Bio from Polak:

• The Boeing Company 1997 to 2012, Long Beach, CA & Tucson, AZ. Worked with Domestic and International Air lines companies. Supported Satellite launch operations and international transportation.
• McDonnell Douglas Long Beach, CA 1987 to 1994
• Northrop 1986 to 1987
• 8 years in the United States Marine Corp
• Graduated for Southern California Institute of Technology with B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Electronic Engineering
• Small business owner.

He currently is the owner of Desert Armory Gun Parts & Accessories, a small business selling gun equipment and participating in gun shows. He says that his top priorities in this campaign are:
• Bringing Jobs to Tucson
• Improving the infrastructure and services in Tucson
• Improve public safety

Mike Polak II

Polak’s campaign info: mikeforcouncil@gmail.com, phone 520-243-3511, 2004 E. Irvington St. #175, website: Facebook.com/Mike for City Council.

Fimbres defeated political newcomer Republican Shaun McClusky in 2009 to win his Ward 5 seat (53% to 46%). Democratic Councilman Steve Leal had retired after 5 terms serving Ward 5.

Ward 3, 5, and 6 are up for election this year. One term Councilmember Steve Kozachik is running for re-election in Ward 6, as is 2 term Councilmember Karin Uhlich. All three Councilmembers up for re-election are Democrats. Kozachik is running unopposed at this time, and Uhlich is being challenged again by Republican community activist Ben Buehler-Garcia who lost to her in 2009, in a 3 way race with Green candidate Mary DeCamp.

On Wednesday, March 20th, Ward 6 Council Member Steve Kozachik will be joined by the City of Tucson’s four most recent mayors for a campaign kickoff event. Former mayors George Miller, Tom Volgy and Bob Walkup will join current Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild at Borderlands Brewery in downtown Tucson for the event.

Steve Kozachik Campaign Kickoff
Wednesday, March 20, 5:30 – 7:00 P.M.
Borderlands Brewing Company
119 E. Toole Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701

“Borderlands is the perfect venue for this kick-off,” said Kozachik. “It’s the poster child of a successful private sector venture that has quickly grown into a successful downtown business. It is emblematic of the successes we’re seeing in the downtown core, a success story that I’m proud to have been a part of and one that I am excited to continue to support.”

Former Council Member and honorary campaign co-chair Carol West will also be in attendance. Kozachik announced previously that West, Walkup and former United States Surgeon General Richard Carmona will be co-chairing his campaign.

The event marks the first time in recent memory that four mayors, representing two parties have come together in support of a city council candidate. Each mayor offered their own insights into what makes Kozachik an effective leader, deserving of their endorsement.

The current Mayor Jonathan Rothschild (elected 2011) is a Democrat, along with former Mayors Tom Volgy (1987 to 1991) and George Miller (1991 to 1999). Former Mayor Robert Walkup (1999 to 2011) is a Republican.

Councilman Steve Kozachik (aka “Steve K” or “Koz”) is running unopposed for the Ward 6 Council office so far. He was elected to this seat as a Republican and just changed to a Democrat on January 14, 2013.

Two term Ward 3 Councilmember Democrat Karin Uhlich is facing Republican challenger Ben Buehler-Garcia, who ran against her before in 2009. He lost by 175 votes in a three-way race with Councilmember Uhlich and Green candidate Mary DeCamp.

One term Ward 5 Councilmember Democrat Richard Fimbres is facing a Republican challenger as well, political newcomer Mike Polak II, a self employed businessman. Stay tuned for a future post about Polak’s candidacy. He just filed his Statement of Organization on March 6 with the Tucson City Clerk.

REDISTRICTING ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT TO REDISTRICT
CITY WARD BOUNDARIES

Every four years the boundaries of the six wards of the City are reviewed to determine whether adjustments are necessary to equalize the population in each ward. The Mayor and Council have established a citizens committee to assist with this effort.

The Redistricting Advisory Committee encourages public participation in
the redistricting process and wants to hear from you. A public hearing
will be held to gather information from the public regarding ward
redistricting. The preliminary redistricting plans will be on display
at the public hearing and are available for public inspection during
normal business hours at the City of Tucson, City Clerk’s Office, City
Hall, 255 West Alameda, 9th floor. Additionally, the plans are
available on the City Clerk Elections web page:
http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/gov/elections

Redistricting Advisory Committee Public Hearing
Wednesday, August 22, 5:30 p.m.
Mayor and Council Chambers, City Hall
255 West Alameda, Tucson, Arizona

Comments and suggestions may be submitted to the Redistricting Advisory
Committee c/o City Clerk, P.O. Box 27210, Tucson, AZ 85726-7210,
emailed to cityclerk@tucsonaz.gov or delivered to the City Clerk’s
Office, City Hall, 255 West Alameda, 9th floor, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m.

Three preliminary option maps are shown on the City’s Elections page for changes in location of several precincts which affect Wards 1 to 6. So if this concerns you, please attend the meeting as you could find yourself voting in a different City Ward, and being represented by a different Councilmember.

