Filing deadline for signature petitions was yesterday at 5 p.m. and here’s the list of candidates for Pima County in 2012. The Primary Election is on August 28 and the General Election is on November 6.

Pima County Assessor
Bill Staples (D), incumbent

Pima County Attorney
Claudia Ellquist (G)
Barbara LaWall (D), incumbent

Pima County Sheriff
Dave Croteau (G)
Clarence Dupnik (D), incumbent
Terry Frederick (R)
Vinson Holck (R)
Chester Manning (R)
Mark Napier (R)
Walter Setzer (R)

Pima County Recorder
Bill Beard (R)
F.Ann Rodriguez (D), incumbent

Pima County Treasurer
Beth Ford (R), incumbent
Elaine Richardson (D)

Pima County School Superintendent
Linda Arzoumanian (R), incumbent
Mace Bravin (R)

Pima County Supervisor District 1 (open seat)
Mike Hellon (R)
Ally Miller (R)
Stuart McDaniel (R)
Vic Williams (R)
Nancy Young Wright (D)

Pima County Supervisor District 2
James Kelley (R)
Ramon Valadez (D), incumbent

Pima County Supervisor District 3
Tanner Bell (R)
Sharon Bronson (D), incumbent

Pima County Supervisor District 4
Ray Carroll (R), incumbent
Sean Collins (R)

Pima County Supervisor District 5
Richard Elias (D), incumbent
Fernando Gonzales (R)

So the primaries to watch are for Pima County Sheriff (5 Republicans) and Pima County Supervisor District 1 (4 Republicans).

For other Pima County races (Justices of the Peace, Constables), go to Blog for AZ (click here).

For more information about the candidates go to:
Pima County Democratic Party
Pima County Republican Party

Press release:

Fernando Gonzales

May 15, 2012 – Tucson, AZ – Fernando Gonzales, local small business owner and son of first generation immigrant farm workers announces his candidacy for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 5 seat in 2012. The position is currently held by Richard Elias who was appointed to the seat when Congressman Raul Grijalva went on to Congress.

Gonzales is one of 8 children that traveled between Arizona and California working in the agricultural fields including cotton fields in Marana. Fernando started a family and eventually moved to Tucson. Fernando is now owner and CEO of JanCo Janitorial which was founded by his sister Elizabeth Gonzales Gann.

As a business owner and on a personal level Fernando believes in giving back to the community both by giving of his time and financial contributions. The company and personally has financially supported over Fifty non-profit organizations. Fernando’s love and passion for people and especially those who are downtrodden has taken him to many of the poorest areas in Mexico. Today he continues to support and orphanage and a ministry that feeds children on a daily basis.

“It’s time we take a different look at the issues of poverty, decaying roads and lack of jobs and lack of hope for your youth.” Gonzales said at his announcement event. “What makes America great and once made Pima County great was the belief and pride in ourselves our families and our neighborhoods. I think we’ve lost that hope.”

Gonzales cited the perception of Pima County as being difficult to do business in as one of the main things he wants to focus on during his campaign. “We have to get out of the rut of saying “NO” to everything and start looking for ways to help our small businesses open and start hiring.”

“Fernando is an American success story and role model in his church, family and community. We should celebrate those that worked hard and changed their direction of their lives.” Said Elizabeth Gonzalez Gann, Fernando’s sister and campaign chair. “The latino voters and neighbors in District 5 will see Fernando as a part of their community and someone who values hard work and faith as a way to get ahead.”

Campaign website: www.votefernandogonzales.com. Gonzales is a Republican and political newcomer.

Christina Cruz
Tagline Media Group
1655 N. Swan Road
Tucson, AZ. 85712
Office: 520-207-8910

www.TaglineGroup.com

Incumbent District 5 Supervisor Richard Elias was appointed to his seat in February 2002 and is speaking tonight at the Martha Cooper branch Library (click here).

James H. Kelley, former Chair of LD 29 Republican party and former blogger “The Cholla Jumps” here at Tucsoncitizen.com and on his own, has taken out papers to run against Democratic District 2 Pima County Supervisor Ramon Valadez, who is Chairman of the board.

James H. Kelley

Kelley is a Transportation specialist for Renzenberger Inc. and “provides reliable safe transportation solutions to Union Pacific Railroad Personnel,” and is a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst. He was Chair of the LD 29 Republican Party for four years until November 2011 and has his B.S. degree in Sociology from the University of the State of New York in Albany. He has also worked as a substitute teacher and real estate broker.

Kelley just applied unsuccessfully to be appointed by this Pima County Board of Supervisors to be the Independent replacement for LD 29 House Rep. Daniel Patterson, who resigned on April 11, 2012. A five member citizens committee considered Kelley’s application along with nine others, but Kelley did not make the final list of 3 nominees, from which the Board of Supervisors chose attorney Nick Fontana on April 23.

Kelley had temporarily changed his voter registration to Independent on April 11, applied for the vacant LD 29 seat, and changed back to Republican on April 30,2012.

Kelley will be formally announcing his candidacy on Monday on KVOI 1030 AM radio.

Democratic Chair Ramon Valadez was appointed to the Board of Supervisors in September 2003, was a former LD 29 State Senator and LD 10 House Representative (since 1996). Valadez was also born & raised in Tucson.