http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2010/11/special-report-some-clean-elections-money-went-toward-laptops-hiring-relatives-nra-dues/

What is the Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC):

The Citizens Clean Elections Act was passed by the people of Arizona in 1998 to level the playing field when it comes to running for office. The Act allows candidates, running for the Legislature or statewide offices the opportunity to forgo special interest money by collecting a certain number of $5 donations. In return, the candidate will receive full funding for their campaigns.

Excerpts from this Cronkite News report about Southern Arizona politicians and/or candidates in the recent 2010 elections:

“Cronkite News confirmed computer purchases through campaign finance reports or interviews with candidates. Some candidates who listed amounts paid to stores that offer computers as “miscellaneous” expenses didn’t return calls seeking comment:

– Gene Chewning, Independent, State Rep. District 27, Tucson

– Robert Compton, Republican, State Rep. District 27, Tucson”

Chewning was a candidate in LD 27 House, lost in the General, ran before for this House seat in 2006 as a Republican. Compton also ran for House in LD 27, lost in the General, and this was his first bid for public office.

Democratic Sen. Manuel V. Alvarez, who lost his re-election bid, said living in the small Cochise County town of Elfrida made hiring his family the easiest option. He paid three relatives a total of $2,759.99 to install signs, work on advertisements and consult.“In a town of 300, where are you going to find people to work for you and your campaign?” he asked.

State Senator “Manny” Alvarez (D) represents District 25, but lost in the General to Gail Griffin (R), who was not a Clean Elections candidate.

Eric Carbajal-Bustamante, a Tucson Democrat who lost in the primary, reported spending $385.59 on office supplies at IKEA, a furniture and furnishings store; and Ken Smalley, a Tucson Republican who lost in the general election, reported spending $229.87 on a “post-debate discussion” with staff members at T.G.I. Friday’s.“This is small stuff, talking about me taking the campaign staff out,” Smalley said. “Did you know you can spend up to $800 on equipment?”
Smalley’s campaign finance reports also noted that he spent $403.66 on a printer at OfficeMax.Carbajal-Bustamante didn’t respond to repeated phone messages.

Bustamante (D) lost a bid for LD 27 House in the primary, and Smalley (R) lost his bid for LD 28 House in the General. Bustamante ran before for LD 29 House in 2008, and Smalley has run before for Tucson City Council and Pima County Treasurer.

“Todd Lang, executive director of the Arizona CItizens Clean Elections Commission, says his staff doesn’t micromanage campaigns. However, he said the commission is aware of the tension between not wanting to interfere and keeping in mind that candidates are spending public money.”

I guess it would also be up to the Arizona voters to let the CCEC know what you think is appropriate campaign spending for these candidates, such as hiring their relatives. Apparently the candidates get to keep these laptops & other equipment they purchased.

How to contact the Citizens Clean Elections Commission in Phoenix:
602-364-3477 Main
602-364-3487 Fax
877-631-8891 Toll Free (928 & 520 Area Codes)

Email
ccec@azcleanelections.gov

State Senator Manny Alvarez

Eric Carbajal Bustamante

Gene Chewning

Robert Compton

Ken Smalley

From the University of Arizona’s Mel & Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health website:

The health and wellness of Arizonans is a hot topic of debate this election season. Get to know the candidates and where they stand on health issues next Wednesday, Oct. 20th at the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Graduate students from the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health will host the open forum titled, “Voting on Health: A Southern Arizona Candidate Forum.”

This is an opportunity for voters to hear what the legislative candidates have to say about their role in promoting the wellbeing of Southern Arizonans, and their plans to address key issues that affect the health of individuals living in this region. The forum in open to the public.

Participating Arizona legislative candidates running for state offices in the November 2nd election:

Paula Aboud (D) for State Senate, District 28
Dr. Ted Downing (N/I) for State Senate, District 28
Dave Ewoldt (I) for State Senate, District 28
Steve Farley (D) House seat, District 28
Pat Fleming (D) House seat, District 25
Sally Gonzales (D) House seat, District 27
Peggy Judd (R) House seat, District 25
Pat Kilburn (R) House seat, District 29
Bruce Wheeler (D) House seat, District 28

Drachman Hall, 1295 N. Martin Avenue, Room B109, Tucson, AZ. Parking is free in the Drachman Hall East lot after 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Refreshments will be served from 6:30-7 p.m.)

