Candidates in this race:

–Dustin Cox, President of CM Concordia Consulting LLC, former Executive Director of Anytown Arizona, “Top 40 under 40″ award recipient in 2009, unsuccessful candidate for LD 27 House in 2010, www.dustincoxforhouse.com.

–Mohur Sarah Sidhwa, former businesswoman (personal and career coach), Democratic Party officer & activist, unsuccessful candidate for LD 28 House in 2010, www.sidhwa2012.com.

–Victoria Steele, former newscaster & reporter, businesswoman, counselor, college instructor at University of Phoenix, political newcomer, www.steeleforhouse.com.

Mohur Sarah Sidhwa

Dustin Cox

Victoria Steele

Only Ms. Sidhwa of these 3 candidates is participating in the Clean Elections program.

Vote wisely on or before August 28 in this Democratic primary race. The 2 Democratic winners will face Republican Ethan Orr in the General Election, for 2 House seats.

— District 9 – June 25, 2012

House of Representatives Democrats

6:00 pm

Pima Community College Downtown Campus

1255 N Stone Ave

Tucson, Az 85709

District 9 Democrats seeking 2 House seats: Dustin Cox (former candidate LD 27 House), Mohur Sidhwa (former candidate LD 28 House), Victoria Steele, political newcomer.

— District 10 – July 10, 2012

House of Representatives Democrats

6:00 pm

Pima Community College District Office

4905 E Broadway Blvd

Tucson, AZ 85709

District 10 Democrats seeking 2 House seats: Stefanie Mach and Brandon Patrick, both political newcomers; Bruce Wheeler, current LD 28 House Rep. & former Tucson City Councilmember.

— District 3 – July 24, 2012

Senate Democrats

6:00 pm

Pima Community College West Campus

2202 W Anklam Rd

Tucson, AZ 85709

District 3 Democrats seeking one Senate seat: current LD 27 Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford vs. former LD 27 Senator Maria Garcia (widow appointed to the seat of the late LD 27 State Senator Jorge Luis Garcia).

For more info on these candidates, go to Pima County Democratic Party website (click here).

And as in the past, most of these debates are video recorded and a copy can be viewed a few days after the debate online at the CCEC website.

Independents & Democrats –attend these debates to decide whom to vote for in the upcoming Arizona primary on August 28.

The two current Democratic legislators for LD 27 Representatives Phil Lopes and Olivia Cajero Bedford are termed out (but Ms. Cajero Bedford is running for State Senate in LD 27).

I’ve reported about the last debate between these contenders in May (click here), but former state legislator John Kromko joined the group thereafter.
All are participating as “clean” election candidates (indicated by the C below), except for Dustin Cox, running traditional (T).

View the debate online (click here) and decide for yourself between all these hopefuls:

John Martin Bernal (C)
Eric Bustamante (C)
Dustin Cox (T)
Bob Gilby (C)
Sally Ann Gonzales (C), former legislator
Sami Hamed (C)
John Kromko (C), former legislator
Dr. Macario Saldate (C)

This debate was held on July 8 at 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM, at the Pima Community College District Office Community Board Room, at 4905 E Broadway.

John Martin Bernal

Dustin Cox

Eric Bustamante

Bob Gilby

Sally Ann Gonzales

Sami Hamed

Dr. Macario Saldate

John Kromko

Info on LD 27 from Pima County Democratic Party website.

C indicates “Clean” candidate, T indicates Traditionally funded candidate (per CCEC website)

July 07, 2010
Candidate Debate
LD 26 Republican Candidates House of Representatives
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Pima Community College Northwest Campus
7600 N Shannon Road
Tucson, AZ
(Wade McLean- C, Terri Lynn Proud – T, Rep. Vic Williams – T)

July 08, 2010
Candidate Debate
LD 27 Democrat Candidates House of Representatives
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Pima Community College District Office
Community Board Room
4905 E Broadway
Tucson, AZ
(John Martin Bernal – C, Eric Bustamante- C, Dustin Cox- T, Bob Gilby – C,
Sally Ann Gonzales – C, Sami Hamed – C, John Kromko – C, Dr. Macario Saldate – C)

July 13, 2010
Candidate Debate
LD 28 Democrat Candidates House of Representatives
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Pima Community College District Office
Community Board Room
4905 E Broadway
Tucson, AZ
(Rep. Steve Farley – T, Ted Prezelski – C, Mohur Sidhwa – C, Tim Sultan – C,
Bruce Wheeler – C)

July 20, 2010
Candidate Debate
LD 30 Republican Candidates House of Representatives
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Pima Community College East Campus
8181 E Irvington Road
Tucson, AZ
(Brian Abbott – C, Rep. David Gowan – C, Kurt Knurr – C, Parralee Schneider – C,
Doug Sposito – T, Rep.Ted Vogt – T).

