District 4 Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll

Supervisor Ray Carroll

Monday June 25, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Kirk-Bear Canyon library, 8959 E. Tanque Verde Rd. (NE corner of Bear Canyon Rd. and Tanque Verde Rd.)

We invite you to take this opportunity to meet and converse with Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll. Supervisor Carroll has represented District 4 on the Pima County Board of Supervisors since February 1997.

Mr. Carroll was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended Catholic and public schools in that city. In 1980, he became a Westerner when he moved to Denver, Colorado and entered Regis University. He was graduated with honors in 1984, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. He then moved to Tucson. Prior to his service on the Board of Supervisors, Mr. Carroll was Foundation Manager for Casa de los Niños. He also served as Chairman on the City of Tucson’s Housing Board.

From Supervisor Carroll’s website:

Now in his 15th year on the county legislative body, he has established a firm reputation among his constituents for advocating open, transparent county decision-making based upon the very lowest taxes consistent with responsible government.

Mr. Carroll has been the recipient of many prestigious awards over the years. Some of the more recent accolades include: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Public Service, presented in 2007 at a ceremony in San Francisco; the Hero of the Taxpayer Award, presented in 2007 by the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers; the Sky Island Alliance Award for Public Service, presented in 2008 for his leadership in opposing the proposed Rosemont Mine; and, the Governor Howard Pyle Award, presented in 2009 in Phoenix by the Republican Party of Arizona for his political leadership in southern Arizona.

Carroll was first appointed to his seat in May, 1997 and was elected to it in Nov. 1998. He has been unopposed since then in the primary & general elections, except for this year when he faces a political newcomer, businessman Sean Collins in the Republican primary on August 28.

As for the other Supervisors, District 1 Supervisor Ann Day is retiring, and 4 Republicans (Mike Hellon, Ally Miller, Stuart McDaniel, and LD 26 House Rep. Vic Williams) will face off in the August primary, to challenge 1 Democrat (former LD 26 House Rep. Nancy Young Wright) for that seat.

In the other Supervisor races– Districts 2, 3 and 5–Republican political newcomers are also challenging each of the Democratic incumbents, all in the November 6 General Election:

District 2: James Kelley vs. Supervisor Ramon Valadez, current Chairman of the Board
District 3: Tanner Bell vs. Supervisor Sharon Bronson
District 5: Fernando Gonzales vs. Supervisor Richard Elias

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

James H. Kelley

Kelley is a Transportation specialist for Renzenberger Inc. and “provides reliable safe transportation solutions to Union Pacific Railroad Personnel,” and is a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst. He was Chair of the LD 29 Republican Party for four years until November 2011 and has his B.S. degree in Sociology from the University of the State of New York in Albany. He has also worked as a substitute teacher and real estate broker.

Kelley just applied unsuccessfully to be appointed by this Pima County Board of Supervisors to be the Independent replacement for LD 29 House Rep. Daniel Patterson, who resigned on April 11, 2012. A five member citizens committee considered Kelley’s application along with nine others, but Kelley did not make the final list of 3 nominees, from which the Board of Supervisors chose attorney Nick Fontana on April 23.

Kelley had temporarily changed his voter registration to Independent on April 11, applied for the vacant LD 29 seat, and changed back to Republican on April 30,2012.

Kelley will be formally announcing his candidacy on Monday on KVOI 1030 AM radio.

Democratic Chair Ramon Valadez was appointed to the Board of Supervisors in September 2003, was a former LD 29 State Senator and LD 10 House Representative (since 1996). Valadez was also born & raised in Tucson.

We invite you to take this opportunity to meet and converse with Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías. Supervisor Elías has represented District Five on the Pima County Board of Supervisors since February 2002. He is a fifth-generation Tucsonan and an alumnus of Salpointe High School and the University of Arizona.

This forum will take place during the Garden District Neighborhood Association’s monthly meeting.

Democrat Richard is up for re-election this fall for another 4 year term in District 5. Republican Fernando Gonzales, a political newcomer, took out papers on May 4 to run against Richard in the November election. *

Meet Richard Elías

When: Tuesday, May 15, 6-8 pm
Where: Martha Cooper Branch Library, 1377 N. Catalina Avenue (north of Speedway, east of Columbus).

So here’s your chance to speak with Richard about Pima County issues.

As for the other 4 Supervisors up for re-election this year…

District 1 Republican Supervisor Ann Day is retiring and 4 Republicans (Mike Hellon, Ally Miller, Stuart McDaniel, LD 26 House Rep. Vic Williams) are facing off in their August 28 primary to face former LD 26 House Rep. Democrat Nancy Young Wright for that seat.

District 2 Democratic Supervisor Ramon Valadez is being challenged by Republican James Kelley, former blogger “The Cholla Jumps” here at Tucsoncitizen.com, a political newcomer.

District 3 Supervisor Democrat Sharon Bronson is facing a Republican opponent Tanner Bell (political newcomer), and District 4 Supervisor Republican Ray Carroll is also facing a political newcomer Sean Collins, but in the Republican primary.

