The Saguaro Eastside Democrats and Legislative District 28 are hosting a debate for Democratic State House candidates running in that district on Friday, March 19. The debate will start at 7 p.m. at the New Spirit Lutheran Church, 8701 E. Old Spanish Trail, NE intersection of S. Camino Seco. Light Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the debate should end by 8:30 p.m.

Moderator will be John C. Scott, host of KJLL 1330 AM talk radio show.

Democratic donkey logo

Expected to debate will be LD 28 Democratic house candidates:

- State House Rep. Steve Farley (incumbent)
- Marlena Fineberg
- Ted Prezelski
- Mohur Sidhwa
- Tim Sultan
- Bruce Wheeler (former 1 term State House legislator & 2 term City Councilmember)

Marlena Tova Fineberg just filed to run recently, and she is a sales executive at Ambient Air Heating and Cooling, and has published a poetry book entitled “Elephants, Alligators, Umbrellas”. Marlena says she is a Democrat, but her party affiliation is not listed on the official state campaign finance website, though she just informed me that she is “listed as a Democrat now on the hard copy sent to the Sec. of State.” (update 5 p.m. 3/18/10).

Voters in the August 24 Democratic primary will chose 2 of these candidates to face off in the November 2nd General Election, against Republican house candidates in LD 28.

Republican Ken Smalley, a property manager, www.kensmalleyforrep.com has filed to run in this race. Another Republican Greg Krino filed recently, and he is a 3rd year law student at the U of A, clerking at the Pima County Attorney’s office (http://gregkrino2010.com/)

For these Democratic candidates’ brief bios and website information, click here, for my earlier blog at the first forum of these hopefuls (except Fineberg) which was held on February 21, at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church. At that forum 5 Democratic house candidates all introduced themselves and spoke for 10 minutes, but there was no debate or public question/answer period.

For more information on this debate call Pat Wiedhopf at 520-850-6755.

Be informed, attend these debates to meet these Democratic candidates.

Democratic Candidates for the State House and Senate in Legislative District 28 (LD 28) have been invited to attend a “Meet the Candidates” public forum:

Date: Sunday, February 21
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Place: St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. 3rd St. (west of Alvernon Way)

Five State House hopefuls (for 2 seats) have been invited to attend, and each will speak for 10 minutes, followed by an informal session to answer questions:

– incumbent LD 28 State House Rep. Steve Farley, in office since 2007, artist, www.friendsofarley.com

– Ted Prezelski, LD 28 house candidate in 2008 & former Democratic party officer, blogsite host of “Rum, Romanism & Rebellion” (and brother of former LD 29 State House Rep. Tom Prezelski), www.prezelskiforarizona.org.

– Mohur Sidhwa, former Democratic party officer, businesswoman, www.mohur2010.com

– Tim Sultan, candidate in CD 8 U.S. House in 2004, financial negotiator, www.timsultan.com

– Bruce Wheeler, former LD 13 House Rep. (1974 – 76), former 2 term Ward 1 Tucson City Councilmember (1987 to 1995), retired businessman, photographer, www.Wheeler2010.com

There are 2 Democratic State Senate hopefuls in LD 28 (one seat), and they are involved with this particular forum as well (news update since February 17, 3 p.m)

–incumbent LD 28 State Senator Paula Aboud, in office since January 2006, property manager

– Dr. Ted Downing, former LD 28 State House Representative who served 2 terms (2003 to 2007), UA research professor of social development, www.ted-downing.com (UPDATE, see 5/12/10 blog here).

For more information about LD 28: http://www.pimadems.org/LD-28/index.html from the Pima County Democratic Party website.

Attend this Feb. 21st forum to meet and greet these candidates for the State House and Senate of Arizona, to be decided in the August 24 primary.

Ken Smalley, who ran for Pima County Treasurer in 1992 and for Tucson City Council against Molly McKasson in 1993 as a Libertarian, has filed to run as a Republican for an LD 28 House seat. (Thanks to AZBlueMeanie–whoever he is–at Blog for Arizona for this info as I’m not currently up to date on the Republican Party candidates).

UPDATE: for info on an LD 28 House candidates’ debate, click here for 3/19/10 event: