U.S.Senate
Jeff Flake (R)

CD 1
Ann Kirkpatrick (D)

CD 2
Ron Barber (D), incumbent

CD 3
Raul Grijalva (D), incumbent

State Senate LD 2
Linda Lopez (D), incumbent

State Senate LD 3
Olivia Cajero Bedford (D), incumbent

State Senate LD 9
Steve Farley (D)

State Senate LD 10
David Bradley (D)

State Senate LD 11
Al Melvin (R), incumbent

State Senate LD 14
Gail Griffin (R), incumbent

State House LD 2
Andrea Dalessandro (D)
Rosanna Gabaldon (D)

State House LD 3
Sally Ann Gonzales (D), incumbent
Macario Saldate (D), incumbent

State House LD 9
Ethan Orr (R)
Victoria Steele (D)

State House LD 10
Stefanie Mach (D)
Bruce Wheeler (D), incumbent

State House LD 11
Adam Kwasman (R)
Steve Smith (R)

State House LD 14
David Gowan (R), incumbent
David Stevens (R), incumbent

Corporation Commission (3 seats)
Robert Burns (R)
Susan Bitter Smith (R)
Bob Stump (R), incumbent

Pima County:
Assessor: Bill Staples (D), incumbent

Attorney: Barbara LaWall (D), incumbent

Recorder: F.Ann Rodriguez (D), incumbent

Sheriff: Clarence Dupnik (D), incumbent

Superintendent of Schools: Linda Arzoumanian (R), incumbent

Treasurer: Beth Ford (R), incumbent

Supervisors:
D 1: Ally Miller (R)
D 2: Ramon Valadez (D), incumbent
D 3: Sharon Bronson (D), incumbent
D 4: Ray Carroll (R), incumbent
D 5: Richard Elias (D), incumbent

Prop. 114 Crime Victims Protection Act YES
Prop. 115 Judicial Selection NO
Prop. 116 Small Business Job Creation Act NO
Prop. 117 Property Tax Assessed Valuation YES
Prop. 118 Permanent State Land Fund YES
Prop. 119 State Trust Lands YES
Prop. 120 State Sovereignty NO
Prop. 121 Open Elections/Open Government NO
Prop. 204 Quality Education & Jobs NO
Prop. 409 Bonds for City Street Improvements YES

Pima Communty College Governing Board (non partisan, 6 year term)
D 3: Sylvia Lee
D 5: Marty Cortez, incumbent

TUSD Governing Board (non partisan, 4 year term)
Kristel Foster
Mark Stegeman, incumbent
Camy Juarez

Congratulations again to all the winners.

We’re looking for a few good women who are ready to run…

Emerge Arizona is now accepting applications for the 2013 Candidate Training Program

Dear friends,

Another Election Day has come and gone, and we’re already thinking about the women who will represent Arizona’s political future in the next election cycle.

Emerge Arizona offers a six month program that will covers topics such as fundraising, public speaking, field organization and political influence. Former graduates of the Emerge Arizona training program include Rep. Katie Hobbs, Flagstaff City Council member Karla Brewster and former Rep. Pat Fleming.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Applicants must be women who are registered Democrats and who reside in the state of Arizona.

• Time commitment of one Saturday a month from January through June, 2013, plus homework and preparation

• Application fee of $50 (non-refundable)

• Applications are available online, and require 2 letters of recommendation and a photo.

• Tuition for the six month program is $350. Emerge Arizona believes that tuition should NOT be a barrier to participation in the program. Partial financial aid may be awarded after admission to the program.

• Application deadline is November 15, 2012. Interviews will be scheduled for late November, with class selection completed by December 1.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Emerge Arizona seeks dynamic and self-motivated women who are interested and committed to running for elective office and who have:

• Evidence of political leadership experience or potential, and meaningful involvement in workplace or community;

• Interest in running for political office;

• Ability to articulate a personal political vision;

• Commitment to full participation and attendance requirements of the trainings.

Emerge Arizona will select between 15-25 women from across the state who meet the above criteria and who have the potential to be political leaders.

Emerge embraces diversity and encourages applications from all women regardless of age, race, color, national or ethnic origin, marital status, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or physical abilities.