That’s the information on the website, but the latest update is that these candidates are also attending:

Gene Chewning (I), House seat, District 27
Dr.Todd Camenisch (D), Senate seat, District 30
Robert Compton (R), House seat, District 27
Ruben Ortega (D), House seat, District 25 (maybe)
Daniel Patterson (D), House seat, District 29
Dr. Macario Saldate (D), House seat, District 27
Ken Smalley (R), House seat, District 28
Kent Solberg (G), House seat, District 27

That’s a lot of candidates (15 or 16) to listen to in 2 hours, from the Democratic, Republican, and Green Parties, and three Independents.

This will hopefully be a neutral, non-partisan forum to learn about candidates’ views on health issues in the state legislature, prior to the 11/2/10 General Election. I corrected the notice on their website to reflect that Dr. Downing is no longer running as a Democrat, but now Non-partisan/Independent. I wrote about that change back in March (click here).

For more information, please call Renee Fullerton at 520.626.8036, rfullert@email.arizona.edu.

Over 1000 community leaders, business leaders & clergy and members from over 50 institutions (churches, synagogues, schools & non-profits) across Pima County convened today at 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Tucson Conventon Center’s Copper Ballroom to present an agenda that builds stronger families & communities in Southern Arizona, through “values reflection, inquiry, and constructive action.”

Sitting politicians (federal & state) and candidates seeking those offices were asked questions pertaining to workforce development, education, services to families, and immigration.And they were asked to promise to meet with PCIC delegations after the General Election.

Here’s a list of who attended today (supposedly all Democrat & Republican candidates of these offices were invited):

Congressman Raul Grijalva (D), CD 7
Ruth McClung (R), candidate in CD 7

State Senate candidate Chery Cage (D), LD 26
State House candidate Terri Proud (R), LD 26
State House Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D), LD 26

State House caniddate Robert Compton (R), LD 27
State House caniddate Sally Ann Gonzales (D), LD 27
State House candidate Macario Saldate (D), LD 27

State Senator Paula Aboud (D), LD 28
State Senate candidate Greg Krino (R), LD 28
State House Rep. Steve Farley (D), LD 28
State House candidate Ken Smalley (R), LD 28
State House candidate Bruce Wheeler (D), LD 28

And for the statewise offices:
Gubernatorial candidate Terry Goddard (D), current Attorney General
Attorney General candidate Felecia Rottellini (D)
Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Penny Kotterman (D)
Corporation Commission candidate David Bradley (D), current LD 28 House rep.

Statements were also made by TPD Chief Robert Villasenor and Councilmember Regina Romero in support of Proposition 400, to raise the city sales tax by one half cent/dollar.

Question asked of the State Legislature candidates:
Will you vote to enact additional revenue sources so that funding for vital services such as education & health care can be protected? (All State Senate & House candidates responded “yes” in their one minute replies, some with conditional responses.)

Questions asked of the Gubernatorial candidate:
1. What measures will you take & what leadership will you provide to ensure that budgets are not balanced on the backs of our children & most vulnerable citizens?
2. Will you support our efforts to expand innovative job training initiatives like Job Path throughout the state?

Questions asked of the Attorney General candidate:
1. What role can you play as attorney general that would benefit our families that are abused by mortgage companies? 2. Will you ensure that the enforcement of SB 1070 is done in a humane manner, and that local police departments receive accurate & just interpretations of the law?

Question asked of the Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate:
In light of the budget crisis, what leadership will you provide to improve public education in the State of Arizona?

Tucsoncitizen.com fellow blogger David Morales (“3 Sonorans”) was present videotaping this candidate session, so hopefully he will be able to provide a video later with the specific responses.

Protesting outside the Tucson Convention Center were Independent candidates Ted Downing and Dave Ewoldt (both for LD 28 Senate), and Green Party candidate Kent Solberg (for LD 27 House), who were apparently not invited to participate. Solberg handed out a statement which read that “Limiting debate, discussion & points of view is not discussion and is not consistent with the Pima County Interfaith Council’s stated goals and purposes.”

Also in the audience today were former Mayor George Miller, former TUSD Superintendent Stan Paz, current TUSD Governing Board candidate Miguel Ortega and member Adelita Grijalva, and former Pima County Attorney candidate Claudia Ellquist.

