The General Election is a week away (November 6) and many voters have already cast their ballots. If you are undecided, or prefer going to your polling place, here’s some information about the 3-way race for Pima County Sheriff.

Long time Democratic incumbent Clarence Dupnik is facing two challengers, Green Party activist Dave Croteau and Republican Mark Napier, retired Tucson Police Dept.Captain. Dupnik has been Sheriff since February, 1980.

They debated on October 17 on the Bill Buckmaster radio show:

http://tucsoncitizen.com/buckmaster-show/2012/10/17/buckmaster-show-10172012-three-way-race-for-pima-county-sheriff/

And all 3 men were on Arizona Public Media/AZPM Channel 6 last night, interviewed by political reporter Andrea Kelly (video above).

Campaign websites:

Dave Croteau: former candidate for Sheriff and Mayor of City of Tucson, https://www.facebook.com/DaveCroteau4sheriff

Clarence Dupnik: incumbent, http://reelectdupnik2012.com/

Mark Napier: political newcomer, http://www.marknapier4sheriff.org/

The Arizona Daily Star endorsed challenger Mark Napier, and the Tucson Weekly endorsed Sheriff Clarence Dupnik.

Dave Croteau (G)

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik (D)

Mark Napier (R)

Vote wisely on or before Nov. 6.

As of today (May 17) with nomination petitions due 5 p.m. on June 1st to the Tucson City Clerk, here’s the current slate.

IN (in order of initial filing of paperwork with Tucson City Clerk‘s office):

–Republican Shaun McClusky, former candidate for Ward 5 Council office in 2009, chaired anti-Prop 400 sales tax campaign in 2010; a realtor, www.voteshaun.com

–Democrat Jonathan Rothschild (already submitted 3283 signatures, the maximum for his party), attorney & political newcomer; www.jonathanformayor.com

–Republican Ron Asta, former Democratic District 1 Pima County Supervisor (1972-1976), ran for Mayor in 1983 as a Democrat against Republican then-current Mayor Lew Murphy & got 36.4% of the vote; a land planner, www.ronasta4mayor.com

–Democrat Marshall Home (formerly registered as an Independent & Republican), a self-reported “multi-billionaire”, political newcomer

–Green Dave Croteau, former candidate for Pima County Sheriff (2000) and Mayor (2007– he’s the only one that challenged Mayor Bob Walkup in that race & got 28% of the vote, no Democrat or Libertarian ran); a community activist

–Independent Pat Darcy, former candidate for Mayor in the 4-way Democratic primary of 1999 (Councilmember Molly McKasson won that race over Councilmember Janet Marcus, Betsy Bolding, and Darcy– who got 8.6% of the vote–, but then Molly lost to Republican Bob Walkup, then a political newcomer); a realtor and former major league baseball player (pitcher for Cincinnati Reds)

Darcy had been considering a bid since March (click here for earlier blog) but only registered as an Independent on April 1, 2011, and took out paperwork with the City Clerk on Friday May 13, 2011 to run for Mayor. He has been registered as a Democrat since 1971 per Chris Roads (Deputy Recorder & Registrar of Voters) at the Pima County Recorder’s Office.

OUT:

–Democrat Thomas Lombardi, a hall monitor at Mt. View High School, political newcomer (withdrew)

–Green Jon McLane, a businessman & political newcomer who withdrew last week & endorsed Republican Shaun McClusky

Democratic Mayoral candidates need between 1642 and 3283 signatures, Republicans between 1060 and 2119, and Green Party candidates only 17 to 32 signatures to qualify to run for the office of Mayor.

Independents (Nomination Other Than by Primary-NOP) only qualify for the Mayoral General election ballot (no primary) but need to get 2596 signatures by June 1st. “Any registered voter can sign the petition for an NOP candidate as long as they have not already signed a petition for another candidate running for the same office” according to the 2011 Candidate Information Pamphlet issued by the Tucson City Clerk. The number of valid signatures on the NOP petition must be equal to at least 3% of the total number of registered voters who are not members of a qualified political party (Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Green) — as of 3/1/11.

Stay tuned for any other changes in the next weeks before the filing deadline. I hear other rumors of other potential candidates…and no woman is running as yet.

Miller-Golf Links Branch Library – Community Room
9640 E Golf Links Road (east of Harrison Road)
When: Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 6:30 PM

Shaun McClusky, a realtor, ran for the Ward 5 Council seat in November, 2009 and lost to Democrat Richard Fimbres (46.67% to 53.10%). He lead the recent “No on 400″ effort in November, 2010 against Proposition 400 which would have increased the City sales tax by a half cent. It lost overwhelmingly by 61.12% to 38.88%.

In the Republican primary on August 30 McClusky will face off with former District 1 Pima County Supervisor Ron Asta, a land planner/consultant. Asta, formerly a Democrat challenged Republican Mayor Lew Murphy in 1983 and lost.

November 8, 1983 General election results:

Ron Asta (D) 22,727 36.41%
Peggy Jeney (L) 2979 4.77%
Lew Murphy (R) 34,672 55.53%

The Republican candidate who prevails in the 2011 primary may then face off with Democratic attorney Jonathan Rothschild, and realtor Pat Darcy (a former Democrat, who is considering a bid now as an Independent). Darcy also ran for Mayor before, in the September 1999 Democratic primary and came in 4th under former Councilmember Molly McKasson, Betsy Bolding, and former Councilmember Janet Marcus.

Shaun McClusky’s website: www.voteshaun.com. Ron Asta’s webste is: www.ronasta4mayor.com.

Tyler Vogt, a political newcomer who works in the Defense Industry, is challenging 4 term incumbent Ward 4 Councilmember Shirley Scott.

Vogt’s website is www.vogt4tucson.com (under construction), and a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vogt-For-Tucson/149958418397548?v=info

Drop by this meeting to hear how these three men propose to change the policies of the current Tucson City Council, currently composed of a Republican Mayor and one Councilmember (Ward 6), and five Democratic Councilmembers in Wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Only Ward 1, 2 and 4 are up for re-election this year, along with the Mayor, and for the time being, these are still partisan races, running city-wide (though the lawsuit challenging this is under appeal with the Arizona Court of Appeals).

Info on Eastside Republicans: Lori Oien (former candidate for Ward 2 Council seat in 2007) at oienjmo@msn.com, 520-749-3472, or Parralee Schneider (former candidate for LD 30 House in 2010), 520-749-0312, pmstucson@aol.com.

Ron Asta

Tyler Vogt

Shaun McClusky