Meet Me at the Library: Conversations with Arizona Leaders – Richard Elías

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/

Tanner Bell

Former UA Wildcat Football player and former President of Arizona Policy Institute (API) Tanner Bell intends to run as a Republican for District 3 Pima County Supervisor against 4-term incumbent Democrat Sharon Bronson. The Tucson Weekly announced his bid yesterday:

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2012/04/09/pima-county-supervisor-sharon-bronson-draws-republican-opponent-tanner-bell

Bell is an academic counselor at the UA Athletic Dept. (click here for staff listing). He can be reached at tannerbellpima@gmail.com and is a political newcomer.

Information below from Arizona Policy Institute website:

Tanner Bell worked as an independent sales representative for a number of local Tucson firms. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Regional Development from the University of Arizona, where he was a three year Letterwinner in football.

He currently serves on the board for the National Football Foundation of Southern Arizona and the “A” Club. In addition to his board responsibilities he is a member of the Executive Committee for the United Way Inclusion Council and Young Leaders Society in which he co-chairs the Events Team. Most recently, Tanner has been nominated as a Finalist for the United Way’s Young Leader of the Year as well as Tucson’s Top 40 Under 40. Tanner is a transplant from the coast, growing up in Castroville, CA.

API is made up of a board of individuals from around Southern Arizona. API’s board is made of representetives (sic) from the following industries and areas of expertise: tourism, non-profit administration, entertainment, small business, commercial and residential development, association management, law, finance, large business, neighborhood associations, road construction, marketing and public relations, retail trades and urban planning. Each member of the API board was chosen for their experience in the marketplace, knowledge of the Southern Arizona business or political environment and their desire to create a better community. The members realize that personal benefits are secondary to collective community advancement.

Tanner Bell’s campaign website is www.tannerbell.com, and he can be reached at tanner@votetannerbell.com.

Vice Chair Bronson announced her intent to run again for re-election on the Buckmaster show on April 5, 2012 (click here). She was first elected in Nov. 1996 (upsetting incumbent Republican-turned-Independent Supervisor Ed Moore).

District 1 Supervisor Ann Day (R) is retiring this year, and 4 Republicans (Mike Hellon, Ally Miller, Stuart McDaniel, LD 26 House Rep. Vic Williams), and one Democrat (former LD 26 House Rep. Nancy Young Wright) are seeking that seat.

District 2 Supervisor Chair Ramon Valadez (D) is running unopposed so far.

District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll (R) is facing opposition in the Republican primary on August 28 from political newcomer/businessman Sean Collins.

District 5 Supervisor Richard Elias (D) is running unopposed so far.

Background on the past elections and bios of the current Supervisors, refer to my article last spring (click here) on “Pima County Board of Supervisors – incumbency matters”.

4/18/12 UPDATE: Bell is no longer President of the Arizona Policy Institute (though I did get phone confirmation at the API of that when I ran this story). Read more in Az Daily Star:
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/ua-alum-bell-seeking-to-take-bronson-s-seat-on/article_7d91e2bf-8465-5126-8e3e-bd33b0cc73ac.html

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).