“Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey and top American pro cyclist Tom Danielson led cyclists on a 2.2-mile loop closed to traffic that extended from Jackson Street to 19th Street and included South Fifth and South Meyer avenues.

The event will be featured in Bicycling Magazine’s next issue.

Patrick Dempsey and Tom Danielson, courtesy of Pima County Communications

My previous blog post announcing this bicycling event (click here).

Ride on, Tucson!, courtesy of Pima County Communications

Press release from Pima County:

Patrick Dempsey, photo by John Shearer/Getty Images

“Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey and top American pro cyclist Tom Danielson will host a bike party in Armory Park on Sunday, January 20, 1 – 4 p.m. Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry and Board of Supervisors Chairman Ramón Valadez will kick off the event and join this community ride for people of all ages and abilities.

“Patrick and I really like the community aspect of bike riding,” says Danielson. “And we wanted to get everyone out for a bike ride. It doesn’t matter if they’re riding an old bike or a new one, we just want people to have fun on their bikes.” Danielson rides for the Garmin-Sharp pro cycling team and prepares for his race season by training in Tucson in the winter.

The Ride on, Tucson! route will be closed to vehicle traffic so everyone can enjoy a leisurely ride around one of Tucson’s oldest neighborhoods. Armory Park will host music, including Jovert, Tucson High Magnet School’s steel drum band, and the Determined Luddites. Other festivities will take place throughout the afternoon. Bicyclists can ride the 2.2-mile route multiple times, meet some new bicycling friends, and pick up event posters signed by Dempsey and Danielson.

Pima County Bike Ambassadors will help keep bicyclists moving in the right direction along the route and provide information about bike safety and other great places to ride in Pima County. Mechanics will be on hand to fix flat tires and do other minor repairs.

Bicycling Magazine will visit Tucson for the event as well. Editor-in-chief Peter Flax will arrive a few days early to ride on The Loop shared use path. He will also tour other bike infrastructure in Tucson like the Rattlesnake Bridge and bike boulevards.

“It’s a great way for us to showcase The Loop to the over 400,000 people who read Bicycling Magazine,” says Huckelberry. “Pima County and Tucson can promote our region as a bicycling destination and showcase the economic development potential of The Loop.”

Like Danielson, Patrick Dempsey also has a connection to Tucson. As a teenager, he starred in the 1987 movie, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” that was filmed here. He enjoyed his time in the city then and looks forward to the ride. In a recent video interview with Bicycling Magazine, Dempsey talked about encouraging kids to ride: “Think about when you were a kid, you had the opportunity to go somewhere, the bike gave you freedom. That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.”

Helmets are required for Ride on, Tucson! Event participants may be featured in upcoming Bicycling Magazine videos and articles. For Ride on, Tucson! information, go to: http://www.20-20cycling.com/ride-on-tucson/

For more information about The Loop, the bike and pedestrian paths being developed along the Rillito, Santa Cruz and Pantano rivers and on Julian Wash and Harrison Road greenways, visit http://www.pima.gov/theloop/

For info contact: Mary Reynolds, Communications Coordinator
520-724-3738, Mary.Reynolds@pima.gov

I rented that Tucson movie “Can’t Buy Me Love” a few years ago, and it’s worth seeing esp. the very young, cute Patrick Dempsey, way before he became an actor portraying a doctor on “Grey’s Anatomy”. And check out the movie scenes at Tucson High School. Please join in with this healthy, community event for a 2.2 mile ride around downtown Tucson. See the route map below starting at Armory Park, down south to E. 19th St., then back up to Jackson Street.

