Just received a constituent letter from Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik indicating his unhappiness with the Republican Party, and he says he intends to become a Democrat. He is up for re-election this year for another 4 years for his Ward 6 Council Seat. The Mayor and all other Councilmembers on the Tucson City Council are Democrats.

January 11, 2013

Councilman Steve Kozachik

Open Letter to my Constituents:

In 2009, when I was first approached by the local Republican Party leadership to consider running for the Tucson City Council, there was a clear mutual understanding that my political inclinations are to the center. I committed to looking at each issue on a one-by-one basis, studying the merits of all sides and voting based on the set of facts, not on the basis of a rigid ideology. From the standpoint of being able to win cross-over votes, and drawing out the center of the Republican Party, leadership felt my candidacy would be attractive to the voters. From a personal perspective, I entered the race comfortable believing that if elected, my role would be to demonstrate that bi-partisanship could work. My hope was to be a standard bearer for what I believed to be a large, centrist component of the party.

During the past three years, I have maintained my commitment to study issues individually, invite to the table the diverse set of voices that make up our community, and participate in crafting public policy that attempts to reflect the varying points of view I have heard. Simply applying hard work and common sense, and not starting from a preconceived notion of the ‘right answer,’ I’ve dug into the complex issues we face and have tried to vote in ways that reflect the
greater good of the community. I have heard supportive comments from members of both the Republican and Democratic party, and from registered Independents as well. I thank each person who has acknowledged the work ethic I have tried to demonstrate.

And yet, over the past two election cycles it has become clear that the local and Arizona State Republican Party is being driven by a small, but vocal faction that has taken it far to the political right. That faction has effectively taken over the Party leadership and is driving an ideological agenda that I do not believe reflects the common will of the community. I continue to believe that there is a healthy contingent of registered Republicans who gravitate to the center and are willing to listen to all sides of an issue before forming a position. I hear from them, and they voice both a frustration and an embarrassment over the image the Party has brought upon itself in this State.

In the past two years I have made an effort to resist the lurch to the right that the Party leadership has embraced. I have written, spoken out and voted in ways that I believe reflect not only the centrist approach the voters supported in 2009, but I have also openly attempted to prevent the erosion of the Party label that has now occurred throughout the State. In that time, the local Republican party leadership has disengaged from its involvement in local issues. The Pima
County GOP was completely silent throughout our 9 month Ward Redistricting process, has played no role what so ever in our budget prioritizing discussions, and has not engaged at even a minimal level when we have addressed other significant issues such as our water policy, public safety or transit. Instead, what is heard from Party leadership is extreme partisan rhetoric that serves no productive role in crafting good public policy on the bread and butter issues with which the Mayor and Council deal.

With that approach, the leadership does not reflect those who wear the Party label but who are not inclined to embrace a far right wing ideology. There is a centrist element in the Party, but it is not allowed a seat at the table at which the Party agenda is set. Party leadership cannot expect that group to continue to wear a label that does not reflects its central values. The Arizona Republican Party is an ideological outlier. I am not, and I see nothing that indicates
that leadership is inclined to move in any direction but further away from what I believe are the values of this community. I appreciate the support I have been given by those in the Party who share these feelings. I also appreciate the support I have been given by both Independents and Democrats who have openly recognized my efforts to craft common sense public policy, untethered from an extreme ideological position. But the Republican Party leadership cannot expect those of us whose purpose it is to reach common ground across varying political interests to continue to wear a label that rejects that core principle.

I will therefore be changing my party registration to Democrat. In doing so, I will not change the manner in which I have approached the study of each issue, and I will not abandon the common sense, hard work I have shown that I have committed to this seat on the Council. My colleagues and I will continue to agree on many issues, and we will disagree on some as well. What is most important though is that as we craft public policy, we each respect the fact that every person at the table brings a unique perspective, and each deserves a voice in the discussion.That dynamic does not exist within the leadership of the Arizona Republican Party.

Sincerely,
Steve Kozachik

UPDATE: Response from new Pima County Democratic Party Chair Don Jorgensen:

The Pima County Democratic Party appreciates Councilman Kozachik’s insightful comments and thoughtful decision, and we welcome him to our party. Councilman Kozachik’s choice highlights the fact that the Democratic Party represents mainstream Arizona values that place common sense and the public good ahead of partisan ideology.

