Dr. Don Jorgensen

As a lifelong Democrat I believe in personal freedom, social and civil justice, inclusion and equality for all and economic opportunity. These are not simply Democratic values; they are indeed American values.

The Pima County Democratic Party is strongest when we come together with a broad variety of viewpoints to unite and advance our shared goals.

I seek to serve as your County Chair to lead the continuing effort to grow stronger, louder and smarter as we create a shared strategic vision for attracting new Democrats and electing Democrats at all levels of public service.

Info on Jorgensen:

President of Jorgensen Brooks group,
email: don@jorgensenbrooks.com
520-575-8623, 1-888-520-5400 toll free.

Founded in 1991, Jorgensen Brooks Group is a leading provider of “high touch” workplace intervention and performance support services, including fully integrated Employee Assistance Programs, leadership development, crisis management and training services for employers who value their employees and seek to maintain a healthy workplace.
We specialize in Employee Assistance Programs for municipalities, mining companies, private businesses, school districts, casinos, hospitals and health care providers and non-profit organizations.

from website, www.jorgensenbrooks.com

Jorgensen’s Professional resume:

· Owner – Jorgensen Healthcare Associates, Inc. (22 Years)

· Developed strategic leadership plans for international associations, NPOs, small businesses.

· Brought Union and Business leaders together in a global organization to create fiscal stability and service expansion.

· Developed workplace health, conflict management and crisis response services for over 70 municipalities and businesses in the United States

· Designed comprehensive regional substance abuse and behavioral health service system

· Professional Speaker and Trainer in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and China

· Past President – International Employee Assistance Professionals Association

· Past President – Greater Tucson Leadership

· Board Member – National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

· Board Member – YMCA of Southern Arizona

· Recognized in “40 Under 40” for Community Achievement

· Former NPO Director

· Ph.D. (Health Services Administration)

Jorgensen won the Democratic primary in September 2008 for State House in LD 26 with incumbent Nancy Young Wright (had been appointed in early Jan. 2008 after Rep. Lena Saranik resigned). But Jorgensen lost in the General Election to newcomer Vic Williams (R) and Nancy Young Wright in a 4 way race with Republican newcomer Marilyn Zerull, for 2 House seats. Jorgensen’s name had also been submitted to the Pima County Board of Supervisors (along with Cheryl Cage and Nancy Young Wright) when that vacancy in LD 26 occurred in January, 2008.

Good luck to Dr. Jorgensen as Chair of the Democratic Party in Pima County. Carolyn Cox was re-elected to her seat as Chair of the Pima County Republican Party on December 15, 2012 (click here for previous post about Cox).

Jim Nintzel over at the Tucson Weekly reported today that former LD 26 House Rep. Democrat Nancy Young Wright has formed an exploratory committee to seek the office of District 1 Pima County Supervisor. Current District 1 Republican Supervisor Ann Day announced in August that she was not seeking re-election in 2012. Click here for Nintzel’s article.

Nancy Young Wright served 3 years in the Arizona State House. She was first appointed to that seat by the Pima County Board of Supervisors when former Rep. Lena Saradnik resigned in early 2008 after suffering a stroke, and before that Nancy had served 10 years on the Amphi District School Board. Young Wright was elected to her seat in Nov. 2008 but was defeated in the Nov. 2010 race for re-election, when House Rep. Vic Williams and political newcomer Terri Proud won the 2 seats in LD 26 in a close race.

Republicans mortgage banker Stuart McDaniel (click here) and businesswoman Ally Miller (click here) have already announced for this seat. Other potential candidates are current 2 term LD 26 House Rep. Republican Vic Williams, and Charles Bowles, vice president of sales and marketing for Diamond Ventures, who is also a Republican.

District 1 current registered voters per Pima County Recorders’ Office:

Democrat 36, 642
Republican 47,207
Independent/other 34,200
Libertarian 734
Green 213

The other four Pima County Supervisors– Current Chair Ramon Valadez (District 2), Sharon Bronson (District 3), Ray Carroll (District 4) and Richard Elias (District 5) are expected to seek re-election. No one has announced any challenge (as yet) to these incumbent Supervisors.