U.S.Senate
Jeff Flake (R)

CD 1
Ann Kirkpatrick (D)

CD 2
Ron Barber (D), incumbent

CD 3
Raul Grijalva (D), incumbent

State Senate LD 2
Linda Lopez (D), incumbent

State Senate LD 3
Olivia Cajero Bedford (D), incumbent

State Senate LD 9
Steve Farley (D)

State Senate LD 10
David Bradley (D)

State Senate LD 11
Al Melvin (R), incumbent

State Senate LD 14
Gail Griffin (R), incumbent

State House LD 2
Andrea Dalessandro (D)
Rosanna Gabaldon (D)

State House LD 3
Sally Ann Gonzales (D), incumbent
Macario Saldate (D), incumbent

State House LD 9
Ethan Orr (R)
Victoria Steele (D)

State House LD 10
Stefanie Mach (D)
Bruce Wheeler (D), incumbent

State House LD 11
Adam Kwasman (R)
Steve Smith (R)

State House LD 14
David Gowan (R), incumbent
David Stevens (R), incumbent

Corporation Commission (3 seats)
Robert Burns (R)
Susan Bitter Smith (R)
Bob Stump (R), incumbent

Pima County:
Assessor: Bill Staples (D), incumbent

Attorney: Barbara LaWall (D), incumbent

Recorder: F.Ann Rodriguez (D), incumbent

Sheriff: Clarence Dupnik (D), incumbent

Superintendent of Schools: Linda Arzoumanian (R), incumbent

Treasurer: Beth Ford (R), incumbent

Supervisors:
D 1: Ally Miller (R)
D 2: Ramon Valadez (D), incumbent
D 3: Sharon Bronson (D), incumbent
D 4: Ray Carroll (R), incumbent
D 5: Richard Elias (D), incumbent

Prop. 114 Crime Victims Protection Act YES
Prop. 115 Judicial Selection NO
Prop. 116 Small Business Job Creation Act NO
Prop. 117 Property Tax Assessed Valuation YES
Prop. 118 Permanent State Land Fund YES
Prop. 119 State Trust Lands YES
Prop. 120 State Sovereignty NO
Prop. 121 Open Elections/Open Government NO
Prop. 204 Quality Education & Jobs NO
Prop. 409 Bonds for City Street Improvements YES

Pima Communty College Governing Board (non partisan, 6 year term)
D 3: Sylvia Lee
D 5: Marty Cortez, incumbent

TUSD Governing Board (non partisan, 4 year term)
Kristel Foster
Mark Stegeman, incumbent
Camy Juarez

Congratulations again to all the winners.

Latest unofficial election returns from Secretary of State’s website, click here for updates.

UPDATE: Will try to update each evening as ballots are counted by Pima County and updated by AZ Sec. of State–but only for CD 1, CD 2, LD 9 House, LD 10 House, PCC District 5 Board, TUSD School Board which are close races.

For updates after Nov. 10, go to new summary post: http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2012/11/10/2012-arizona-general-election-updates/

U.S. Senate (open seat)
Richard Carmona (D) 754,416
Jeff Flake (R) 834,206
Marc Victor (L) 72,227

CD 1 (open seat) Kirkpatrick is still leading as of 11/9/12
Kim Allen (L) 13,061
Ann Kirkpatrick (D) 107,750
Jonathan Paton (R) 101,486

CD 2 – may be too close to call – McSally is leading on 11/9/12
Ron Barber (D), incumbent CD 8, 125,187
Martha McSally (R) 125,223

CD 3
Raul Grijalva (D), incumbent CD 7, 67,595
Blanca Guerra (L) 5168
Gabriela Saucedo Mercer (R) 46,419

LD 2
State Senate
Linda Lopez (D), incumbent LD 29, 31,118

State House – 2 seats
Chris John Ackerley (R) 19,698
Andrea Dalessandro (D) 22,483
Rosanna Gabaldon (D) 21,371

LD 3
State Senate (unopposed)
Olivia Cajero Bedford, incumbent LD 27, 31,124

State House – 2 seats (unopposed)
Sally Ann Gonzales (D), incumbent LD 27, 25,986
Macario Saldate (D), incumbent LD 27, 22,482