If you are interested, go to www.emergeaz.org/training for more information and a link to the online application. If you have any questions, contact Rosalie Hirano at rosalie@emergeaz.org.

Lots of Democratic women serve in political offices in Southern Arizona such as: State Senators Linda Lopez, Olivia Cajero Bedford, Paula Aboud, State House Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales, newly elected Reps. Andrea Dalessandro, Rosanna Gabaldon, Victoria Steele, Stefanie Mach. On the local level women who serve in Pima County are Attorney Barbara LaWall, Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez, District 3 Supervisor Sharon Bronson, and Tucson Councilmembers Shirley Scott, Karin Uhlich, Regina Romero.

And congratulations to political newcomers Dr. Sylvia Lee elected to the PCC Governing Board, and to Kristel Foster to the TUSD Governing Board.

Latest unofficial election returns from Secretary of State’s website, click here for updates.

UPDATE: Will try to update each evening as ballots are counted by Pima County and updated by AZ Sec. of State–but only for CD 1, CD 2, LD 9 House, LD 10 House, PCC District 5 Board, TUSD School Board which are close races.

For updates after Nov. 10, go to new summary post: http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2012/11/10/2012-arizona-general-election-updates/

U.S. Senate (open seat)
Richard Carmona (D) 754,416
Jeff Flake (R) 834,206
Marc Victor (L) 72,227

CD 1 (open seat) Kirkpatrick is still leading as of 11/9/12
Kim Allen (L) 13,061
Ann Kirkpatrick (D) 107,750
Jonathan Paton (R) 101,486

CD 2 – may be too close to call – McSally is leading on 11/9/12
Ron Barber (D), incumbent CD 8, 125,187
Martha McSally (R) 125,223

CD 3
Raul Grijalva (D), incumbent CD 7, 67,595
Blanca Guerra (L) 5168
Gabriela Saucedo Mercer (R) 46,419

LD 2
State Senate
Linda Lopez (D), incumbent LD 29, 31,118

State House – 2 seats
Chris John Ackerley (R) 19,698
Andrea Dalessandro (D) 22,483
Rosanna Gabaldon (D) 21,371

LD 3
State Senate (unopposed)
Olivia Cajero Bedford, incumbent LD 27, 31,124

State House – 2 seats (unopposed)
Sally Ann Gonzales (D), incumbent LD 27, 25,986
Macario Saldate (D), incumbent LD 27, 22,482

LD 9
State Senate
Steve Farley (D), 38,191
Tyler Mott (R), 31,361

State House – 2 seats: Orr and Steele still leading as of 11/9/12
Ethan Orr (R), 37,622
Mohur Sarah Sidhwa (D), 35,237
Victoria Steele (D), 39,053

LD 10
State Senate
Frank Antenori (R), incumbent LD 30, 31,919
David Bradley (D), 37,157

State House – 2 seats: Mach & Wheeler still leading as of 11/9/12
Todd Clodfelter (R, 31,712
Stefanie Mach (D), 35,535
Ted Vogt (R), incumbent LD 30, 33,389
Bruce Wheeler (D), incumbent LD 28, 37,609

LD 11
State Senate
Jo Holt (D), 29,185
Al Melvin (R), incumbent LD 26, 38,590

State House – 2 seats
Dave Joseph (D), 27,843
Adam Kwasman (R), 33,517
Steve Smith (R), 35,860

LD 14
State Senate
Pat Fleming (D), 20,958
Gail Griffin (R), incumbent LD 25, 36,049

State House – 2 seats
David Gowan ( R), incumbent LD 30, 31,924
Robert Leach (D), 18,863
David Stevens (R), incumbent LD 25, 31,711
Mark Stonebracker (D), 18,863

Corporation Commission (3 seats)
Robert Burns (R), 696,394
Marcia Busching (D) 552,608
Christopher Gohl (L), 76,729
Sandra Kennedy (D), incumbent, 613,556
Thomas Meadows (G), 46,634
Paul Newman (D), incumbent, 618,251
Daniel Pout (G),39,133
Susan Bitter Smith (R), 690,049
Bob Stump (R), incumbent, 722,434

Returns from Pima County elections of some races, http://www.pima.gov/elections/results1.htm. Go online for the other races — Constables, Justices of the Peace, other school boards.