*5/15/12 Update: Fernando Gonzales announced his candidacy for this District 5 seat today:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2012/05/15/republican-businessman-fernando-gonzales-announces-candidacy-for-district-5-pima-county-supervisor/

Patterson had been elected as a Democrat to LD 29 twice in 2008 and 2010 and earlier this year changed his voter registration to Independent on April 2, 2012. Upon his resignation that AZ Secretary of State informed the Chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors Ramon Valadez that a replacement should be an Independent (No Party Preference) in LD 29, since Patterson was an Independent when he formally resigned.

Today the Pima County Board of Supervisors appointed a 5 member citizen’s committee to review applications and submit 3 names to them within a week. The deadline for applicants is 3 p.m. Wednesday April 18, to Pima County Clerk Robin Brigode.

The Supervisors, after some discussion this morning about publicity and transparency, appointed to the citizen’s committee:

–former LD 29 State Senator Victor Soltero (D)
–former LD 29 State House Rep. Tom Prezelski (D, who ironically lost to Patterson in Sept.2008 in the Democratic primary)
–former LD 9 State House Rep. Lou-Ann Preble (R)
–Kristin Almquist (I), former Director of Tucson office for Governor Janet Napolitano
–Julee Dawson (I), Development director at the Tucson Hebrew Academy

The Board’s motion to appoint these individuals was passed unanimously and gave the committee a deadline of 3 p.m. Friday to select 3 names for the appointment, in order to allow community input over the weekend. Then the Supervisors will select the appointee at a special board meeting at 10 a.m. on April 23.

Present at today’s meeting was Independent* James Kelley, a transportation specialist for Union Pacific Railroad personnel, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, formerly “The Cholla Jumps” blogger here at Tucsoncitizen.com before he created his own blogsite (no longer in operation). Kelley is the only applicant so far for this LD 29 House seat.

At today’s meeting District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll inquired if Pima County Elections or the Recorder’s Office could attempt to send a “robo-call” to all Independents living in LD 29 to inform them of this vacancy and how to apply. The discussion seemed to indicate that this type of publicity would be cost-prohibitive, especially with the contested CD 8 House primary election tomorrow.

* Update: Kelley told me at the meeting today that he is an Independent, but according to Pima County Recorder’s Office, he is still registered as a Republican (and has been since June, 2003). I’ve called Kelley for clarification on this, as he has served as Chair of the LD 29 Republican Party in the past. I just spoke with Kelley and he did register as an Independent on April 11, 2012 (the same day Patterson resigned), and has written confirmation of this from the AZ Secretary of State.

Rick Grinnell

Blogger James Kelley (“The Cholla Jumps”, formerly with Tucsoncitizen.com) reports that Republican Rick Grinnell is seriously considering a run for Mayor of Tucson, as a write-in candidate. Filing deadline for write-in candidates for the primary race is July 21 with the Tucson City Clerk. Grinnell has been in the news recently serving on the Rio Nuevo Multi Purpose Facilities District board.

Read Kelley’s blog here: http://thechollajumps.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/rick-grinnell-to-run-for-tucson-mayor-as-a-write-in/

I reported on Grinnell last April, 2010 when he applied to be appointed to the Ward 2 Council seat (which subsequently went to Democrat Paul Cunningham, who’s now running for election). Click here for that blog. And here’s my brief description of Grinnell:

Richard K. (Rick) Grinnell, Founder/Registered lobbyist for Smart United Business Strategies, Inc. and President/Registered lobbyist for Rick Grinnell Business & Marketing Consulting, B.S. in Business Management from U. of Phoenix, U.S. Navy veteran, candidate for Ward 2 Council seat in 1995 and 1999, Republican

Grinnell ran against Councilmember Janet Marcus and Libertarian Tim Loomis in 1995, and against former Marcus aide Carol West in 1999. He got 34.06% of the vote compared to incumbent Marcus (47.76%) and Loomis (9.34%). Four years later Grinnell fared better (44.25%) against West, who prevailed with 50.01% of the vote.

He needs 1060 minimum write-in votes in the Republican primary to get on the General election ballot. (Last year Republican Greg Krino got 1519 write-in votes to qualify for the LD 28 State Senate race against incumbent Senator Paula Aboud. Krino only needed 214 write-in votes, after he decided not to run for LD 28 House.)

For more information on SUBS (Smart United Business Strategies, A Business Advocate for Informed Political Involvement) click here. Grinnell can be reached there at 520-624-0231 or Rick@SubsTucson.com.

Both Republicans Ron Asta and Shaun McClusky were found ineligible to run for Mayor recently in Superior Court challenges, due to not having enough valid signatures on their nomination petitions.

