Mayor of Tucson:
Democrat Jonathan Rothschild 26,918
Democrat write-in David Karr 41
Democrat write-in Joseph Maher Jr. 64
Green Dave Croteau 127
Green Mary DeCamp 369
Republican write-in Rick Grinnell 7770
Republican write-in Daryl Peterson 12

Rothschild, DeCamp, and Grinnell will advance to the General Election.

Ward 1 Council
Democrat Joe Flores 1420
Democrat Regina Romero (incumbent) 4695
Green write-in Beryl Baker 10

Romero and Baker will face off in the General (a repeat of 2007).

Ward 2 Council
Democrat Paul Cunningham (incumbent) 5547
Republican Jennifer Rawson 5079

Cunningham and Rawson will face off in the General.

Ward 4 Council
Democrat Shirley Scott (incumbent) 4133
Republican Tyler Vogt 3874

Scott and Vogt will face off in the General.

These figures do not change any of the outcomes from Tuesday’s night Primary Election.
See City of Tucson Elections website: http://www.tucsonaz.gov/elections/

For my Primary Election night blog with the early returns, click here.

The General election will also be vote-by-mail on/before November 8, 2011.

Romero defeated fellow Democrat Joe Flores in the recent primary, 3990 votes (75.8%) to 1234 votes (23.4%).

Councilmember Regina Romero and challenger Beryl Baker

These two women faced off four years ago as well, as no Republican ran for Ward 1 in 2007 either. Romero then got 72.86% (42,556 votes) to Baker’s 26.62% (15,551 votes).

Campaign websites:
Baker: www.berylbaker.comli.com
Romero: www.votereginaromero.com

Click here for the interview or go online at Arizona Public Media www.azpm.org.

MAYOR OF TUCSON:
Democrat: Jonathan Rothschild 24,134
Democrat write-in: David Karr 24
Democrat write-in: Joseph Maher Jr. 45
Green: Dave Croteau 109
Green: Mary DeCamp 312
Republican write-in: Rick Grinnell 5773
Republican write-in: Daryl Peterson 48

Looks like Rothschild (D), DeCamp(G), and Grinnell (R) will advance to the General Election. Grinnell only needed 1060 votes as a write-in to qualify for the General.

Mary DeCamp (G)

Rick Grinnell (R)

Jonathan Rothschild (D)

WARD 1:
Democrat Joe Flores 1234
Democrat Regina Romero (incumbent) 3990
Green write-in Beryl Baker 10 (she only needs 3 to advance to the General)

Looks like Romero (D) and Baker (G) will face off again in the General (they did so in 2007 in the same ward). Romero then got 72.86% (42,556 votes) to Baker’s 26.62% (15,551 votes).

WARD 2:
Democrat Paul Cunningham (incumbent) 5079
Republican Jennifer Rawson 4403

Both will advance to the General.

WARD 4:
Democrat Shirley Scott (incumbent) 3751
Republican Tyler Vogt 3392

Both will advance to the General.

This was the City of Tucson’s first time vote-by-mail election and 14.66% of the registered voters cast ballots. The Arizona Daily Star reports that there may be still 4700 ballots to be counted, so stay tuned for any updates.

Final tally as of 9/2/11: click here for updated blog.

Randolph Golf Complex
600 S. Alvernon Way

Quincie Douglas Library
1585 E. 36th Street

Clements Center
8155 E. Poinciana Drive

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
1145 E. Ft. Lowell Road

Udall Park Recreation Center
7200 E. Tanque Verde Road

Valencia Branch Library
202 W. Valencia Road

Tucson City Clerk Elections Center (also open today 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
800 E. 12th Street

(Note: All vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the City Clerk’s Office either by mail or dropped off at any of these centers by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order for your ballot to be counted. –And I have heard that postmarks won’t count.)

And finally, a recap of who’s running for Mayor of Tucson, and City Council in Wards 1, 2 and 4:

Mayor:
Democrats: Jonathan Rothschild, two write-ins David Karr and Joseph Maher, Jr.
Greens: Dave Croteau and Mary DeCamp
Republicans: two write-ins Rick Grinnell and Daryl Peterson

Ward 1:
Democrats: Joe Flores and Regina Romero
Green: write-in Beryl Baker
Republican: none

Ward 2:
Democrat: Paul Cunningham
Republican: Jennifer Rawson

Ward 4:
Democrat: Shirley Scott
Republican: Tyler Vogt

Vote wisely!

And for those interested in knowing how many ballots were mailed (as of 8/22/11 per Tucson City Elections) in this first time vote-by-mail election:

Democrats: 99,662
Republicans: 57,357
Libertarians: 1,999
Greens: 1549

Total: 160,567
These figures include the Independents who had to request a specific party ballot.