Pima County Assessor (unopposed)
Bill Staples (D), incumbent, 196,926

Pima County Attorney
Claudia Ellquist (G) – withdrawn
Barbara LaWall (D), incumbent, 195,334

Pima County Recorder
Bill Beard (R), 103,631
F. Ann Rodriguez (D), incumbent, 172,719

Pima County Sheriff
Dave Croteau (G), 9584
Clarence Dupnik (D), incumbent, 154,842
Mark Napier (R), 143,895

Pima County Superintendent of Schools (unopposed)
Linda Arzoumanian (R), incumbent, 187,671

Board of Supervisors
District 1 (open seat)
Ally Miller (R) 42,841
Nancy Young Wright (D) 36,119

District 2
Jim Kelley (R), 13,902
Ramon Valadez (D), incumbent, 21,787

District 3
Tanner Bell (R), 22,131
Sharon Bronson (D), incumbent, 25,771

District 4 (unopposed)
Ray Carroll (R),incumbent, 56,461

District 5
Richard Elias (D), incumbent, 28,431
Fernando Gonzales (R) 10,691

Pima County Treasurer
Beth Ford (R), incumbent, 152,020
Elaine Richardson, 124,456

Pima Community College governing board (non partisan,2 seats):

District 3:
Sylvia Lee, 19,997
“Vicki” Marshall, incumbent, 12,525

District 5: Cortez still leading as of 11/9/12
Marty Cortez, incumbent, 14,186
Richard Fridena, 12,773
Francis Saitta, 6042

TUSD Governing Board (nonpartisan race, 3 seats): no change in status since election night, with Foster, Stegeman & Juarez leading

Menelik Bakari, 5990
Debe Campos-Fleenor, 24,799
Don Cotton 21,647
Miguel Cuevas,incumbent, 25,776
Ralph Ellinwood 19,597
Kristel Foster 36,158
John Hunnicutt 25,071
Camy Juarez 28,666
Robert Medler 13,083
Betts Putnam-Hidalgo 22,181
Mark Stegeman, incumbent 35,268
Alex Sugiyama, incumbent 18,107

For information/updates on which propositions won statewide & for City of Tucson, click here.

Stay tuned for updates, as I will post new figures as they become available — but only if the results are changed from this initial report, as ballots will be counted slowly day by day. This is the update of the latest returns, but not all precincts have reported statewide. Congratulations to the winners.

Mark Napier (R) for Sheriff, http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/pima-county-sheriff-napier-s-fresh-ideas-mean-he-s/article_a807cb13-3c63-5332-9356-8d82836c5b56.html

Nancy Young Wright (D) for Pima County Supervisor District 1 (open seat),http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/endorsement-pima-county-board-of-supervisors-dist/article_858ca2ba-8fa2-5cc1-b48a-161d026a3196.html

Sharon Bronson (D) for Pima County Supervisor District 3, incumbent, http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/endorsement-pima-county-board-of-supervisors-dist/article_09212ffb-e1a1-588d-8390-cdf56433e7b2.html

Tucson Weekly’s 2012 endorsements, http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/the-tucson-weekly-2012-endorsements/Content?oid=3546754:

Clarence Dupnik (D) for Sheriff, incumbent

F. Ann Rodriguez (D) for Recorder, incumbent

Beth Ford (R) for Treasurer, incumbent

Supervisors:

District 1: Nancy Young Wright (D)

District 2: Ramon Valadez (D), incumbent

District 3: Sharon Bronson (D), incumbent

District 5: Richard Elias (D), incumbent

District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll (R) is running unopposed, and won his primary in August, as did School Superintendent Linda Arzoumanian (R). Assessor Bill Staples (D) had no opponent in either the Primary or General. And Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall (D) is facing only a Green Party opponent in the General Election (whom she has defeated before).

Early voting starts today (October 11), so vote wisely on or before the November 6th General Election.

TODAY: Ally Miller (R) and Nancy Young-Wright (D) – Pima County Supervisor District 1 – 12:30-1pm.