For more information on PCIC:
639 E. Speedway Blvd. #1, Tucson, Arizona
520-903-2333, office@pimacountyinterfaith.org

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LD 28 State Senate:

–Paula Aboud, incumbent Democratic State Senator (serving since 2006), a property manager and former teacher, www.paulaaboud.com

–Dave Ewoldt, Independent (formerly Green Party activist), co-founder and Executive Director of Tucson non-profit Natural Systems Solutions, www.daveforarizona.org

–Dr.Ted Downing, UA Research Professor in social development, running nonpartisan and independent, former 2 term Democratic house legislator in LD 28 from 2003 to 2007), www.votedowning.com

–Greg Krino, Republican attorney and Air Force Major in the Air National Guard, www.gregkrino2010.com

(Aboud & Ewoldt running “clean”, Downing & Krino running traditional.)

LD 28 State House:

–Steve Farley, Democratic graphic artist, incumbent State House Representative (since 2007), www.friendsofarley.org

–Ken Smalley, Republican property manager, former Libertarian candidate for Pima County Treasurer and Ward 6Tucson City Council, www.kensmalleyforrep.com

–Bruce Wheeler, Democratic former 1 term state house legislator & former Tucson Councilman (1987 to 1995), freelance photographer, www.wheeler2010.com

(Smalley & Wheeler running “clean”, Farley running traditional).

Attend this forum to find out more about the 4 candidates running for State Senate and 3 candidates for State House, in LD 28. KUAT Channel 6 debates for these Senate candidates coming up on 9/21 (click here), House candidates on 9/28 so mark your calendars now.

Break down of registered voters in LD 28 from Pima County Recorders’ Office, www.recorder.pima.gov

DISTRICT 28: 36,496 Democrats, 21,905 Republicans, 863 Libertarians, 419 Greens, 23,086 Others (Independents/No party affiliation), for a total of 82,769 voters.

UPDATE 9/16/10: CCEC video online now (click here).

Candidates running for State Senate in LD 28 (Aboud, Downing, Ewoldt, & Krino)

Senator Paula Aboud

Ted Downing

Dave Ewoldt

Greg Krino

Candidates running for State House in LD 28 (Farley, Smalley & Wheeler)

Rep. Steve Farley

Ken Smalley

Bruce Wheeler

Statewide races, all telecast on KAET Horizon Channel 8 in Phoenix, to be posted online at their website within 72 hours after the debates. D indicates Democrat, G indicates Green Party, I indicates Independent, L indicates Libertarian, R indicates Republican. Most of these candidates will be invited, but not all attend the debates, as it’s only mandatory for those participating in “clean” elections. To find out who’s a participating candidate, click here.

Governor
September 1, 7 to 8 p.m.
(Governor Jan Brewer – R, Larry Gist- G, Attorney General Terry Goddard- D, Barry Hess- L)

Attorney General (9/3/10 UPDATE: DEBATE CANCELED DUE TO NEITHER BEING A “CLEAN” ELECTIONS CANDIDATE).
September 8, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Tom Horne- R, Felecia Rotellini – D)

Superintendent of Public Instruction
September 15, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(John Huppenthal -R, Penny Kotterman- D)

Secretary of State
September 22, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Sec. of State Ken Bennett – R, Chris Deschene – D)

Treasurer (9/3/10 UPDATE: DEBATE CANCELED DUE TO NEITHER BEING “CLEAN” ELECTIONS CANDIDATE).
September 29, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Doug Ducey – R, Andrei Cherny – D)

Corporation Commission (2 seats)
October 4, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Commissioner Gary Pierce – R, David Bradley – D, Brenda Burns – R, Jorge Luis Garcia – D)

State Mine Inspector
October 06, 2010, 7 PM – 7:30 PM
(Inspector Joe Hart – R, Miguel Cruz – D)

Legislative Districts (Southern Arizona), all “Clean” candidates in House & Senate are required to participate, and others running traditionally may do as well. One seat is open in the State Senate, two seats in the State House in each legislative district.

District 26 (9/3/10 UPDATE:DEBATE CANCELED AS ALL CANDIDATES NOT PARTICIPATING IN CLEAN ELECTIONS, RUNNING TRADITIONALLY)
September 16, 6 p.m.
PCC Northwest Campus, 7600 N. Shannon Rd.
(State Senate: Cheryl Cage – D, Senator Al Melvin – R;
State House: Terri Proud – R, Rep. Vic Williams- R, Rep. Nancy Young Wright – D)

District 27
September 9, 6 p.m.
PCC West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Rd.
(State Senate: Olivia Cajero Bedford- D, Duke Schechter- R is a write-in candidate,as is Jaime Vasquez – R; State House: Gene Chewning – I, Robert Compton – R, Sally Ann Gonzales – D, Dr. Macario Saldate – D, Kent Solberg – G)