When: Tue, 2 August, 18:00 – 20:00 p.m. (6 to 8 p.m.)
Where:Historic Dunbar Auditorium – 325 W. Second Street, Tucson AZ (SE corner of Main St.)

Description:The Arizona Democratic African-American Caucus will host a town hall next month to get candidates in the upcoming city election to discuss issues facing the African-American community, and all of Tucson. Members of the Interdenominational Ministers’ Alliance, community activists and representatives from service organizations decided to hold this town hall after a number of meetings to discuss issues relevant to our community. The discussion will be structured with a moderator asking specific questions, selected ahead of time.

For more information you may contact Kristian Salter at PCDAAC@gmail.com.

Candidates invited to speak (as far as I know):

Jonathan Rothschild (D) for Mayor of Tucson – confirmed
Dave Croteau (G) for Mayor – not confirmed
Mary DeCamp (G) for Mayor – not attending
Rick Grinnell (R – write-in) for Mayor – confirmed, after 7 p.m.

Joe Flores (D) for Ward 1 Council seat – confirmed
Regina Romero (D) for Ward 1 Council seat (incumbent) – confirmed
Beryl Baker (G – write-in) for Ward 1 Council seat – confirmed

Paul Cunningham (D) for Ward 2 Council seat (incumbent) – confirmed
Jennifer Rawson (R) for Ward 2 Council seat – not confirmed

Shirley Scott (D) for Ward 4 Council seat (incumbent) – confirmed
Tyler Vogt (R) for Ward 4 Council seat – confirmed

Here’s a handy guide to their campaign websites all on one blog. Click on the blue hyperlinks to go to the specific candidate’s website:

–Mayor of Tucson (Democrat & Green Party primaries, no Republican running to date*)

Democrat: Jonathan Rothschild, www.jonathanformayor.com

Democrat (write-in): David M. Karr, http://karrfortucsonmayor.webs.com/

Democrat (write-in): Joseph Maher, Jr., http://josephmaherformayor.com/

Democrat (write-in): Rich Kessler (withdrew 8/5/11)

Green: Dave Croteau, http://futurefocustucson.blogspot.com/

Green: Mary DeCamp, www.decampformayor.org

* Update 7/12/11 – Republican (write-in): Rick Grinnell, www.grinnell4mayor.com

* Update 7/22/11 – Republican (write-in): Daryl Peterson

–Council Ward 1 (primary)

Democrat: Joe Flores, www.joefloresforcouncil.com

Democrat: Regina Romero (incumbent), www.votereginaromero.com

Update 7/22/11: Green (write-in): Beryl Baker

–Council Ward 2 (general)

Democrat: Paul Cunningham (incumbent), www.votepaulcunningham.com

Republican: Jennifer Rawson, www.rawsonforcouncil.com

–Council Ward 4 (general)

Democrat: Shirley Scott (incumbent), www.shirley2011.com

Republican: Tyler Vogt, www.vogt4tucson.com

Council seats in Wards 3, 5, and 6 are up in 2013.

Stay tuned for any more write-in candidates in all races, as the deadline to file is July 21, 2011, 5 p.m. And Independents need to contact the Tucson City Clerk at 520-791-4213 by July 16 if they want to vote in any specific primary election.

At last night’s Green Party of Pima County’s Mayoral Candidate Mixer, Green Dave Croteau, Green Mary DeCamp and Democratic write-in candidate David Karr participated, facilitated by former Mayoral candidate Jon McLane. All 3 candidates answered hosted questions by Green Party members:

“Why did you decide to run for Mayor, what issues are most pressing, how would you address the economic crisis (re: jobs, education, poverty), the 4 pillars of the Green Party: ecological wisdom, social justice, nonviolence & grassroots democracy”. Audience questions covered their positions on the proposed Rosemont mine, TUSD ethnic studies, the military institutions of Raytheon & DMAFB.

Results of the instant run-off vote were: Dave Croteau (47 points), Mary DeCamp (42 points), David Karr (29 points).

Co-Chair Beryl Baker, former Ward 1 Council candidate was present, along with 12 others for this monthly meeting of the Green Party of Pima County at the Trinity Presbyterian Church at 400 E. University Blvd.

Who’s officially filed & running for Mayor of the City of Tucson & for Council Wards 1, 2, and 4?

Deadline to file nomination petitions (with valid signatures) was June 1st, 5 p.m.

Here’s the updated 2011 candidate list from the Tucson City Clerk’s website, with # of signatures submitted in parentheses.