Wednesday, September 26: Pima County Treasurer: Beth Ford (R) and Elaine Richardson (D) – 12:30 – 1pm

Thursday, September 27: AZ State Senator LD 10: Frank Antenori (R) and David Bradley (R) – 12:04- 12:30pm

Monday, October 01: Pima County Recorder: Bill Beard (R) and F-Ann Rodriquez (D) – 12:30 -1PM

Thursday, October 04: AZ State Senator LD 11: Jo Holt (D) and Al Melvin (R) 12:04-12:30pm

Monday, October 08: AZ State Senator LD 9: Steve Farley (D) and Tyler Mott (R) 12:30-1pm

Wednesday, October 10: Proposition 204: Ann-Eve Pedersen, pro and Doug Ducey, against 12:04-12:30pm

Wednesday, Ocotber 17: Pima County Sheriff: Mark Napier (R) and Clarence Dupnik (D) and Dave Croteau (G)

The incumbents in these races are: Pima County Treasurer Beth Ford, State Senator Frank Antenori (LD 30), Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez, State Senator Al Melvin (LD 26), Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik.

And if you miss listening to any of these shows, you can always find them online at www.buckmastershow.com or here at http://tucsoncitizen.com/buckmaster-show/.

Arizona Womenh’s Political Caucus (AWPC) 2012 Primary Election Endorsements
Federal Races (endorsements done by National Women’s Political Caucus)

U.S. House CD 1 Ann Kirkpatrick (D)
U.S. House CD 9 Kyrsten Sinema (D)

Arizona Statewide Races
Corporation Commission Marcia Busching (D)
Corporation Commission Sandra Kennedy (D)*

Arizona Legislative District (LD) Races
LD 2 Senate Linda Lopez (D)* (unopposed)
House Andrea Dalessandro (D)
House Rosanna Gabaldon (D)

LD 3 Senate Olivia Cajero Bedford (D)*
House Sally Ann Gonzales (D)*

LD 4 House Charlene Fernandez (D)

LD 6 House Angela LeFevre (D)

LD 8 Senate Barbara McGuire (D)
House Emily Verdugo (D)

LD 9 House Mohur Sarah Sidhwa (D)
House Victoria Steele (D)

LD 10 House Stefanie Mach (D)

LD 11 Senate Jo Holt (D)

LD 14 Senate Patricia Fleming (D)

LD 17 House Karyn Lathan (D)

LD 18 Senate Janie Hydrick (D)

LD 20 House Tonya Norwood (D)
House Jackie Thrasher (D)

LD 21 House Carol Lokare (D)
House Sheri Van Horsen (D)

LD 24 Senate Katie Hobbs (D)
House Lela Alston (D)*

LD 30 House Debbie McCune-Davis (D)*

Pima County Races
Board of Supervisors Dist.1 Nancy Young Wright (D)
Board of Supervisors Dist.3 Sharon Bronson (D)*
County Attorney Barbara LaWall (D)*
Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez (D)*
School Superintendent Linda Arzoumanian (R)*
Treasurer Elaine Richardson (D)

* indicates incumbent. CD 1, 2 & 3 and LD 2,3,9,10,11 & 14 are in Southern AZ. The Arizona Women’s Political Caucus endorses women of all political parties. More info about this group, click here.

Their quest is “to increase the number of pro-choice women elected and appointed to office. Getting women involved in the political process while targeting, recruiting, training and supporting women candidates at the local, state and national level has been and remains the primary activity of the Caucus. In 1971 when the group first convened, 14 women served in the Arizona Legislature. In 2012 30 of the 90 members are women.”

I also just learned via the Pima County Tucson Women’s Commission and the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson that women were granted suffrage in Arizona in Nov. 1912 — before the federal 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in 1920. So women in Arizona have been voting for 100 years. (Remember that Arizona became a state that same year on February 14, 1912.)

Vote wisely on August 28.

Is your organization planning a panel discussion, a forum, workshop, or candidate debate? Come and learn the tips and techniques on how to make everything run smoothly, with everyone following the rules and being civil to one another.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Pima County Housing Center, 801 West Congress Street (1/4 mile west of I-10).

Light refreshments will be served. Be sure to reserve so we’ll have enough materials for you. Contact 520-327-7652 or 520–3018.

More information on League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson: http://lwvgt.org/.

Coming up:

Saturday, August 18, 2012, 10 AM to Noon
Eckstrom-Columbus Library
4350 E. 22nd Street, Tucson Summer Meeting – “Ballot Security and Voter Suppression”.