The Councilman’s statement reflects the strength and understanding of the Democratic Party a “big tent” which respects diversity of opinion, and we believe, as he aptly noted, “that every person at the table brings a unique perspective, and each deserves a voice in the discussion.”

I call upon all of my fellow Democrats in Pima County to join me in welcoming Councilman Kozachik as the newest Pima County Democrat.

Meet The Candidate Reception and Fundraiser for: Republican Ally Miller

Friday, 11/11/11 (November 11) from 5 to 7 pm
Metro Grill Restaurant (Banquet Room)
7892 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson, AZ 85704
(SE Corner of Oracle and Magee)

Miller, with a career in business and longtime community activist is widely recognized for speaking out against wasteful spending, tax increases and most recently for her success in contacting the FBI and Attorney General Offices to investigate the $230 Million Rio Nuevo debacle. She is now campaigning to represent Pima County Board of Supervisors District 1 which is the seat from which Supervisor Ann Day will be retiring at the end of her term in 2012.

Ally has lived in Tucson for nearly 30 years. She and her husband Jeff who works for a local defense contractor live in Northwest Tucson. They have been married for 18 years.

Ally is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Finance and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the Eller School of Management.

Ally has more than 30 years business experience with Pricing/contract negotiation, procurement, budgeting, auditing government contracts, engineering program controls and consolidation and streamlining processes.

Ally is very proud of her job as general contractor for the home she and her husband built in 2000 in which they still reside today. She is most proud of the fact that her first undertaking as a homebuilder was completed on schedule and on budget.

Ally promises “accountability to the taxpayers” along with a lively discussion on how she plans to reshape the direction of Pima County.

Please join us for an exciting evening as Ally embarks on her campaign for 2012.
For more information, contact her campaign office 520-477-2554 or visit the campaign website at www.allyforsupervisor.com

Contact: Geri Ottoboni
Allyforsupervisor@gmail.com
Ally Miller
P.O. Box 89128
Tucson, AZ 85752

Ally testified last November for the Pima County Tea Party Patriots at a Rio Nuevo board meeting (click here).

Fellow Republican Stuart McDaniel, a mortgage banker, already kicked off his campaign for this Supervisory seat on September 22 (click here). His website (with bio/photo is www.mcdanielforsupervisor.com.

Jan. 2012 UPDATE: Four Republicans now running for District 1 Supervisor: political newcomers Miller and Stuart McDaniel, LD 26 House Rep. Vic Williams and former AZ Republican Party chair Mike Hellon. One Democrat running: former LD 26 House Rep. Nancy Young Wright.

Email from the Pima County GOP this afternoon:

Pima GOP Statement Regarding Brian Miller

The role of the Republican Party is clear: to elect candidates and support those candidates once elected. The recent statements and actions of Chairman Brian Miller have not served to further those goals, but rather the opposite. Mr. Miller’s statements regarding the SWAT raid have created serious problems for our elected officials, money raising efforts and have divided the Party. Mr. Miller was given repeated opportunities to either mend these fences or resign his position, and has chosen to do neither. Instead, he has continued to make controversial statements to the press.

As is the case with any organized governing body, no elected officer should be off in their own direction. This is especially important for the Chairman position. When the leader of an organization speaks for himself instead of the body that he was elected to, then division and chaos are the result. That is an unacceptable position for any organized body to be in and yet that is where the Pima GOP finds itself today.

Furthermore, in recent days serious questions have been raised as to the use of Party funds under Mr. Miller’s leadership. Mr. Miller has contracted for thousands of dollars of spending without proper Executive Committee oversight or approval which is in violation of the Committee bylaws.

In light of these concerns, the Pima GOP Executive Committee has chosen to strip Mr. Miller of his authority as Chairman. The Precinct Committeemen of Pima County have called a special meeting and we will be convening as soon as possible to vote on a bylaws change. If that passes the PCs will decide whether they wish to remove Mr. Miller from the board.

For my previous blog about Chair Brian Miller’s problems see related link below.

Stay tuned. For more info on Pima GOP call 520-321-1492, or email hq@pimagop.org. Website is www.pimagop.org.