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

Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 6-9 pm
Place: Ironwood Ridge High School, 2475 W. Naranja Drive, Oro Valley
Time: Doors open at 6:00 p.m., seating at 6:30 p.m.

Candidates Participating:
Andy Goss, www.gossforcongress.com
Jesse Kelly, www.votejessekelly.com
Brian Miller, www.brianmillerforcongress.com
State Senator Jonathan Paton, wwwpatonforcongress.com

Moderator: David Hoefferle, 3rd Vice Chairman Pima County Republican Party
Panelists:
Roxanne Ziegler – Marana Town Councilmember
Bruce Ash – National Republican Committeeman
Joe Higgins – Host, Wake Up Tucson, 1030 AM

View event flyer (with photos of the 4 candidates) from the website here. They are requesting that attendees please bring a can of food for the Tucson area food banks. Ironwood Rridge High School on Naranja Drive is west of La Cholla Blvd.

This would be a great chance to meet all 4 Republican CD 8 U.S. House candidates facing off in the Arizona primary on August 24. The winner will be challenging incumbent Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in the General Election.

Republicans Andy Goss, Jesse Kelly, Brian Miller are expected at the debate, sponsored by the Senior Government classes at Vail High School. This debate is to be moderated by 104.1 FM radio talk show host Jon Justice and University of Arizona political science associate professor Todd Lutes. LD 30 Republican State Senator Jonathan Paton just announced on Jan. 17 that he too is seeking this CD 8 seat. He will also be at this debate.

Andy Goss has mostly recently been a team leader on a Human Intelligence Support Team augmenting the US Army, Jesse Kelly is a Marine Corps combat veteran and works in his family construction business, and Brian Miller is a USAF reserve pilot and combat veteran. Paton was a military intelligence officer for the US Army Reserve. Thus, all four candidates have military backgrounds, unlike the Congresswoman they are challenging.

The debate will be at the Vail Theatre of the Arts, 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, at 6 p.m.

For more information on Republican primary events, log onto Pima County Republican Party website — http://www.pimagop.org/.

Remember that the Arizona Primary election has been moved up to Tuesday, August 24. The winner of this Republican race will face Giffords in November 2nd’s General election.

Giffords’ previous Republican challengers were former LD 30 State Rep. Randy Graf, and LD 30 State Senate President Tim Bee.

If you miss this event on Jan. 26, there’s another debate (with all 4 candidates as well) on Feb. 11, 6 p.m. at Ironwood Ridge High School in Oro Valley. Event flyer here.

See you on the campaign trail.