The LWVGT has joined others in voter registration throughout Pima County and all over the United States. The barriers for citizens to vote have been acknowledged by many Local Leagues. This topic was brought up in a planning meeting by members who wanted to know more about any voter suppression in our community and how protected is our ballot when we vote.

We will have two speakers who will provide information on this issue:

F. Ann Rodrigues, Pima County Recorder, will tell us of the outreach efforts made by her office to secure voting rights for registered voters. Barbara Tellman, former League Vice Chair, member of the Pima County Commission on Election Integrity, will share information about voter rights and suppression.

Contact: Maxine Goodman
maxinegoodman17@yahoo.com
Media / Community Relations
League of Women voters
Of Greater Tucson
(520) 622-0905

Pima County Assessor
Bill Staples (D), incumbent

Pima County Attorney
Claudia Ellquist (G)
Barbara LaWall (D), incumbent

Pima County Sheriff
Dave Croteau (G)
Clarence Dupnik (D), incumbent
Terry Frederick (R)
Vinson Holck (R)
Chester Manning (R)
Mark Napier (R)
Walter Setzer (R)

Pima County Recorder
Bill Beard (R)
F.Ann Rodriguez (D), incumbent

Pima County Treasurer
Beth Ford (R), incumbent
Elaine Richardson (D)

Pima County School Superintendent
Linda Arzoumanian (R), incumbent
Mace Bravin (R)

Pima County Supervisor District 1 (open seat)
Mike Hellon (R)
Ally Miller (R)
Stuart McDaniel (R)
Vic Williams (R)
Nancy Young Wright (D)

Pima County Supervisor District 2
James Kelley (R)
Ramon Valadez (D), incumbent

Pima County Supervisor District 3
Tanner Bell (R)
Sharon Bronson (D), incumbent

Pima County Supervisor District 4
Ray Carroll (R), incumbent
Sean Collins (R)

Pima County Supervisor District 5
Richard Elias (D), incumbent
Fernando Gonzales (R)

So the primaries to watch are for Pima County Sheriff (5 Republicans) and Pima County Supervisor District 1 (4 Republicans).

For other Pima County races (Justices of the Peace, Constables), go to Blog for AZ (click here).

For more information about the candidates go to:
Pima County Democratic Party
Pima County Republican Party

Registered voters in City of Tucson (as of April, 2011)

Democrats 99,877

Republicans 56,232

Independents/others 69,735

Libertarians 2135

Greens 857

Total registered voters right now in City of Tucson are 228,836 (all six wards)
which gives the Democrats almost a 2:1 edge over the Republicans, but there are almost 70,000 Independent voters who could vote either way in the primary.

But according to Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez and UA Asst. Prof. of Communications Kate Kenski, Independents have a low voter turnout, probably because they don’t choose to vote at all or belong to an organized party.

Back in the last City of Tucson election of 2009, with Wards 3, 5 and 6 up for election, 33.5% of the total registered voters (221,316) voted. So 74,168 votes were cast city wide.

Karin Uhlilch (D) received 33,782 votes, Richard Fimbres (D) 37,749 votes and Steve Kozachik (R) 36,451 votes to prevail over their opponents. Uhlich won by only 175 votes over Republican Ben Bueller-Garcia, although the Green Party candidate Mary DeCamp received 4429 votes, which may have taken votes from the Democrat. In 2005 Uhlich had defeated Republican one term Ward 3 incumbent Kathleen Dunbar, in an upset.

Fimbres won by 4573 votes over Shaun McClusky (now running for Mayor) and Kozachik won in an upset by 1756 votes (defeating one term Democratic incumbent Nina Trasoff). Trasoff herself had upset 2 term Ward 6 incumbent Republican Fred Ronstadt in 2005.

How did Steve Kozachik, a Republican win in a predominantly Democratic city?

And with the Democratic voter edge in this city, how did Republican Robert Walkup win 3 terms? He defeated 1) two term Councilwoman Democrat Molly McKasson, then 2) former Democratic Mayor/Councilman Tom Volgy, and lastly 3) Green Party candidate Dave Croteau (no Democrat even ran for Mayor in 2007). See my previous blog “Will Mayor Walkup run again? (click here).

