Paul Eckerstrom, taken by Curtis Dutiel

Tucson attorney Paul Eckerstrom, Co-chair of the Start Our State (SOS) campaign to separate Pima County from the State of Arizona will be speaking at Democrats of Greater Tucson (DGT) on April 4.

This political committee started in late February and has been reported extensively on by Tucsoncitizen.com blogger/attorney Hugh Holub (“View from Baja Arizona”), who is somewhat credited with this idea of promoting the formation of a Southern Arizona state, tentatively called “Baja Arizona”. Click here (http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2011/02/25/americas-51st-state-movement-starts-to-free-baja-arizona/) for one of Hugh’s first blogs on this subject.

Eckerstrom is a former Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party.The other SOS Co-chair is Peter Hormel, another attorney activist in Tucson who was once a Green Party of Pima County candidate for Pima County Attorney, and the Treasurer is attorney David Euchner, former Chair of the Pima County Libertarian Party. These three local attorneys, from each of the 3 parties are leading the way in this “separation for equal representation” movement.

To establish a new state in Southern Arizona free of the un-American, unconstitutional machinations of the Arizona legislature and to restore our region’s credibility as a place welcoming to others, open to commerce, and friendly to its neighbors.

(from the SOS website)

Websites: http://startourstate.com/, and http://www.facebook.com/startourstate (with 3245 “likes” so far). Donations can be sent to “Start Our State”, P. B. Box 308, Tucson 85702 or online via Paypal, email is startourstate@gmail.com. “Free Baja Arizona” bumper stickers are for sale as well.

I heard Paul speak at Drinking Liberally (at The Shanty) on February 27, and about 30 people in the bar agreed that they no longer wanted to be associated with the conservative Arizona legislature. One fellow said that the current situation felt like “taxation without representation” because the current legislators did not represent the interests of the tax paying people here in Pima County.

And here’s Paul being interviewed on KUAT TV Channel 6 on March 11: http://www.azpm.org/politics/story/2011/3/11/1830-is-baja-arizona-for-real/

If you want to hear about this movement to separate/secede from the State of Arizona which has gotten a lot of media coverage (even nationally), log onto their website, read Hugh Holub’s numerous articles, and/or go to DGT on April 4.

DGT meets at the Dragon View Restaurant, 400 N. Bonita (between W. St. Mary’s Road and W. Congress) on Mondays at high noon (except holidays). Chinese buffet lunch costs $8.50 including drink & tip, or just $2.50 for a drink.

Jonathan Rothschild, J.D.

Jonathan Rothschild, a Democratic attorney born & raised in Tucson who has never held public office before, filed his official papers for Mayor of the City of Tucson today at the City Clerk’s Office. A statement of organization for his Exploratory Committee for Mayor was filed back in July, 2010.

He held a fundraiser on December 7 at Etherton Gallery (click here) after I first reported about his exploratory committee back in September (click here).

He said today in a press release:

“Tucson needs a mayor who will get the job done,” Rothschild said. “All the things we’ve talked about for years, from economic development to downtown revitalization, need to get done and done responsibly. We’re coming through tough economic times.Tucsonans don’t expect things to come easy. They know it will be hard, but they expect results.”

In Tucson, competing interests have often clashed, with the unfortunate result of nothing being done and everyone being frustrated. Rothschild has spent a 30-year career in law at the head of a negotiating table, bringing people together, finding the shared interests of all involved and coming up with workable solutions. “We need leadership willing to tackle challenges head-on and make the city of Tucson what Tucsonans deserve,” Rothschild said. “We must put our differences aside and come together. That’s how we build a better Tucson.”

Former Ward 5 Council candidate Republican Shaun McClusky has already announced his intention to seek this Mayoral seat (click here).

No word yet from 3 term Republican Mayor Bob Walkup whether he will seek re-election. Read my previous blog about “Will Mayor Walkup run again?

Democratic Councilwoman Shirley Scott has indicated that she will NOT be running for Mayor, but seeking re-election to her 5th term in Ward 4. I refer to her conversation with Bill Buckmaster on KJLL radio on January 12 (click here). She will be facing opposition from Republican Mike Jenkins, who had challenged her in November 2003, and announced his formal candidacy today as well, in front of the Ward 4 council office.