Not all legislative candidates in these races are running “clean” so refer to their website for further information (link is “2010 Candidate Listings with Funding Amounts”). 133 candidates are participating “clean” out of the total of 267 statewide candidates running.

“Participating candidates are required to attend the event and traditional candidates are encouraged to attend” per CCEC. Two will be elected from each Legislative District for the
Arizona House of Representatives.

For further info, email them at ccec@azcleanelections.gov, or call 602-364-3477, toll free (from 928 and 520 area codes) 1-877-631-8891.

logo

–John Martin Bernal, Math and Economics teacher at Calli Ollin High school, (nephew of Pima County Public Works director John Bernal, his namesake),www.people4bernal.com

–Eric Carbajal Bustamante – Behavioral Health Associate for the Arizona Children’s Association, former Americorps volunteer, candidate in LD 29 state house in 2008, www.ericcarbajalbustamante.com

–Dustin Cox, former Executive Director of Anytown, Arizona Inc., 2009 Arizona Daily Star’s “Top 40 Under 40″ finalist & awardee, www.dustincox2010.com

–Bob Gilby, Math teacher at Marana High School and PCC, (husband of Donna Branch-Gilby who was a candidate for Ward 3 Pima County Supervisor in 2008), www.bobgilby.com

–Sally Ann Gonzales, President of Guadalupe Community Development Corp., former 2 term District 10 House Rep.(1997 to 2000), former Tribal Council member & Secretary of Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona (1992 – 1996), www.votesallygonzales.com- under construction

–Sami Hamed, district aide to CD7 Congressman Raul Grijalva, Hearing Officer (inactive) in Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts, Small Claims, www.samihamed.com

–Dr. Macario Saldate IV, Director of Guadalajara Summer School, retired UA Educational Foundations & Administration professor, www.votemacariosaldate2010.info

Also running for LD27 house: Republican Robert Compton, a service technician at Hamstra heating/cooling company (www.thatcomptonguy.com – under construction), and Green Party candidate Kent Solberg. Solberg ran before for this seat in 2008, and is the owner of Kent’s Tools (a small business). Chaplain Gene Chewning (www.votechewning.com) also ran for this same seat in 2006 as a Republican, and is now an Independent seeking one of the these two House seats as well.

So that’s a total of TEN candidates for two House seats in LD 27. Quite a crowded race.

Voters will have to choose two of these candidates to represent them in LD 27 House. The current House Reps. Phil Lopes and Olivia Cajero Bedford are termed out, and Ms. Bedford is running for the LD 27 State Senate seat.

Contact: Jim Hannley, LD 27 Chair, at jhannley2@msn.com, (520) 792-1229, or for more information on LD 27, click here for the Pima County Democratic Party website.

Hopi bear claw logo

“Presented annually since 1977, the Hon Kachina Volunteer Awards program originated from a desire to both recognize the achievement of outstanding Arizona volunteers and to increase public awareness about the importance of volunteerism.”

Any high school age or older person who has dedicated “time, talent and resources to causes that include: health care; neighborhood revitalization; youth and senior activities; the arts,education; food banks and nutrition services; justice; social services or other volunteer activities” can be nominated.

Such an award is definitely needed for those of us who give our free time to the many causes in our community listed above. Tucsonan Dustin Cox received one of the 2008 awards for his work with Anytown Arizona, a non-profit organization that runs leadership programs for youths 13-24 to reduce racism, bias and bigotry. He is reported to be a Democratic candidate for a state House of Representatives seat in LD 27. I personally know Dustin and he was the only Tucsonan to receive this coveted award in 2008.

The 2009 recipients will be honored at an exclusive awards presentation on September 25, 2010, at Camelback Inn-A J.W. Marriott Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. Each winner will receive a hand carved Hon Kachina doll, the “most powerful healing Kachina in the Hopi Indian culture” plus a cash award for their nonprofit organization.

Go online to nominate at www.honkachina.org, deadline is Friday Jan. 29. Tucson is a city of many deserving, dedicated volunteers and more statewide nominations are still needed. Or you can mail the nomination to 3104 East Camelback Road, Suite 212, Phoenix, Arizona 85016. Contact phone number is (480) 905-1578.

Over 350 recipients have been recognized (since 1977) and “stand as an example to the
community that one person’s efforts can and do make a difference.”

The Hon Kachina Council is a group of business and professional people,affiliated with St. Luke’s Health Initiatives, who promote and support community volunteerism.

So nominate someone today!