Blogger & Democratic activist Ted Prezelski is reporting over at his Rum Romanism & Rebellion website that Republican Ron Asta will not be on the ballot for Mayor of Tucson:

http://www.rumromanismrebellion.net/2011/06/17/asta-la-vista/

Ted cleverly entitles his article “Asta la Vista” instead of Hasta la vista (see you later in
Spanish).

The family of the late Jennifer Reeves, who died (at age 18) in a car/truck accident back on August 8, 1994 involving Ron Asta, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to contest some of the signatures on Asta’s nomination petitions. The plaintiff was citizen Nicolle A. Callahan.
A hearing on this lawsuit was held today in Superior Court, and “Asta did not contest the evidence against the signatures he filed, subsequently the court ruled that he could not be a candidate” (per Ted’s blogsite).

Asta submitted 1205 signatures on his nomination petitions, but hundreds were disqualified by the Pima County Recorder’s Office, leaving him 73 signatures short of the required 1060 for a Republican Mayoral candidate. The maximum # of signatures he could have collected to qualify is 2119.

I first reported back in November when Asta was considering a bid (click here) and also in February when he took out papers to run for Mayor (click here), and announced his bid. Note comments from Jessica Reeves Foster (Jennifer’s sister) under my blogs, regarding that tragic car accident.

Asta’s campaign had also been troubled with allegations of a shoplifting incident of a steak from a store, prior to his campaign (then as a Democrat) for Mayor in 1983 against Republican Mayor Lew Murphy. One of our Tucsoncitzen.com readers known as “Fraser007″ has also maintained online in the comment sections that there was an earlier shoplifting at an EZ Save of a steak by Asta between 1969 and 1971, which Fraser says he personally witnessed.

With this news about Asta, the only Republican now running for Mayor is realtor Shaun McClusky, who is facing a legal challenge on Tuesday about the signatures on his petitions as well. Democratic contender Marshall Home withdrew his campaign for Mayor yesterday in Superior Court (click here), which I reported about earlier today.

Stay tuned for more developments in the race for Mayor of Tucson. Only 5 candidates left– Democrat Jonathan Rothschild, Independent Pat Darcy, Republican Shaun McClusky, Green candidates Dave Croteau and Mary DeCamp.

The Arizona Daily Star is reporting that Marshall Home (the self proclaimed “multi-billionaire – patriot not a politician”), a Democratic contender for Mayor of the City of Tucson has withdrawn from the race. His residence in the City of Tucson was challenged in a lawsuit filed by citizen Luke Knipe. Click here for article by Rhonda Bodfield of the Star, who attended the court hearing yesterday at Superior Court before Judge R. Douglas Holt.

I reported on Home entering the Mayor’s race back in March (click here), and also when he subsequently changed his party affiliation from Independent to Democrat to enter the Democratic primary, to challenge Mayoral candidate Jonathan Rothschild (click here). I noted back then on March 25 that there were apparent problems with his residency at a Pima County address and not in the City of Tucson (per information received from the Pima County Recorder’s Office).

Candidates running for Mayor (and Council) must have been a resident of the City of Tucson for “not less than 3 years immediately prior to becoming a candidate.” Tucson Charter Chapter XVI Section 5.

On June 2, I wrote a blog about who the 7 candidates who officially filed for Mayor are (click here, with photos).

With Home’s withdrawal there will be no Democratic primary on August 30, as attorney Jonathan Rothschild is now the sole Democrat running for Mayor. Two Republicans (Ron Asta and Shaun McClusky) are campaigning for Mayor (though both face courtroom challenges as well). Two Green candidates Dave Croteau and Mary DeCamp face no challenges to their nomination petitions (and will meet up in the Green Party primary), but Independent Pat Darcy does face a legal challenge on Monday.

So stay tuned for further developments in this Mayor’s race.

Who’s officially filed & running for Mayor of the City of Tucson & for Council Wards 1, 2, and 4?

Deadline to file nomination petitions (with valid signatures) was June 1st, 5 p.m.

Here’s the updated 2011 candidate list from the Tucson City Clerk’s website, with # of signatures submitted in parentheses.

City Clerk’s website: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/gov/elections

Mayor:
Democrats: Marshall Home (2950) and Jonathan Rothschild (3283)
Republicans: Ron Asta (1205) and Shaun McClusky (1183)
Greens: Dave Croteau (28) and Mary DeCamp (23)
NOP (Nomination Other than Primary/Independent): Pat Darcy (3104)

Asta, Croteau, & Darcy have run for Mayor of Tucson before — in the 1983 general, 2007 general, and 1999 primary respectively. Unless there is a petition challenge by June 15, the two Democrats, two Republicans, and two Greens will all face off in their respective August 30 primaries, to face Independent Pat Darcy in the General Election on November 8.

Ward 1:
Democrats: Joe Flores (551), and Regina Romero, Councilmember (539)
Independent Michael Navarro had expressed an interest in this seat but there is no candidate listing for him on the Clerk’s website of June 1, 2011.
UPDATE: Navarro filed to run for this seat as an Independent “Write-In Candidate” on June 8, for the General Election. Further update: Navarro has withdrawn per City Clerk website as of June 16, 2011.

Ward 2:
Democrat: Paul Cunningham, Councilmember (634)
Republican: Jennifer Rawson (543)

Ward 4:
Democrat: Shirley Scott, Councilmember (521)
Republican: Tyler Vogt (428)

The Democrats in Ward 1 will face off in the August 30 primary. Everyone else in these Council races will run in the General Election of November 8, 2011.

If you’re wondering how many signatures were required for each of the 4 races, log onto the City of Tucson Clerk’s Candidate Information Pamphlet here (see page 10):
http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/sites/default/files/clerks/2011%20Candidate%20Information%20Pamphlet%203-10-11.pdf

The candidates who would be Mayor (in alphabetical order) and earlier May blog summarizing who was running (click here)– with the exception of Mary DeCamp who entered the race this week.

UPDATES: 6/16/11 Democrat Marshall Home withdrew from the race (click here), and 6/17/11 Republican Ron Asta found to be ineligible due to lack of minimum # of signatures on his petitions (click here), both in Superior Court actions.

6/20/11 UPDATE: Independent Pat Darcy also lacked minimum # of signatures so he’s out as well (click here), and Republican Shaun McClusky, facing a similar challenge in court withdrew today (click here), but the hearing is till on for 6/21/11.

Ron Asta (R)

Dave Croteau (G)

Pat Darcy (NOP, Independent)

Mary DeCamp (G)

Marshall Home (D)

Shaun McClusky (R)

Jonathan Rothschild (D)