Republican Sean Collins, a political newcomer has filed to run in the Republican primary against 4 term incumbent Supervisor Ray Carroll. Collins has served in the Air Force and is a small businessman, owner of a Dairy Queen in Vail, AZ. Mari Herreras at the Tucson Weekly had the story today (click here).

According to the Quail Creek Republican Club newsletter, Carroll’s challenger for the District 4 seat is Sean Collins, a U.S. Air Force veteran who owns the Vail Dairy Queen with his wife Tracy. “Collins was in the Air Force for almost 22 years, stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base from 1999 until he retired as a senior non-commissioned officer in 2003.” (He’ll be speaking at the group’s meeting on Friday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. at the Quail Creek Madera Clubhouse).

Collins’ Campaign website: www.collins4supervisor.com (with photo), phone 520-271-1114.

Supervisor Carroll was first appointed to his District 4 position in May, 1997, and prevailed in the 3-way Republican primary of September, 1998 with 43% of the vote (against Brenda Even & Ken Marcus). He then won the 1998 General Election against Libertarian Gay Lynn Goetzke (79% to 21%). Carroll has run unopposed in both the primary & general elections of 2000, 2004, and 2008.

Carroll is seeking re-election and will be having a campaign meet & greet event on Sunday February 12, 2 p.m. at the American Legion Hall Post 66, Duval Mine Road, Green Valley/Sahuarita. His campaign website is www.electraycarroll.com, campaign phone 520-570-7007. Carroll announced his re-election bid today on the Buckmaster radio show (click here).

4 of the 5 Pima County Supervisors are up for re-election, except for District 1 Supervisor Ann Day who is retiring. 4 Republicans (Mike Hellon, Stuart McDaniel, Ally Miller, & Vic Williams) are running for that seat in the primary on August 28, and one Democrat Nancy Young Wright (so far) will face the Republican winner in November. I’ve written about these incumbent Supervisors last year “Pima County Board of Supervisors – incumbency matters” (click here).

CBS News reported on the unveiling yesterday of the permanent stone memorial at the SE corner of Ina/Oracle in front of the Safeway supermarket, where the mass shooting occurred last year on 1/8/11, killing six and injuring 13 others, including CD 8 Congresswoman “Gabby” Giffords.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57354699/bells-ring-marking-year-since-tucson-attack/

Here are two photos taken by (and courtesy of) former LD 26 House. Rep. Nancy Young Wright (who happened to sit near me at Centennial Hall yesterday for the Remembering January 8th memorial lectures). Nancy took these photos yesterday as this is the neighborhood Safeway where she shops.

Nancy Young Wright has officially entered the race for District 1 Pima County Supervisor, and is the only Democrat running so far, with Supervisor Ann Day retiring. There are two Republican political newcomers running as well (Stuart McDaniel and Ally Miller), with perhaps two more Republicans expected to enter the race (current House Rep. Vic Williams of LD 26, and Mike Hellon, who ran for CD 8 House in the 2006 Republican primary).

UPDATE 1/10/12: Hellon filed yesterday (click here.)

The words on the plaque read: “Honoring the victims of the event of January 8, 2011, The Tucson Tragedy…we shall never forget. Safeway”

The 2nd photo is of the flowers left by Tucsonans yesterday along the barrier next to the memorial, on the first year anniversary of the shooting.

And here’s the link (click here) of the photos taken by myself & a friend at that Safeway memorial of flowers/balloons/mementoes after January 15 of last year when that Safeway reopened for business.

I have yet to view this permanent memorial, and intend to do so sometime soon.

Arthur Albert Chapa

Memorial services were held today at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Avenue in memory of former Arizona Board of Regents member Arthur Albert Chapa, who passed away on November 19, at age 69, from H. pylori-induced cancer.

Chapa was well known in Democratic political circles, “raising money for Democratic candidates, serving as a staffer for Congressman Morris K. Udall (1978-81), and serving on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ transition team in 2006. He was the state director of President Bill Clinton’s 1996 re-election bid.” (from Az Daily Star article on November 23).

He served on the Arizona Board of Regents for 8 years (1990 to 1998), according to his friend former Gubernatorial candidate Eddie Basha, who spoke today at his service. Both Basha and another friend former State Senator George Cunningham referred to Chapa as their “brother/hermano”. He graduated from George Washington University Law School, and also worked as a lobbyist for Pima County.

Basha said that Chapa “spoke against discrimination” and worked towards increasing in-state minority enrollment at ASU’s Law School, and wanted the best “quality of life experience for all the students.”

Bishop Gerald Kicanas (who officiated today) spoke of Chapa as a man whose “life was well lived, given in service to others”. He said that “some make a difference” in life and that Chapa was one of those who did, as he “wanted the best for his community, because he always wanted more not less” for Tucson.

Art Chapa is survived by his wife Lynette, three children, three grandchildren.

Numerous politicians, City and County officials were present today at this memorial service, including all five Pima County Supervisors (Ramon Valadez, Sharon Bronson, Ray Carroll, Richard Elias, Ann Day), County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry, UA President Robert Shelton.

The Chapa family has established a fund in his name to increase awareness of H. pylori-induced cancer, and contributions can be sent to the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Tucson, 85724. Remembrances can be posted at www.MeM.com.