District 28
September 14, 6 p.m.
PCC Community Room, 4905 E. Broadway
(State Senate: Senator Paula Aboud – D, Ted Downing – I, Dave Ewoldt – I, Greg Krino – R;
State House: Rep. Steve Farley – D, Ken Smalley- R, Bruce Wheeler- D)

District 29
September 28, 6 p.m.
PCC Community Room, 4905 E. Broadway
(State Senate: Senator Linda Lopez – D, unopposed;
(State House: Rep. Matt Heinz – D, Pat Kilburn – R, Rep. Daniel Patterson – D)

District 30
September 30, 6 p.m.
PCC East Campus, 8181 E. Irvington
(State Senate: Senator Frank Antenori – R, Dr. Todd Camenisch – D;
State House: Andrea Dalessandro – D, Rep. David Gowan – R, and Rep. Ted Vogt -R)

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Moderator will be John C. Scott, host of KJLL 1330 AM talk radio show.

Democratic donkey logo

Expected to debate will be LD 28 Democratic house candidates:

- State House Rep. Steve Farley (incumbent)
- Marlena Fineberg
- Ted Prezelski
- Mohur Sidhwa
- Tim Sultan
- Bruce Wheeler (former 1 term State House legislator & 2 term City Councilmember)

Marlena Tova Fineberg just filed to run recently, and she is a sales executive at Ambient Air Heating and Cooling, and has published a poetry book entitled “Elephants, Alligators, Umbrellas”. Marlena says she is a Democrat, but her party affiliation is not listed on the official state campaign finance website, though she just informed me that she is “listed as a Democrat now on the hard copy sent to the Sec. of State.” (update 5 p.m. 3/18/10).

Voters in the August 24 Democratic primary will chose 2 of these candidates to face off in the November 2nd General Election, against Republican house candidates in LD 28.

Republican Ken Smalley, a property manager, www.kensmalleyforrep.com has filed to run in this race. Another Republican Greg Krino filed recently, and he is a 3rd year law student at the U of A, clerking at the Pima County Attorney’s office (http://gregkrino2010.com/)

For these Democratic candidates’ brief bios and website information, click here, for my earlier blog at the first forum of these hopefuls (except Fineberg) which was held on February 21, at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church. At that forum 5 Democratic house candidates all introduced themselves and spoke for 10 minutes, but there was no debate or public question/answer period.

For more information on this debate call Pat Wiedhopf at 520-850-6755.

Be informed, attend these debates to meet these Democratic candidates.

Date: Sunday, February 21
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Place: St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. 3rd St. (west of Alvernon Way)

Five State House hopefuls (for 2 seats) have been invited to attend, and each will speak for 10 minutes, followed by an informal session to answer questions:

– incumbent LD 28 State House Rep. Steve Farley, in office since 2007, artist, www.friendsofarley.com

– Ted Prezelski, LD 28 house candidate in 2008 & former Democratic party officer, blogsite host of “Rum, Romanism & Rebellion” (and brother of former LD 29 State House Rep. Tom Prezelski), www.prezelskiforarizona.org.

– Mohur Sidhwa, former Democratic party officer, businesswoman, www.mohur2010.com

– Tim Sultan, candidate in CD 8 U.S. House in 2004, financial negotiator, www.timsultan.com

– Bruce Wheeler, former LD 13 House Rep. (1974 – 76), former 2 term Ward 1 Tucson City Councilmember (1987 to 1995), retired businessman, photographer, www.Wheeler2010.com

There are 2 Democratic State Senate hopefuls in LD 28 (one seat), and they are involved with this particular forum as well (news update since February 17, 3 p.m)

–incumbent LD 28 State Senator Paula Aboud, in office since January 2006, property manager

– Dr. Ted Downing, former LD 28 State House Representative who served 2 terms (2003 to 2007), UA research professor of social development, www.ted-downing.com (UPDATE, see 5/12/10 blog here).

For more information about LD 28: http://www.pimadems.org/LD-28/index.html from the Pima County Democratic Party website.

Attend this Feb. 21st forum to meet and greet these candidates for the State House and Senate of Arizona, to be decided in the August 24 primary.

Ken Smalley, who ran for Pima County Treasurer in 1992 and for Tucson City Council against Molly McKasson in 1993 as a Libertarian, has filed to run as a Republican for an LD 28 House seat. (Thanks to AZBlueMeanie–whoever he is–at Blog for Arizona for this info as I’m not currently up to date on the Republican Party candidates).

UPDATE: for info on an LD 28 House candidates’ debate, click here for 3/19/10 event: