Here’s whom their editorial board recommends for three seats:

Ralph Ellinwood
Betts Putnam-Hidalgo
Mark Stegeman (incumbent)

This week the Tucson Weekly endorsed Ralph Ellinwood and Cam Juarez for TUSD school board, with “honorable mentions” to Betts Putnam-Hidalgo and Kristel Foster. Read their endorsements, click here. The Weekly did not endorse for the PCC governing board.

The three incumbents on the TUSD board seeking election are Miguel Cuevas, Dr. Mark Stegeman, and Dr. Alex Sugiyama. This is a non-partisan race, with 12 candidates running. For more info the official twelve candidates, click here for my previous blog post, with campaign websites (updated).

And for the Star’s endorsements for Pima Community College governing board in which their editorial board urged change and voting for the political newcomers: http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/change-is-imperative-vote-for-lee-and-fridena/article_ddf76307-5b9f-57ab-b7eb-ac0f4528882a.html:

Sylvia Lee (District 3)
Richard Fridena (District 5)

The incumbents at PCC are “Vicki” Marshall (District 3) and Marty Cortez (District 5).

Another TUSD candidate forum coming up next week:

Save our Students: Save our Schools
TUSD Candidate Board Forum
How will you vote to make sure your child is getting the best education possible?

Our students/children deserve excellent public education and YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! Learn where school board candidates stand on what matters most to our families:

Description:
(1) Safe transportation to neighborhood schools

(2) No small school closures

Lemonade, Coffee & Pan Dulce!

Join us October 16th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at St. John’s Catholic Church (12th Ave and Ajo, 602 W. Ajo Way).

Early voting for the AZ General election began on October 11. Vote wisely on or before November 6.

And three other upcoming forums listed below in October:

A free forum for the Board candidates for the Tucson Unified School District will be presented from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on Monday, October 1, at the YWCA building, 525 Bonita Ave. Sponsors of the forum are the Tucson YWCA, the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, the Metropolitan Education Association, and Voices for Education. The moderator will be Greg Hart, formerly head of Pima County’s Adult Education (1982-2007) and currently Founder and President of The School, Inc. for struggling youth. All candidates for the three open positions in this non-partisan election have been invited.

12 candidates (including the 3 incumbent board members) are seeking these 3 positions. Click here for earlier post about the 12 official candidates, and another blog post about who’s run for TUSD governing board in the last 10 years (click here).

Other forums on October 4th and 10th:

Save TUSD’s Neighborhood Schools will host a forum at El Casino Ballroom, 437 East 26th St., Thursday, Oct. 4, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. More info on this group on their Facebook page.

A Candidate Forum for TUSD Governing Board will be held on October 10, 7 pm at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Tucson Estates, 5900 W. Western Way Circle, Tucson, AZ 85713. It is sponsored by the Education Watch Committee of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Vote wisely on or before Nov. 6.

Miguel Cuevas, Dr. Mark Stegeman, and Dr. Alex Sugiyama are currently on the board and seeking election. Cuevas ran for a TUSD board seat in Nov. 2006 and lost, but was elected in Nov. 2008, along with Dr. Stegeman. Dr. Sugiyama was appointed to his seat in December, 2011 and is now seeking election to it.

All 12 candidates were invited and here’s the list of who have confirmed their attendance:

Don Cotton
Ralph Ellinwood
Kristel Foster
Camy Juarez
Betts Putnam-Hidalgo
Mark Stegeman
Alex Sugiyama

The forum will be the New Spirit Lutheran Church, 8701 E. Old Spanish Trail (on the northeast corner at Camino Seco). It starts at 6:30 p.m. with socializing and refreshments, then 7 p.m. for the introductions and later questions/answers. For info on the Saguaro Eastside Democrats contact attorney Pat Wiedhopf at 520-850-6755.

If you miss this forum, Drinking Liberally is hosting a TUSD Board candidates’ forum on Wed. September 26, 6 p.m. at The Shanty, 401 E. 9th St. And there will be two more forums/debates in October — on the 1st and 10th, so stay tuned.

This is a non-partisan race on the November 6 general election ballot.

Here’s a recap of who’s run for the five board seats in the last 10 years:

2002 (2 seats)
Bruce Burke (attorney) – winner
Adelita Grijalva- winner
Rosalie Lopez (attorney), incumbent
Cynthia Schiesel

2004 (3 seats)
Judy Burns – incumbent, winner
Marilyn Freed
Joel Ireland (attorney), incumbent, winner
Devin Mauney
Elena Parra
Pam Perry
Alex Rodriguez, winner
Armand Salese (attorney)

2006 (2 seats)
Bruce Burke, incumbent, winner
Miguel Cuevas
Adelita Grijalva, incumbent, winner

2008 (3 seats)
Judy Burns, incumbent, winner
Miguel Cuevas, winner
Mark Stegeman, winner

2010 (2 seats)
Adelita Grijalva, incumbent, winner
Michael Hicks, winner
Miguel Ortega
Armand Salese

54 people applied for a vacancy (after 3 term board member Judy Burns’ death in October, 2011) including former 2 term board member Bruce Burke, former candidates Marilyn Freed, Miguel Ortega, & Armand Salese. For the complete list go to the Tucsonsentinel.com article. Political newcomer Dr. Alex Sugiyama was appointed to that seat in December, 2011.