David M. Karr

Another write-in candidate political newcomer David M. Karr is listed on the Tucson City Clerk’s website as a Democrat (as of June 22, 2011). He was born here in Tucson, graduated from Sahuaro High School, is a retired Correctional Sergeant and wants to be a stand up comic. His campaign website is http://karrfortucsonmayor.webs.com, and he can be reached via email at karrfortucsonmayor@gmail.com.

Karr faces political newcomer attorney Jonathan Rothschild in the Democratic primary on August 30. The winner of the Green Party primary (either Dave Croteau or Mary DeCamp) will advance to the General Election for Mayor. Croteau has run for Mayor before in 1999 (write-in) and in 2007 as the sole challenger against Mayor Bob Walkup.

So stay tuned to see if Grinnell does decide to run, or if anyone else besides Karr throws his/her hat into this Mayoral race as write-in candidates. The deadline for filing petition nominations was June 1st, so only write-in candidates are now allowed.

7/1/11 UPDATE: Another Democratic write-in candidate has filed: political newcomer architect Joseph Maher, Jr. (click here).

On the “liberal” side:

–Blog for Arizona, www.blogforarizona.com, by Michael Bryan, David Safier, “AZBlueMeanie”, Craig McDermott (“Random Musings“), and Jenn F

–The Observer, www.tucsonobserver.com by Bob Ellis and Mark Kerr (latter was formerly here at Tucsoncitizen.com). The Observer has a print edition as well.

–The Range (Tucson Weekly), www.tucsonweekly.com/blogs/theRange/ by a host of reporters including Jim Nintzel, Dan Gibson, Mari Herreras, and others.

–Rum Romanism Rebellion, www.rumromanismrebellion.net by Ted Prezelski aka “Tedski” (former Democratic candidate for LD 28 House and brother of former LD 29 House Rep. Tom Prezelski)

In the middle:

–Pueblo Politics (AZ Daily Star, www.azstarnet.com/blogs/pueblo-politics/, by Rhonda Bodfield & Andrea Kelly, Star reporters

On the “conservative” side:

–Arizona News-Telegraph, www.arizonanewstelegraph.com by former Republican LD 30 Rep. Randy Graf, with James Kelley, Hugh Holub, Jonathan DuHamel (the latter two are here at Tucsoncitizen.com as well, respectively as “View from Baja Arizona” and “Wry Heat“)

–The Cholla Jumps, www.thechollajumps.workdpress.com, by James Kelley (formerly here at Tucsoncitizen.com)

–Sonoran Alliance, www.sonoranalliance.com by ? (“We are an alliance of political writers and activists dedicated to reporting and promoting conservative news, ideas, opinion and principles throughout Arizona and the Sonoran Southwest.”)

–Tucson Choices, www.tucsonchoices.com by KVOI radio talk show hosts Joe Higgins (former Republican District 1 candidate for Pima County Supervisor) and Chris DeSimone, and others

Plus the wide range of political blogsites here at Tucsoncitizen.com, from the liberal “3 Sonorans” and “Tucson Progressive“, to the conservative “Compound Captive” and “Fort Buckley“. And I think “The Data Port” might be an Independent in the middle. See the list to the right on our home page of all the blogs under Politics & Government (Pol. & Govt.).

Many of these blogsites have lists & hyperlinks to other political blogrolls as well, in Arizona and elsewhere.

Let me know which are your favorites, or of any I may have overlooked in Southern Arizona.

Keep on blogging.

10/24/11 Updates: Hugh Holub (Views from Baja Arizona) passed away suddenly on 9/17/11. R.I.P. Hugh. Blogger 3 Sonorans reported today that The Cholla Jumps will no longer be blogging after 11/1/11, and liberal Poco Bravo (Luke Knipe) has returned online:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2011/10/23/one-blog-dies-another-one-experiences-rebirth/. And former Star reporter Andrea Kelly is now at KUAT Channel 6 TV.

Read Brodesky’s column here:
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_523a376d-9c06-5c39-9963-ec7b49187757.html

He even mentions our Tucsoncitizen.com blogger “Three Sonorans” (David Morales) and former Tucsoncitizen.com blogger James Kelley. See David’s blog about this recent column, click here.

Brodesky further reveals the identify of “AZ Blue Meanie” over at Blog for Arizona, saying he is Tucson attorney Roger White. I suspected so for months but wasn’t sure. I knew AZ Blue Meanie was probably an attorney and a Democratic leader, from how he writes.

This is how Blog for Arizona describes AZ Blue Meanie:
“The Blue Meanie is an Arizona citizen who wishes, for professional reasons, to remain anonymous when blogging about politics. Armed with a deep knowledge of the law, politics and public policy, as well as pen filled with all the colors stolen from Pepperland, the Blue Meanie’s mission is to pursue and prosecute the hypocrites, liars, and fools of politics and the media – which, in practical terms, is nearly all of them. Don’t even try to unmask him or he’ll seal you in a music-proof bubble and rendition you to Pepperland for a good face-stomping.”

We’re not journalists as most of us have no journalism degrees, we’re bloggers and/or “citizen journalists”. See my earlier blog on our handbook, click here.