1/9/12 UPDATE: Young Wright officially entered this race on January 6, 2012.

Young Wright for Supervisor, P.O. Box 36348, Tucson, AZ 85740, email: nyw1@earthlink.net
520 -742-7283, www.nancyyoungwright.com (under construction).

1/10/12 UPDATE: Former CD 8 House candidate Mike Hellon entered this race (click here).

1/26/12 UPDATE: LD 26 Rep. Vic Williams has entered this race (click here).

Jonathan Rothschild, a Tucson attorney and former Treasurer of the Pima County Democratic Party who is exploring a run for Mayor, is having his first fundraiser on Tuesday, December 7.

Please join me (Jonathan) and host Terry Etherton at the Etherton Gallery downtown for the first fundraiser of our exploratory campaign, and enjoy the photography exhibit

“Con-struct: The New West”

Etherton Gallery
136 South 6th Avenue, Tucson

Tuesday, December 7
5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Suggested donation: $50, $100 or $150

Jonathan Rothschild for Mayor
Exploratory Committee

RSVP to rsvp@jonathanformayor.com

Read my previous article about Rothschild’s exploratory committee for Mayor (click here). His early supporters on his campaign website are former Mayors George Miller and Tom Volgy, District 3 Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson (as well as her past challenger Donna Branch-Gilby), Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, former Councilmembers Janet Marcus and Chuck Ford, LD 27 Rep. Phil Lopes, LD 29 Rep. Matt Heinz, former LD 26 Rep. Lena Saradnik, LD 27 Rep.-elect Dr.Macario Saldate, former Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party Paul Eckerstrom, TUSD board member Dr. Mark Stegeman, lots of attorneys & doctors, political candidates (i.e. Vince Rabago, Tim Sultan, Clarence Boykins) & aides, etc. (click here for full list of early supporters).

Other possible contenders are of course Republican Mayor Bob Walkup (if he decides to seek a 4th term), and Democratic Councilmembers Karin Uhlich (Ward 3) and Shirley Scott (Ward 4). I have contacted the Mayor and Uhlich, but no word back yet as to their decisions to run. Scott told me she is “keeping her options open”. I wrote a previous article entitled “Will Mayor Walkup run again?” (click here).

Ron Asta, a real estate consultant, formerly a Democrat now a Republican, who is a former Pima County Supervisor told me he is considering a bid (click here).

Four men were nominated from the floor: former LD 9 State House Rep. Bill McGibbon (1992-2000), current LD 30 state House Rep. Frank Antenori, LD 30 Precinct Chairman Ted Vogt, and former LD 30 State House Rep. Randy Graf (2000-2004). Each man gave a 5 minute speech about why they wanted to be one of the 3 names to be submitted for consideration.

There were 3 separate written elections to select 3 names, as each name required 39 (more than half) of the 77 votes to qualify. Antenori received 71 votes on the first election, followed by Vogt who got 50 votes on the 2nd election, and then Graf got 56 on the 3rd election. Bill McGibbon was the name circulated by the media prior to today as one of the likely nominees, but Vogt was a new nominee. He served as Captain in the U.S. Air Force and is now a third year law student at the U of A. Vogt also mentioned in his introductory speech that he had clerked for U.S. Senator Jon Kyl and for VP Dick Cheney, but has never served in his own elected capacity.

Now it will be up to the Pima County Board of Supervisors to select Paton’s replacement. Supervisor Ray Carroll invited everyone to attend the board meeting on Tuesday, March 2, at 9 a.m. at 130 W. Congress (first floor),to find out whom the board will select. Usually the Supervisors select the top vote getter, but not necessarily– as the top precinct vote getter in State House LD 26 did not get the appointment, after Rep. Lena Seradnik resigned in 2008.

This LD 30 meeting was held this afternoon at Desert Christian High School, 7575 E. Speedway.

Also in attendance today:CD8 U.S. House candidate Jonathan Paton, LD 30 State House Rep. David Gowan, former LD 30 State House Rep. Marian McClure, National committeeman Bruce Ash, LD 30 State House candidate Doug Sposito.

Update: click here for 3/2/10 meeting results of Pima County Board of Supervisors.