2012 (3 seats)
Twelve candidates running including incumbents Cuevas, Dr. Stegeman and Dr. Sugiyama. Click here for previous post about the official list.

The board member to go on successfully to higher office has been Raul Grijalva (served on TUSD board 1975 to 1986), then went on to become the District 5 Pima County Supervisor (1989 to 2002), and CD 7 Congressman, where he has now served 10 years. His oldest daughter Adelita was first elected to TUSD board in 2002, 10 years ago, and is up for re-election in 2014.

See full board history (1884 to present) at:
http://www.tusd1.org/contents/distinfo/Documents/boardmembers.pdf

1 term board member Rosalie Lopez (1999-2002) ran unsuccessfully against Raul for Supervisor in 2000 as a Republican, then was upset in the 2002 board election by Bruce Burke & Raul’s daughter Adelita.

Former 3 term board member attorney Eva Bacal (1979-1990) ran unsuccessfully for CD 8 House in 2004 as a Democrat and lost to Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe. Incidentally Eva’s daughter attorney Susan Bacal serves as a Justice of the Peace for Pima County Consolidated Justice Court, Precinct 8.

Former 2 term board member Dr. Brenda Even (1991-1998) ran unsuccessfully for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 4 in the Republican primary of 1998 and lost to incumbent Ray Carroll, who had been appointed to replace her late husband Supervisor John Even. She was then appointed to the PCC Board of Governors in 2001 and was elected twice, is serving till Dec. 2014.

After interviewing the majority of candidates, Cam Juarez and Kristel Foster overwhelmingly demonstrated TEA values and commitment to quality public education. We believe these two candidates who share our values will be able to lead TUSD in a positive direction in the future. Educators, students and the community will benefit with Kristel and Cam serving on the TUSD Governing Board.
Vote for Cam Juarez and Kristel Foster for TUSD Governing Board.
Tucson Education Association Political Action Committee (TEAPAC)

Camy Juarez

Kristel Foster

TEA’s mission is “To secure professional status and respect for public school employees and to promote quality public education”.

Juarez works as a neighborhood reinvestment project coordinator, and Foster is a program specialist at Sunnyside School District language acquisition dept.

Read my previous blog post about the 12 official candidates seeking the 3 volunteer positions on the Tucson Unifed School District governing board (click here).

Current TUSD board member & former President, Dr. Mark Stegeman is seeking re-election and he will be speaking at Drinking Liberally on September 5, 6 p.m. at The Shanty, 401 E. 9th St. Dr. Stegeman was elected when he, Miguel Cuevas, and Judy Burns ran unopposed for the 3 board seats in 2008. A TUSD governing board candidate forum is also scheduled for September 26 by Drinking Liberally, same place, same time.

And I hear that the Saguaro Eastside Democrats will be hosting a TUSD candidate forum on Monday September 17, so save that date to hear from these and other candidates. This is a non-partisan race so all twelve candidates will be invited to that forum.

Attend these upcoming forums and vote wisely on or before November 6.

I reported on the previous filing deadline of August 8, when 12 people submitted petitions (click here for earlier article).

Since August 8th I was able to find out more information on the 12 candidates. Here’s the updated official list, with campaign websites for those who have one:

–Menelik Bakari, retired teacher, Doolen Middle School
–Debe Campos-Fleenor, Allstate insurance agent
–Don Cotton, retired postal worker, owner of online printing business, www.cottonfortusd.com
–Miguel Cuevas, current Board member & President; Project Coach at AFNI, www.votemiguelcuevas.com
–Ralph Ellinwood, attorney (criminal law), www.futuretusd.org
–Kristel Foster, former UA clinical assistant professor in education (3 years), program specialist at Sunnyside School District language acquisition dept., www.fosterfortusd.com
–John Hunnicutt, husband of blogger Loretta of “Arizona Daily Independent”, businessman/owner of Philanthropy and Paytran, www.johnhunnicutt4tusd.com
–Camy Juarez, neighborhood reinvestment project coordinator, www.juarezfortusd.com
–Robert Medler, VP of Government Affairs, Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce, www.medler4tusd.com
–Elizabeth “Betts” Putnam-Hidalgo, part-time teacher & activist, www.betts4tusd.com
–Mark Stegeman, UA associate professor of economics, current board member & former President, www.stegeman4tusd.com
–Alex Sugiyama, UA lecturer of economics, current board member, www.sugiyamafortusd.com