LD 9
State Senate
Steve Farley (D), 38,191
Tyler Mott (R), 31,361

State House – 2 seats: Orr and Steele still leading as of 11/9/12
Ethan Orr (R), 37,622
Mohur Sarah Sidhwa (D), 35,237
Victoria Steele (D), 39,053

LD 10
State Senate
Frank Antenori (R), incumbent LD 30, 31,919
David Bradley (D), 37,157

State House – 2 seats: Mach & Wheeler still leading as of 11/9/12
Todd Clodfelter (R, 31,712
Stefanie Mach (D), 35,535
Ted Vogt (R), incumbent LD 30, 33,389
Bruce Wheeler (D), incumbent LD 28, 37,609

LD 11
State Senate
Jo Holt (D), 29,185
Al Melvin (R), incumbent LD 26, 38,590

State House – 2 seats
Dave Joseph (D), 27,843
Adam Kwasman (R), 33,517
Steve Smith (R), 35,860

LD 14
State Senate
Pat Fleming (D), 20,958
Gail Griffin (R), incumbent LD 25, 36,049

State House – 2 seats
David Gowan ( R), incumbent LD 30, 31,924
Robert Leach (D), 18,863
David Stevens (R), incumbent LD 25, 31,711
Mark Stonebracker (D), 18,863

Corporation Commission (3 seats)
Robert Burns (R), 696,394
Marcia Busching (D) 552,608
Christopher Gohl (L), 76,729
Sandra Kennedy (D), incumbent, 613,556
Thomas Meadows (G), 46,634
Paul Newman (D), incumbent, 618,251
Daniel Pout (G),39,133
Susan Bitter Smith (R), 690,049
Bob Stump (R), incumbent, 722,434

Returns from Pima County elections of some races, http://www.pima.gov/elections/results1.htm. Go online for the other races — Constables, Justices of the Peace, other school boards.

Pima County Assessor (unopposed)
Bill Staples (D), incumbent, 196,926

Pima County Attorney
Claudia Ellquist (G) – withdrawn
Barbara LaWall (D), incumbent, 195,334

Pima County Recorder
Bill Beard (R), 103,631
F. Ann Rodriguez (D), incumbent, 172,719

Pima County Sheriff
Dave Croteau (G), 9584
Clarence Dupnik (D), incumbent, 154,842
Mark Napier (R), 143,895

Pima County Superintendent of Schools (unopposed)
Linda Arzoumanian (R), incumbent, 187,671

Board of Supervisors
District 1 (open seat)
Ally Miller (R) 42,841
Nancy Young Wright (D) 36,119

District 2
Jim Kelley (R), 13,902
Ramon Valadez (D), incumbent, 21,787

District 3
Tanner Bell (R), 22,131
Sharon Bronson (D), incumbent, 25,771

District 4 (unopposed)
Ray Carroll (R),incumbent, 56,461

District 5
Richard Elias (D), incumbent, 28,431
Fernando Gonzales (R) 10,691

Pima County Treasurer
Beth Ford (R), incumbent, 152,020
Elaine Richardson, 124,456

Pima Community College governing board (non partisan,2 seats):

District 3:
Sylvia Lee, 19,997
“Vicki” Marshall, incumbent, 12,525

District 5: Cortez still leading as of 11/9/12
Marty Cortez, incumbent, 14,186
Richard Fridena, 12,773
Francis Saitta, 6042

TUSD Governing Board (nonpartisan race, 3 seats): no change in status since election night, with Foster, Stegeman & Juarez leading

Menelik Bakari, 5990
Debe Campos-Fleenor, 24,799
Don Cotton 21,647
Miguel Cuevas,incumbent, 25,776
Ralph Ellinwood 19,597
Kristel Foster 36,158
John Hunnicutt 25,071
Camy Juarez 28,666
Robert Medler 13,083
Betts Putnam-Hidalgo 22,181
Mark Stegeman, incumbent 35,268
Alex Sugiyama, incumbent 18,107

For information/updates on which propositions won statewide & for City of Tucson, click here.