The Mayor’s seat is up for election this year, with Republican Bob Walkup not running for his 4th term. 6 men are currently seeking that position (3 Democrats, 2 Republicans, 1 Green), with nomination petitions/signatures due on June 1st. None of the candidates have served on the City Council, the usual testing ground for qualification to be a Mayor.

Council Wards 1, 2 and 4 are also up for election this year.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Regina Romero (D) has a Democratic opponent (Joe Flores), and almost had a Republican challenger (political newcomer Janet Gallup who filed last week but told me via email that she is withdrawing this week “for several personal reasons that were unforeseen”).
Regina has served for one term and is the incumbent. (In 2007 she defeated Democrat Ken Green in the Primary, then Green Party candidate Beryl Baker in the General.)

Appointed (May, 2010) Ward 2 Councilman Paul Cunningham (D) has a Republican opponent (political newcomer Jennifer Rawson). 4 term Ward 4 Councilwoman Shirley Scott (D) is being challenged by political newcomer Republican Tyler Vogt. Can either Rawson or Vogt upset the incumbent Councilmembers– like Kozachik did in 2009?

It seems that both Republicans and Democrats have served in Wards 3 and 6, with predominantly only Democratic Councilmembers in Ward 1, 2, 4, and 5 (except for one Democrat who turned into an Independent in Ward 2). And Tucson has had long term serving Republican Mayors (Lew Murphy and Bob Walkup).

So maybe it’s personality over partisan party affiliation that determines the winners in the City elections. What do you readers think?

The AZ Court of Appeals ruled recently for the City of Tucson in a challenge to a recent state law that would have mandated Ward only, nonpartisan elections instead of the current partisan, city-wide elections (though the Councilmembers have to live in the Ward they run from). This decision may be appealed to the AZ Supreme Court.

5/13/11 UPDATE: 6 men still running for Mayor (2 Democrats, as 1 dropped out last week, 2 Republicans, 1 Green (one dropped out, replaced by another Green), and an Independent).
Here’s the current list: Jonathan Rothschild (D), Marshall Home (D), Shaun McClusky (R), Ron Asta (R), Dave Croteau (G), Pat Darcy (I). But the list keeps changing…

In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain after a decade of war. The revolution had destroyed the colonial silver mining industry and had bankrupted the national treasury. Along the northern frontier, funds that had supported missions, presidios and trading routes were reduced. As missions began to wither without military protection, Mexico began auctioning off more land (land grants). The revolution also impacted the relationship between the Europeans, Pueblos and non-pueblo natives such as the Apache and Navajo.

The Mexican period came to a close with the influx of Americans. In 1846, the annexation of Texas led to the Mexican-American War, ultimately resulting in the Mexican Cession, in which the United States acquired the region of Arizona north of the Gila River in 1848. The California gold rush brought more Americans through Arizona. The Mexican period closed with the Gadsden Purchase in 1854 and the last of the Mexican army leaving Tucson in 1856.

Arizona officially became the U.S. Territory of Arizona from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state.
That was almost 100 years ago.

Arizona state flag

Currently about 30.8% (2009 estimate) of the State of Arizona has individuals claiming to be of Hispanic origin, but we are awaiting the official 2010 Census results. Many local Mexican-American families here in Tucson are 5th generation Americans, like District 5 Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias‘ familia.

Blogger Hugh Holub has a recent report on Arizona’s 6.4 million population. “Hispanics are the fastest-growing demographic group in the state, as well as in the country.”

Other Hispanic politicians in Southern Arizona: Congressman Raul Grijalva (CD 7), Pima County Supervisor Chair Ramon Valadez (District 2), Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez, Tucson Councilmembers Regina Romero (Ward 1) and Richard Fimbres (Ward 5), LD 27 Senator-elect Olivia Cajero Bedford, LD 27 House Rep.-elect Dr. Macario Saldate, TUSD Governing Board members Adelita Grijalva (Raul’s daughter), & Miguel Cuevas.

So therefore, based on Arizona’s history as having been once Spanish-speaking Mexico and the current increasing ethnic population figures, my Christmas message this year is “Feliz Navidad”. I always sing along when I hear Jose Feliciano‘s popular song with that title (written by him in 1970) on the radio.

Happy holidays everyone.

Feliz Navidad, prospero año y felicidad.