Although this is a non-partisan race, here’s the party registration for these twelve per Pima County Recorder’s Office:

Democrat: Miguel Cuevas, Don Cotton, Ralph Ellinwood, Kristel Foster, Camy Juarez, Betts Putnam-Hidalgo, Mark Stegeman
Green: none
Independent/No Party Preference: Menelik Bakari
Libertarian: none
Republican: Debe Campos-Fleenor, John Hunnicut, Robert Medler, Alex Sugiyama

The incumbents in this election are Miguel Cuevas, Dr. Mark Stegeman,and Dr. Alex Sugiyama. Cuevas & Stegeman were elected in Nov. 2008. Sugiyama was selected from a total of 54 applicants who applied for the vacant seat last year after TUSD board member Judy Burns passed away suddenly in October. He was appointed to that seat by Pima County School Superintendent Dr. Linda Arzoumanian in December, 2011. Bakari, Campos-Fleenor, Ellinwood, Foster, Medler, and Putnam-Hidalgo had also applied for the vacant seat.

View their campaign websites (if any), attend debates/forums with these candidates and vote wisely on Nov. 6.

Petition deadline for nominations was today at 5 p.m. and here’s who has filed (but subject to challenges in court by August 22):

–Menelik Bakari, retired teacher, Doolen Middle School
–Debe Campos-Fleenor, Allstate insurance agent
–Don Cotton, retired postal worker, owner of online printing business
–Miguel Cuevas, current Board member & President; Project Coach at AFNI
–Ralph Ellinwood, attorney (criminal law)
–Kristel Foster, former UA clinical assistant professor in education (3 years), program specialist at Sunnyside School District language acquisition dept.
–John Hunnicut, husband of blogger Loretta of “Arizona Daily Independent”, businessman/owner of Philanthropy and Paytran
–Cam Juarez, neighborhood reinvestment project coordinator
–Robert Medler, VP of Government Affairs, Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce
–Betts Putnam-Hidalgo, teacher & activist
–Mark Stegeman, UA associate professor of economics, current board member & former President
–Alex Sugiyama, UA lecturer of economics, current board member

The other two TUSD board members Adelita Grijalva (daughter of CD 7 Congressman Raul Grijalva) and Clerk Michael Hicks are up for re-election in 2014. Info on the current school board, click here.

Stay tuned for the official list of who’s actually officially running in the November 6 General election– after August 22. For more deadline info and # of petition signatures obtained by these candidates, go to the Pima County School Superintendent webpage (click here).

In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain after a decade of war. The revolution had destroyed the colonial silver mining industry and had bankrupted the national treasury. Along the northern frontier, funds that had supported missions, presidios and trading routes were reduced. As missions began to wither without military protection, Mexico began auctioning off more land (land grants). The revolution also impacted the relationship between the Europeans, Pueblos and non-pueblo natives such as the Apache and Navajo.

The Mexican period came to a close with the influx of Americans. In 1846, the annexation of Texas led to the Mexican-American War, ultimately resulting in the Mexican Cession, in which the United States acquired the region of Arizona north of the Gila River in 1848. The California gold rush brought more Americans through Arizona. The Mexican period closed with the Gadsden Purchase in 1854 and the last of the Mexican army leaving Tucson in 1856.

Arizona officially became the U.S. Territory of Arizona from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state.
That was almost 100 years ago.

Arizona state flag

Currently about 30.8% (2009 estimate) of the State of Arizona has individuals claiming to be of Hispanic origin, but we are awaiting the official 2010 Census results. Many local Mexican-American families here in Tucson are 5th generation Americans, like District 5 Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias‘ familia.

Blogger Hugh Holub has a recent report on Arizona’s 6.4 million population. “Hispanics are the fastest-growing demographic group in the state, as well as in the country.”

Other Hispanic politicians in Southern Arizona: Congressman Raul Grijalva (CD 7), Pima County Supervisor Chair Ramon Valadez (District 2), Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez, Tucson Councilmembers Regina Romero (Ward 1) and Richard Fimbres (Ward 5), LD 27 Senator-elect Olivia Cajero Bedford, LD 27 House Rep.-elect Dr. Macario Saldate, TUSD Governing Board members Adelita Grijalva (Raul’s daughter), & Miguel Cuevas.

So therefore, based on Arizona’s history as having been once Spanish-speaking Mexico and the current increasing ethnic population figures, my Christmas message this year is “Feliz Navidad”. I always sing along when I hear Jose Feliciano‘s popular song with that title (written by him in 1970) on the radio.

Happy holidays everyone.

Feliz Navidad, prospero año y felicidad.