And reports indicate that Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich is not interested in running for Mayor either.

Rothschild’s campaign website: www.jonathanformayor.com.

To keep up to date on candidate listings with the City Clerk of Tucson (click here), and the link on the left is “2011 Candidate listing”).

Jonathan speaks tonight at 7 p.m. at the Saguaro Eastside Democrats meeting, at the New Spirit Lutheran Church, 8701 Old Spanish Trail (northeast corner at Camino Seco). Light refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. Website: http://saguaroeastsidedemocrats.org/

He will be also be speaking at high noon on Jan. 31 at the Democrats of Greater Tucson lunch meeting at Dragon View restaurant, 400 N. Bonita Ave. Pima County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Rogers will also be speaking. Cost of lunch is $8.50 which includes tax and tip for the Chinese buffet. Website: www.tucsondemocrats.org.

Dr. Cathy Eden

Dr. Cathy Eden, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona will be speaking at Democrats of Greater Tucson (DGT) on August 2.

The other three men running on the Democratic ticket for this race have appeared at DGT before her: Dr. Rodney Glassman on April 19, Randy Parraz on June 21, and John Dougherty on June 28. I reported on these speakers before (click here).

Eden is the Director of the ASU School of Social Work and is a former 2 term state legislator
(LD 25, now LD15) from the Phoenix area. She has a B.S. in political science from Arizona State University, an M.S. in sociology/public administration from Northern Arizona University, and a Ph.D. in organization and management from Capella University, Minneapolis.

For her campaign info: www.edenforaz.com.

DGT meets every Monday (except holidays) at the Dragon View restaurant, 400 N. Bonita Ave., at high noon to hear Democratic politicians, wannabees, community leaders, etc. speak about their work and issues. The Chinese buffet lunch costs $8.50 (includes tax & tip), drink only is $2.50. Their new website: www.tucsondemocrats.org.

And, on August 5th, Channel 6 KUAT AZ Illustrated will be having a debate between all four Democrats (Dougherty, Eden, Glassman, and Parraz) here in Tucson.

One of these four Democrats will win the August 24 primary, and then face off with the winner of the Republican primary — either current Senior U.S. Senator John McCain, former Congressman J. D. Hayworth (CD 5), or businessman Jim Deakin.

Note: There are currently 17 women serving in the 100 member U.S. Senate, the most in our history.

On June 21 Parraz will speak at the weekly luncheon of Democrats of Greater Tucson (DGT) at the Dragon View restaurant located at 400 N. Bonita Ave. (west of the I-10, south of St. Mary’s Rd.) Then Dougherty speaks the following Monday, June 28. Expect Eden to follow thereafter, prior to the August 24 primary.

I wrote about this race on May 6 (click here), as this election on the Democratic ticket heated up. For bios on these three new candidates, go to my previous blog. (Briefly Dr. Eden is a former state legislator & now the Director of the ASU School of Public Affairs, Dougherty is a freelance investigative reporter, and Parraz is a civil rights advocate and labor organizer.)

DGT states that their “mission is to support the Pima County Democratic Party and provide a forum for elected officials, candidates, and other organizations to address area Democrats. Over the years, DGT has hosted legislators, Governors, U.S. Senators, Sheriffs, Congressmen, countless community leaders and activists.” As a social group DGT meets every Monday (except holidays) at 12 noon to 1 p.m., and the cost of the Chinese buffet lunch is $8.50, which includes tax, tip, and a drink. It’s only $2.50 if you want to hear the speaker and order a drink. Membership dues are $10/year.

DGT also have a new website: tucsondemocrats.org and they publish an electronic newsletter which you can sign up for at: democrats.greater.tucson@gmail.com. If you want further info, call President of DGT, Marilyn Freed at 520-298-7316, marilynfreed@aol.com. She was a candidate for the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) Governing Board in 2004.

Stay tuned as to whether there will be any debates between these four Democratic contenders before the August 24 primary. Last week candidate Dougherty challenged the others to debates in Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff, but candidate Glassman (who spoke at DGT on April 19) declined to commit to a debate schedule before the primary. Eden and Parraz said yes, and Garcia is not a contender according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s official website.

candidate John Dougherty

candidate Randy Parraz