Wed. May 11
5:30 to 8 p.m
Desert Christian High School
7525 E. Speedway Blvd. in Tucson (east of Kolb Rd.)

AZ Sec. of State Ken Bennett is coming to Tucson & will present a special Arizona state budget presentation: “Where does the money go?”

Sponsored by GOP V2. Other state legislators and special guests will be present (TBA).

Plus family fun, games, food. Free admission.

RSVP to
Adriana Moerkerken
512-828-9040

And I just heard that Sec. of State Bennett has formed an exploratory committee to run for Governor in 2014: http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/05/06/20110506arizona-bennett-forms-exploratory-gubernatorial-committee-abrk.html

Three candidates seeking the Republican nomination will be attending: Jesse Kelly, Brian Miller, and Jonathan Paton, former LD 30 State House rep. & State Senator. Candidate Andy Goss dropped out on July 7, endorsing Jesse Kelly.

Late entry Republican candidate Jay Quick, who ran before for this seat in CD 8 in 2006 as an Independent, will not be attending. Moderator for the event will be Joe Higgins, radio talk show co-host of “Wake up! Tucson” (1030 AM).

This may be your last chance to see these Republican men in person discuss the issues before the primary. I’ve heard these candidates debate before at Ironwood Ridge High School (click here) and also on the UA campus for the College Republicans.

For previous online media coverage, see the April 6, 2010 forum (24 minutes) on KUAT Channel 6 AZ Illustrated (click here).

Another KUAT TV debate between these Congressional candidates is scheduled for the Friday Roundtable on July 30.

For info about this town hall: Parralee Schneider, pmstucson@aol.com, 749-0312 (current candidate for LD 30 State House), or Lori Oien, oienjmo@msn.com, 749-3472, (candidate for Ward 2 Council seat in 2007 and recent applicant for Ward 2 Council vacancy).

Vote in the upcoming August 24 primary, to select which one will face Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in the general election. Libertarian Dr. Steven Stoltz is also running for this seat.

Jesse Kelly

Brian Miller

Jonathan Paton

Jay Quick

Four men were nominated from the floor: former LD 9 State House Rep. Bill McGibbon (1992-2000), current LD 30 state House Rep. Frank Antenori, LD 30 Precinct Chairman Ted Vogt, and former LD 30 State House Rep. Randy Graf (2000-2004). Each man gave a 5 minute speech about why they wanted to be one of the 3 names to be submitted for consideration.

There were 3 separate written elections to select 3 names, as each name required 39 (more than half) of the 77 votes to qualify. Antenori received 71 votes on the first election, followed by Vogt who got 50 votes on the 2nd election, and then Graf got 56 on the 3rd election. Bill McGibbon was the name circulated by the media prior to today as one of the likely nominees, but Vogt was a new nominee. He served as Captain in the U.S. Air Force and is now a third year law student at the U of A. Vogt also mentioned in his introductory speech that he had clerked for U.S. Senator Jon Kyl and for VP Dick Cheney, but has never served in his own elected capacity.

Now it will be up to the Pima County Board of Supervisors to select Paton’s replacement. Supervisor Ray Carroll invited everyone to attend the board meeting on Tuesday, March 2, at 9 a.m. at 130 W. Congress (first floor),to find out whom the board will select. Usually the Supervisors select the top vote getter, but not necessarily– as the top precinct vote getter in State House LD 26 did not get the appointment, after Rep. Lena Seradnik resigned in 2008.

This LD 30 meeting was held this afternoon at Desert Christian High School, 7575 E. Speedway.

Also in attendance today:CD8 U.S. House candidate Jonathan Paton, LD 30 State House Rep. David Gowan, former LD 30 State House Rep. Marian McClure, National committeeman Bruce Ash, LD 30 State House candidate Doug Sposito.

Update: click here for 3/2/10 meeting results of Pima County Board of Supervisors.