City Clerk’s website: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/gov/elections

Mayor:
Democrats: Marshall Home (2950) and Jonathan Rothschild (3283)
Republicans: Ron Asta (1205) and Shaun McClusky (1183)
Greens: Dave Croteau (28) and Mary DeCamp (23)
NOP (Nomination Other than Primary/Independent): Pat Darcy (3104)

Asta, Croteau, & Darcy have run for Mayor of Tucson before — in the 1983 general, 2007 general, and 1999 primary respectively. Unless there is a petition challenge by June 15, the two Democrats, two Republicans, and two Greens will all face off in their respective August 30 primaries, to face Independent Pat Darcy in the General Election on November 8.

Ward 1:
Democrats: Joe Flores (551), and Regina Romero, Councilmember (539)
Independent Michael Navarro had expressed an interest in this seat but there is no candidate listing for him on the Clerk’s website of June 1, 2011.
UPDATE: Navarro filed to run for this seat as an Independent “Write-In Candidate” on June 8, for the General Election. Further update: Navarro has withdrawn per City Clerk website as of June 16, 2011.

Ward 2:
Democrat: Paul Cunningham, Councilmember (634)
Republican: Jennifer Rawson (543)

Ward 4:
Democrat: Shirley Scott, Councilmember (521)
Republican: Tyler Vogt (428)

The Democrats in Ward 1 will face off in the August 30 primary. Everyone else in these Council races will run in the General Election of November 8, 2011.

If you’re wondering how many signatures were required for each of the 4 races, log onto the City of Tucson Clerk’s Candidate Information Pamphlet here (see page 10):
http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/sites/default/files/clerks/2011%20Candidate%20Information%20Pamphlet%203-10-11.pdf

The candidates who would be Mayor (in alphabetical order) and earlier May blog summarizing who was running (click here)– with the exception of Mary DeCamp who entered the race this week.

UPDATES: 6/16/11 Democrat Marshall Home withdrew from the race (click here), and 6/17/11 Republican Ron Asta found to be ineligible due to lack of minimum # of signatures on his petitions (click here), both in Superior Court actions.

6/20/11 UPDATE: Independent Pat Darcy also lacked minimum # of signatures so he’s out as well (click here), and Republican Shaun McClusky, facing a similar challenge in court withdrew today (click here), but the hearing is till on for 6/21/11.

Ron Asta (R)

Dave Croteau (G)

Pat Darcy (NOP, Independent)

Mary DeCamp (G)

Marshall Home (D)

Shaun McClusky (R)

Jonathan Rothschild (D)

Michael Navarro

Growing up on the streets of Barrio Hollywood on Tucson, Arizona’s west side, was not easy for Michael, but he decided he wanted something better than to get swallowed into a life of crime and trouble.

When Michael graduated from the University of Phoenix, he decided to attend Trinity Law School in Santa Ana, California. After graduating from law school, he moved back to his native Tucson, and began work with several different law firms as well as the Attorney General’s office.

He then began working for the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court and also acts as pastor at Westside Baptist Church.

He has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Navarro/163916763669189
and can be reached by mnavarro@q.com. Hope to update tomorrow on Navarro’s voting record once I confirm it with the Pima County Recorder’s Office.

Councilmember Romero is running for re-election for her 2nd term, and is facing a Democratic challenger businessman Joe Flores in the August 30, 2011 primary. The winner of that primary will face off with Navarro, should he get enough signatures to qualify for the General Election on November 8. No Republican is running for this Council seat as yet.

The Mayor of Tucson and Council seats in Wards 1, 2 and 4 are up for election this year.

5/18/11 UPDATE: Navarro has been registered as a Democrat since July 19, 2007, changed to Independent on April 25, 2011, per Chris Roads (Deputy Recorder & Registrar of Voters) at Pima County Recorder’s Office.

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…

Pima Dems Endorse Incumbent Council Members for Reelection

Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Pima County Democratic Party, the Executive Committee voted last night 36-0-1 to endorse Council Members Regina Romero, Paul Cunningham and Shirley Scott for reelection to the Tucson City Council. The bylaws state that the motion to endorse must carry by at least 75% of the voting members present.

The committee did not take this decision lightly but recognizes that this fall’s election will be a challenging one and that these three dedicated public servants deserve nothing less than our full support.

Councilmember Regino Romero in Ward 1 faces Democrat Joe Flores in the August 30 primary. Click here for an earlier blog about that race. Councilmembers Paul Cunningham (Ward 2) and Shirley Scott (Ward 4) are running unopposed in the primary (so far), with Scott facing a Republican Tyler Vogt in the General. Political newcomer Tyler Vogt is the older brother of LD 30 Rep. Ted Vogt.

Romero has been on the Council for one term, since December, 2007; Cunningham was appointed last May, 2010; Scott is running for her 5th four-year term.

Questions about the Pima County Democratic Party can be directed to Chair Jeff Rogers or Executive Director Adam Kinsey at director@pimadems.org, or 520-326-3716. Website is www.pimademocrats.org.