Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC) held debates between contested races in the Southern AZ legislative districts, with candidates participating in Clean Elections program and also those running traditionally. “Candidates who participate in Clean Elections to run for office are required to attend one debate in the general election unless they are running unopposed. Candidates who are not running with Clean Elections funding are allowed to join the debate, but their attendance is optional.”

Click on this link & go to the respective date to find the debate you’re interested in viewing. Mostly audience questions were asked at each debate so there were a wide range of questions and answers by these candidates.

http://www.cleanelections101.com/debates

LD 2 House race: September 20 — Chris John Ackerley (R), Andrea Dalessandro (D), Rosanna Gabaldon (D) – all three are Clean Elections candidates
State Senate seat in LD 2: Senator Linda Lopez (D, incumbent in LD 29) faces write-in opposition from Don Woolley (R) and there was no CCEC debate.

LD 11 House & Senate: September 24 — Senate: Jo Holt (D) vs. Al Melvin (R) – Holt is participating in Clean Elections
House: Dave Joseph (D), Steve Smith ( R) – Joseph is participating in Clean Elections. Adam Kwasman (R) is running traditionally so his presence was optional & he did not attend.

LD 9 House & Senate: October 4 — Senate: Steve Farley (D) vs. Tyler Mott (R) – Mott is a Clean elections candidate
House: Ethan Orr (R), Mohur Sarah Sidhwa (D), Victoria Steele (D) – Sidhwa is a Clean elections candidate

LD 10 House: October 10– Todd Clodfelter (R), Stefanie Mach (D), Ted Vogt (R), Bruce Wheeler (D) – only Clodfelter is a Clean elections candidate
State Senate seat in LD 10 has two candidates, both running traditionally, so no CCEC debate was held between Senator Frank Antenori (R, incumbent in LD 30) and David Bradley (D).

LD 14 House & Senate: October 10– Senate: Pat Fleming (D) vs. Gail Griffin (R) – Fleming is a Clean Elections candidate
House: David Gowan (R), Robert Leach (D), David Stevens (R), Mark Stonebraker (D) – Leach & Stonebraker are Clean Elections candidates. The 3 Republicans are running traditionally for the Senate and two House seats, and did not attend this debate as their presence was optional.

Being as early voting for the Nov. 6 general started on October 11, if you’re undecided, please view these videos to listen & consider whom to vote for in your Legislative District – one for State Senate, two for State House.

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, tasked with redrawing the maps for Congressional and legislative districts for the State of AZ has set the schedule for the 1st round of public hearings. Go to their website, www.azredistricting.org for the full state-wide schedule (15 hearings in 24 locations).

Two Tucson hearings are scheduled in this first round:

Tuesday August 2, 6 p.m.
City of South Tucson
Council Chambers
1601 S. 6th Avenue 85713

Saturday August 6, 6 p.m.
Abrams Public Health Building
3950 S. Country Club Rd. 85714

Mission: The Independent Redistricting Commission’s mission is to administer the fair and balanced redistricting of the Congressional and Legislative districts for the State of Arizona.

Many Tucsonans have been speaking at the Call for Public Comment at earlier organizational meetings of this newly-formed Commission. You can also watch the meetings (usually) via Live Stream from their website. Agendas and minutes from past meetings are online as well.

The Arizona Daily Star’s reporters publish a Pueblo Politics blog, and here’s their article on the upcoming Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission process. “The 5 member commission has to nominate 25 people by Jan. 8 to serve on the Independent Redistricting Commission. The top Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate will each get a pick, then the four appointed members will pick the fifth member.” Currently, The Commission consists of five members: two Democrats, two Republicans, and one Independent. The Commissioners are: Daniel Elder (REP), Joshua Hall (DEM), James Huntwork (REP), Steven W. Lynn, Chairman (IND), and Andi Minkoff, Vice Chairman (DEM) (info from their website).

http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/pueblo-politics/article_536ce5a0-f682-11df-bb02-001cc4c03286.html

Submit comments on applicants to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ 85007 by December 3rd. Eleven citizens applying from Pima County are:

DEMOCRATS:

Luis A. Gonzales (Pima County)
Linda C. McNulty (Pima County)
William G. Roe (Pima County)
Mark D. Rubin (Pima County)
S.L. “Si” Schorr (Pima County)
Marshall A. Worden (Pima County)

INDEPENDENTS:

Colleen C. Mathis (Pima County)

REPUBLICANS:
Christopher M. Gleason (Pima County)
Jeffrey D. Miller (Pima County)
Richard Stertz (Pima County)
Benny E. White (Pima County)

If you have anything to say about these applicants, I encourage you to write in as these people will be working on the new state legislative & Congressional districts, due to changes in the 2010 Census. Check the Star article for Maricopa County (mostly), Coconino County (1), Navajo County (1), and Yuma County (1) applicants.

12/9/10 UPDATE: Marshall Worden, Mark Rubin, Linda McNulty, Bill Roe, Benny White, and Colleen Mathis made the cut from Pima County. See comments below.