Before the August 24 Arizona primary, I wrote an article noting that there seemed to be a woman candidate running for almost every Arizona public office (click here), but of course there are less now in the General Election.

Here’s a list of the women candidates seeking office in Southern Arizona and statewide. Most of these candidates have been endorsed by the Arizona Women’s Political Caucus (AWPC), EXCEPT for Republicans Governor Brewer, candidates Ruth McClung, Brenda Burns, Gail Griffin, Peggy Judd, and Terri Proud, and Democratic candidate Margaret DiFrank.

The AWPC only endorses women candidates who are pro-choice.

Congressional District 7: Ruth McClung (R), candidate
Congressional District 8: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D), incumbent

Governor Jan Brewer (R), incumbent (appointed)
Attorney General – Felecia Rotellini (D), candidate
Superintendent of Public Instruction – Penny Kotterman (D), candidate
Corporation Commission (2 seats) – Brenda Burns (R), candidate

Southern AZ legislators:

LD 25 Senate – Gail Griffin (R) candidate, former legislator
LD 25 House (2 seats) – Rep. Pat Fleming (D),incumbent and Peggy Judd (R) candidate

LD 26 Senate – Cheryl Cage (D), candidate
LD 26 House (2 seats) – Terri Proud (R) candidate, and Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D), incumbent

LD 27 Senate – Rep. Olivia Cajero Bedford (D), candidate, current legislator
LD 27 House – Sally Ann Gonzales (D), former legislator

LD 28 Senate – Senator Paula Aboud (D), incumbent

LD 29 Senate – Senator Linda Lopez (D), incumbent (unopposed)

LD 30 House – Andrea Dalessandro (D), candidate

Clerk of Superior Court – Margaret DiFrank (D) candidate, Clerk Patti Noland (R), incumbent

After the General Election 5 of the 6 Southern Arizona State Senators could be women, mostly Democrats — incumbents Senators Paula Aboud and Linda Lopez, plus veteran legislator Olivia Cajero Bedford, former legislator Gail Griffin, and newcomer Cheryl Cage.

Here’s their mission statement of AWPC:

“The Arizona Women’s Political Caucus is the state affiliate of the National Women’s Political Caucus. We are the only multi-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to increasing the number of pro-choice women in elected and appointed office. We work to help women attain leadership positions at all levels of government.”

Early voting starts on October 7 for the November 2nd General Election.

Coming up on Thursday Sept. 9, the Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC) debate between “clean” candidates running for LD 27 State Senate and House of Representatives. There are 2 open seats in the House race as both current Democrats Rep. Phil Lopes and Rep. Olivia Cajero Bedford are termed out.

Ms. Cajero Bedford just won the Democratic nomination for State Senate in that same district, and faces little opposition in the General Election, only write-in Republican candidates Duke Schechter and Jaime Vasquez.

The CCEC debate is at PCC West campus
West Campus Student Lounge
2202 W Anklam Rd
at 6 p.m.
and the video of this debate will be available online w/in 72 hours, at http://www.azcleanelections.gov/home/video/generaldebatevids2010.aspx

However there is lots of opposition for the 2 Democrats Sally Ann Gonzales and Dr. Macario Saldate nominated in the August 24 house primary. Their websites are: http://www.votemacariosaldate2010.info/, and www.www.votesallygonzales.com. Gonzales is President of Guadalupe Community Development Corp., and is a former 2 term District 10 House Rep.(1996 to 2000), former Tribal Council member & Secretary of Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona (1992 – 1996). Dr. Macario Saldate IV, is the Director of Guadalajara Summer School,and a retired UA Educational Foundations & Administration professor.

Republican Robert Compton, a service technician at Hamstra heating/cooling company (www.thatcomptonguy.com) is making his first bid for public office. Green Party candidate Solberg ran before for this seat in 2008, and is the owner of Kent’s Tools (a small business on Grant Road), www.kent4house.org. Chaplain Gene Chewning (www.votechewning.com) ran for this seat in 2006 as a Republican, and is now an Independent seeking one of the these two House seats as well. So there’s one of each– Republican, Green, and Independent, facing off with the 2 Democrats.

All candidates are participating in the “clean” elections program.

Choose between 2 of these 5 candidates for LD 27 House of Representatives. LD 27 has
the following registered voters: 40,600 Democrats, 16,156 Republicans, 800 Libertarians, 295 Greens, and 24,290 Independents, for a total of 82,151 voters (from Pima County Recorders website, click here.)

UPDATE 9/15/10: CCEC video online click here.

Gene Chewning

Robert Compton

Sally Ann Gonzales

Dr. Macario Saldate

Kent Solberg