Ortega (D), House seat, District 25 (maybe)
Daniel Patterson (D), House seat, District 29
Dr. Macario Saldate (D), House seat, District 27
Ken Smalley (R), House seat, District 28
Kent Solberg (G), House seat, District 27

That’s a lot of candidates (15 or 16) to listen to in 2 hours, from the Democratic, Republican, and Green Parties, and three Independents.

This will hopefully be a neutral, non-partisan forum to learn about candidates’ views on health issues in the state legislature, prior to the 11/2/10 General Election. I corrected the notice on their website to reflect that Dr. Downing is no longer running as a Democrat, but now Non-partisan/Independent. I wrote about that change back in March (click here).

For more information, please call Renee Fullerton at 520.626.8036, rfullert@email.arizona.edu.