Bill Buckmaster has now interviewed many notable people on his new KJLL radio talk show (1330 AM) for 3 months. Here’s a recap of his “Reporters Roundtable on the Radio” Friday shows, often including questions & comments from our Tucsoncitizen.com editor Mark Evans. Once our Social Editor Carli Brosseau substituted for him.

Reporters/editors from the Arizona Daily Star (Sarah Garrecht Gassen), Tucson Weekly (Jim Nintzel), Green Valley News & Sahuarita Sun (Dan Shearer), KJLL radio (John C. Scott) also join this “Friday Focus” newsmaker interview show, as well as the Roundtable. They all comment on the weekly news and events.

The Buckmaster Show airs Monday to Friday at 9 a.m. for one hour, recast at 7 p.m. Click on the blue links for the specific show you may have missed:

March 25, LD 30 State Senator Frank Antenori (R)
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/03/25/buckmaster-show-3252011/

March 18: TUSD Governing Board President Mark Stegeman
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/03/18/buckmaster-show-3182011/

March 11: LD 28 House Rep. Steve Farley (D)
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/03/11/buckmaster-show-3112011/

March 4: Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich (D)
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/03/04/buckmaster-show-342011/

February 25: Outgoing President of Tucson Chamber of Commerce Jack Camper
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/02/25/buckmaster-show-2252011/

February 18: Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik (D)
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/02/18/buckmaster-show-2182011/

February 11: LD 26 House Rep. Vic Williams (R) & Pima County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Rogers
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/02/11/buckmaster-show-2112011/

February 4: Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/02/18/buckmaster-show-2182011/

January 28: Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup (R)
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/01/28/buckmaster-show-1282011-2/

January 21: Tucson Unifed School District Superintendent John Pedicone
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/01/21/buckmaster-show-1212011/

January 14: Tucson City Manager Mike Letcher
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/01/14/buckmaster-show-1142011/

January 7: LD 28 House Rep. Steve Farley (D) and Former Pima County Republican Chair Bob Westerman
http://www.buckmastershow.com/2011/01/07/buckmaster-show-172011/

Since this radio show is “interview driven” if you have a story idea or comment, write to Bill Buckmaster at bill@buckmastershow.com.

Ron Asta, a former Pima County Supervisor will file papers today to run for Mayor of Tucson, since Mayor Bob Walkup announced yesterday at the State of the City Address that he is not seeking a 4th term. Once a Democrat, now a Republican Asta is facing fellow Republican Shaun McClusky (who lost the Ward 5 Council race in 2009 against current Councilman Richard Fimbres). Jonathan Rothschild is the only Democrat seeking this position so far.

For my previous blog on Ron Asta (with photo), click here.
Asta served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors from 1972 to 1976, and was the Chair for one year.

Announcement Press Release
Contact: Ron Asta (www.ronasta4mayor.com)

I have lived and worked in Tucson since 1964. I own a home in Tucson. My son was born, grew up and still lives in Tucson. I plan on living here the rest of my life – beginning with this announcement to be the next mayor of the city I have grown to love. But our city is in real need of new leadership.

I am the only candidate for mayor with proven leadership ability in an elected office – as the former chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

I am the only candidate with experience in urban planning. In fact, I have a Masters degree in Civil Engineering from the UA. And helped set the stage for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan.

I used to be a liberal Democrat whose base narrowed with extreme positions…the poster boy for anti-growth in Tucson…which means I am a candidate who admits to making mistakes…and seeing the error of his ways.

Now I’m a conservative Republican…and a businessman. I still care deeply about the environment. But I also want an environment in which our kids can find jobs. I believe Tucson will work again when Tucsonans are working again. So, with age, I’m a lot more committed when it comes to keeping and attracting businesses. And I’ve learned how to build consensus among parties who often have strong disagreements. That requires a strong mayor…the kind of mayor who will stand up for taxpayers and stand up against special interests.

Yes, I am still concerned about air quality, water quality and quality of life. But I am also concerned about our economy… and about a government that continues to make it difficult to live and work here – while it continues to squander taxpayer dollars. There are no excuses for that. In the coming weeks, I will show you how we can reduce restrictions on doing business here…and reduce city spending…without reducing our quality of life. And without reducing police and fire protection. When it comes to public safety, there are no excuses for second best.

While it is not in the mayor’s job description, there are also no excuses for the sorry state of public education in Tucson. When 70% of our high school graduates need remedial math and English before they can take classes at Pima Community College, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. We are failing to bring new business here because of it …. and that is in the city’s job description. I intend to get involved.

Finally, I also have no excuses for a mistake I made 33 years ago…when I stole a steak from a supermarket. I’m human. With nobody to blame but me, it was one of the great humbling experiences of my life. So I am the only candidate who will admit to making mistakes. But I’ve come back strong from each of them. And I hope to use that strength to help get Tucson moving again…get our city back on track…back to where it once was: the country’s best place to live and work and raise a family.

And listen to Ron on KJLL “The Jolt” 1330 AM “Ron Asta’s Tucson” Tuesdays, as high noon.

Campaign contact info: email info@ronasta4mayor.com, phone 520-971-5161, 4225 E. Grant Rd, Suite 1, Tucson, AZ 85712.

As reported on Monday January 3rd, former KUAT Channel 6 TV host Bill Buckmaster has kicked off his new radio talk show on KJLL “The Jolt” 1330 AM radio.

Today January 7, his premiere “Media Meat” political discussion weekly show was hosted by himself with Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Weekly, and Sarah Garrecht Gassen of the Arizona Daily Star, and Dan Shearer of Green Valley News and Sahuarita Sun. These editors/reporters used to join him on the Friday Roundtable on KUAT, along with Linda Valdez of the Arizona Republic, Mark Evans of our Tucsoncitizen.com, and John C. Scott of KJLL radio.

All of these 6 reporters/editors are now his media “host contributors” on this radio show (click here). (I’ve highlighted Evans’ bio/photo below since he is our online Editor, and worked for the print edition of Tucson Citizen, which shut down on May 16, 2009).

And you listen to the radio shows live on www.buckmastershow.com, or thereafter by Standard Podcast. Today’s reporters/editors discuss ethnic studies, the state budget, flags in Green Valley, Rio Nuevo, Shaun McClusky’s candidacy for Mayor of Tucson.

Click here for today’s show, which also includes “Friday Focus” interviews of LD 28 Democratic House Rep. Steve Farley (now State House Assistant Minority Leader) and former Pima County Republican Party Chair Bob Westerman. (Former CD 8 U.S. House candidate Brian Miller is the new Chair).

Buckmaster’s new one hour radio show airs at 9 .m. Monday to Friday, and is re-broadcast at 7 p.m. Stay tuned for next week’s schedule of interviews and
more of “Media Meat”. (I hear this title has been changed to “Reporters’ Roundtable on the Radio”).

Mark Evans

Mark B. Evans is the editor and administrator of TucsonCitizen.com. He writes about local and state politics and government, freedom of information and the news industry. He was an assistant city editor for the Tucson Citizen for two and a half years before tasked with heading up TucsonCitizen.com after the print version of the Citizen was closed.