Stay tuned for updates, as I will post new figures as they become available — but only if the results are changed from this initial report, as ballots will be counted slowly day by day. This is the update of the latest returns, but not all precincts have reported statewide. Congratulations to the winners.

Mark Napier (R) for Sheriff, http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/pima-county-sheriff-napier-s-fresh-ideas-mean-he-s/article_a807cb13-3c63-5332-9356-8d82836c5b56.html

Nancy Young Wright (D) for Pima County Supervisor District 1 (open seat),http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/endorsement-pima-county-board-of-supervisors-dist/article_858ca2ba-8fa2-5cc1-b48a-161d026a3196.html

Sharon Bronson (D) for Pima County Supervisor District 3, incumbent, http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/endorsement-pima-county-board-of-supervisors-dist/article_09212ffb-e1a1-588d-8390-cdf56433e7b2.html

Tucson Weekly’s 2012 endorsements, http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/the-tucson-weekly-2012-endorsements/Content?oid=3546754:

Clarence Dupnik (D) for Sheriff, incumbent

F. Ann Rodriguez (D) for Recorder, incumbent

Beth Ford (R) for Treasurer, incumbent

Supervisors:

District 1: Nancy Young Wright (D)

District 2: Ramon Valadez (D), incumbent

District 3: Sharon Bronson (D), incumbent

District 5: Richard Elias (D), incumbent

District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll (R) is running unopposed, and won his primary in August, as did School Superintendent Linda Arzoumanian (R). Assessor Bill Staples (D) had no opponent in either the Primary or General. And Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall (D) is facing only a Green Party opponent in the General Election (whom she has defeated before).

Early voting starts today (October 11), so vote wisely on or before the November 6th General Election.

In celebration of Women’s Equality Day the Women’s Commission is hosting an executive reception at their office, 240 N. Court Ave. from 5 to 7 p.m.on August 26. Invited special guests are Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Supervisor Sharon Bronson, and Lisa Lovallo, VP of Cox Communications (guest speaker).

Cover artwork courtesy of Maria Jimenez, 2012 PCTWC Art Contest winner. Please RSVP by August 19 to 520-624-8318.

WHEREAS, on August 26, 2012, we honor the hard work and perseverance of those who helped to secure women’s suffrage in the United States, in Arizona, and in Pima County. We reflect also on the sacrifices made by those visionaries so that our daughters and granddaughters will build on the achievements of our past and move forward as one people, one Nation, and one State; and

WHEREAS, the first women’s rights convention, held on July 13, 1848, in Seneca Falls, New York, witnessed the early defenders of women’s rights, such as Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mary Ann McClintock and Frederick Douglas, signing the Declaration of Sentiments, declaring all women and men created equal and, in one of the accompanying resolutions that called for universal women’s suffrage. After a 72-year struggle, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified on August 26, 1920, giving women the right to vote; and

WHEREAS, in 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed the first Presidential Proclamation declaring August 26 as Women’s Equality Day, a precedent followed by every U.S. President who followed him; and
WHEREAS, as we look to the future, we honor the resilience, accomplishments and history of women in the United States and Arizona, and celebrate their extraordinary accomplishments.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Pima County Board of Supervisors hereby proclaims August 26, 2012, to be:
“WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY”
and call on all residents of Pima County to celebrate these accomplishments, and to renew our commitment to empower women and girls with full equality in all aspects of life.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 7th day of August, 2012.
_Ramon Valadez__________________________________
Chairman, Pima County Board of Supervisors
ATTEST:
_Robin Brigode__________________________________
Clerk of the Board

I would like to add also that many women now hold elected public office and are candidates in the upcoming elections. Consider your choices & vote wisely on or before the August 28 AZ Primary.

District 4 Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll

Supervisor Ray Carroll

Monday June 25, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Kirk-Bear Canyon library, 8959 E. Tanque Verde Rd. (NE corner of Bear Canyon Rd. and Tanque Verde Rd.)

We invite you to take this opportunity to meet and converse with Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll. Supervisor Carroll has represented District 4 on the Pima County Board of Supervisors since February 1997.

Mr. Carroll was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended Catholic and public schools in that city. In 1980, he became a Westerner when he moved to Denver, Colorado and entered Regis University. He was graduated with honors in 1984, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. He then moved to Tucson. Prior to his service on the Board of Supervisors, Mr. Carroll was Foundation Manager for Casa de los Niños. He also served as Chairman on the City of Tucson’s Housing Board.

From Supervisor Carroll’s website:

Now in his 15th year on the county legislative body, he has established a firm reputation among his constituents for advocating open, transparent county decision-making based upon the very lowest taxes consistent with responsible government.

Mr. Carroll has been the recipient of many prestigious awards over the years. Some of the more recent accolades include: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Public Service, presented in 2007 at a ceremony in San Francisco; the Hero of the Taxpayer Award, presented in 2007 by the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers; the Sky Island Alliance Award for Public Service, presented in 2008 for his leadership in opposing the proposed Rosemont Mine; and, the Governor Howard Pyle Award, presented in 2009 in Phoenix by the Republican Party of Arizona for his political leadership in southern Arizona.

Carroll was first appointed to his seat in May, 1997 and was elected to it in Nov. 1998. He has been unopposed since then in the primary & general elections, except for this year when he faces a political newcomer, businessman Sean Collins in the Republican primary on August 28.

As for the other Supervisors, District 1 Supervisor Ann Day is retiring, and 4 Republicans (Mike Hellon, Ally Miller, Stuart McDaniel, and LD 26 House Rep. Vic Williams) will face off in the August primary, to challenge 1 Democrat (former LD 26 House Rep. Nancy Young Wright) for that seat.

In the other Supervisor races– Districts 2, 3 and 5–Republican political newcomers are also challenging each of the Democratic incumbents, all in the November 6 General Election:

District 2: James Kelley vs. Supervisor Ramon Valadez, current Chairman of the Board
District 3: Tanner Bell vs. Supervisor Sharon Bronson
District 5: Fernando Gonzales vs. Supervisor Richard Elias

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

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.

We invite you to take this opportunity to meet and converse with Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías. Supervisor Elías has represented District Five on the Pima County Board of Supervisors since February 2002. He is a fifth-generation Tucsonan and an alumnus of Salpointe High School and the University of Arizona.

This forum will take place during the Garden District Neighborhood Association’s monthly meeting.

Democrat Richard is up for re-election this fall for another 4 year term in District 5. Republican Fernando Gonzales, a political newcomer, took out papers on May 4 to run against Richard in the November election. *

Meet Richard Elías

When: Tuesday, May 15, 6-8 pm
Where: Martha Cooper Branch Library, 1377 N. Catalina Avenue (north of Speedway, east of Columbus).

So here’s your chance to speak with Richard about Pima County issues.

As for the other 4 Supervisors up for re-election this year…

District 1 Republican Supervisor Ann Day is retiring and 4 Republicans (Mike Hellon, Ally Miller, Stuart McDaniel, LD 26 House Rep. Vic Williams) are facing off in their August 28 primary to face former LD 26 House Rep. Democrat Nancy Young Wright for that seat.

District 2 Democratic Supervisor Ramon Valadez is being challenged by Republican James Kelley, former blogger “The Cholla Jumps” here at Tucsoncitizen.com, a political newcomer.

District 3 Supervisor Democrat Sharon Bronson is facing a Republican opponent Tanner Bell (political newcomer), and District 4 Supervisor Republican Ray Carroll is also facing a political newcomer Sean Collins, but in the Republican primary.

*5/15/12 Update: Fernando Gonzales announced his candidacy for this District 5 seat today:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2012/05/15/republican-businessman-fernando-gonzales-announces-candidacy-for-district-5-pima-county-supervisor/