Randolph Golf Complex
600 S. Alvernon Way

Quincie Douglas Library
1585 E. 36th Street

Clements Center
8155 E. Poinciana Drive

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
1145 E. Ft. Lowell Road

Udall Park Recreation Center
7200 E. Tanque Verde Road

Valencia Branch Library
202 W. Valencia Road

Tucson City Clerk Elections Center (also open today 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
800 E. 12th Street

(Note: All vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the City Clerk’s Office either by mail or dropped off at any of these centers by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order for your ballot to be counted. –And I have heard that postmarks won’t count.)

And finally, a recap of who’s running for Mayor of Tucson, and City Council in Wards 1, 2 and 4:

Mayor:
Democrats: Jonathan Rothschild, two write-ins David Karr and Joseph Maher, Jr.
Greens: Dave Croteau and Mary DeCamp
Republicans: two write-ins Rick Grinnell and Daryl Peterson

Ward 1:
Democrats: Joe Flores and Regina Romero
Green: write-in Beryl Baker
Republican: none

Ward 2:
Democrat: Paul Cunningham
Republican: Jennifer Rawson

Ward 4:
Democrat: Shirley Scott
Republican: Tyler Vogt

Vote wisely!

And for those interested in knowing how many ballots were mailed (as of 8/22/11 per Tucson City Elections) in this first time vote-by-mail election:

Democrats: 99,662
Republicans: 57,357
Libertarians: 1,999
Greens: 1549

Total: 160,567
These figures include the Independents who had to request a specific party ballot.

Rick Grinnell

Blogger James Kelley (“The Cholla Jumps”, formerly with Tucsoncitizen.com) reports that Republican Rick Grinnell is seriously considering a run for Mayor of Tucson, as a write-in candidate. Filing deadline for write-in candidates for the primary race is July 21 with the Tucson City Clerk. Grinnell has been in the news recently serving on the Rio Nuevo Multi Purpose Facilities District board.

Read Kelley’s blog here: http://thechollajumps.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/rick-grinnell-to-run-for-tucson-mayor-as-a-write-in/

I reported on Grinnell last April, 2010 when he applied to be appointed to the Ward 2 Council seat (which subsequently went to Democrat Paul Cunningham, who’s now running for election). Click here for that blog. And here’s my brief description of Grinnell:

Richard K. (Rick) Grinnell, Founder/Registered lobbyist for Smart United Business Strategies, Inc. and President/Registered lobbyist for Rick Grinnell Business & Marketing Consulting, B.S. in Business Management from U. of Phoenix, U.S. Navy veteran, candidate for Ward 2 Council seat in 1995 and 1999, Republican

Grinnell ran against Councilmember Janet Marcus and Libertarian Tim Loomis in 1995, and against former Marcus aide Carol West in 1999. He got 34.06% of the vote compared to incumbent Marcus (47.76%) and Loomis (9.34%). Four years later Grinnell fared better (44.25%) against West, who prevailed with 50.01% of the vote.

He needs 1060 minimum write-in votes in the Republican primary to get on the General election ballot. (Last year Republican Greg Krino got 1519 write-in votes to qualify for the LD 28 State Senate race against incumbent Senator Paula Aboud. Krino only needed 214 write-in votes, after he decided not to run for LD 28 House.)

For more information on SUBS (Smart United Business Strategies, A Business Advocate for Informed Political Involvement) click here. Grinnell can be reached there at 520-624-0231 or Rick@SubsTucson.com.

Both Republicans Ron Asta and Shaun McClusky were found ineligible to run for Mayor recently in Superior Court challenges, due to not having enough valid signatures on their nomination petitions.

David M. Karr

Another write-in candidate political newcomer David M. Karr is listed on the Tucson City Clerk’s website as a Democrat (as of June 22, 2011). He was born here in Tucson, graduated from Sahuaro High School, is a retired Correctional Sergeant and wants to be a stand up comic. His campaign website is http://karrfortucsonmayor.webs.com, and he can be reached via email at karrfortucsonmayor@gmail.com.

Karr faces political newcomer attorney Jonathan Rothschild in the Democratic primary on August 30. The winner of the Green Party primary (either Dave Croteau or Mary DeCamp) will advance to the General Election for Mayor. Croteau has run for Mayor before in 1999 (write-in) and in 2007 as the sole challenger against Mayor Bob Walkup.

So stay tuned to see if Grinnell does decide to run, or if anyone else besides Karr throws his/her hat into this Mayoral race as write-in candidates. The deadline for filing petition nominations was June 1st, so only write-in candidates are now allowed.

7/1/11 UPDATE: Another Democratic write-in candidate has filed: political newcomer architect Joseph Maher, Jr. (click here).

Both Green Party candidates will be at The Shanty on Sunday June 26, 6 p.m. to talk to the so-called “liberals” of Drinking Liberally about why they are running for Mayor, and the Green Party primary on August 30. Independents can vote in the Green Party primary, but need to inform the Tucson City Clerk’s office (520-791-4213) if they want a Green ballot by July 16, 2011.

Croteau ran for Mayor as a Green write-in candidate in 1999 (against Democratic Councilwoman Molly McKasson and then political unknown Republican Robert Walkup – who prevailed). Then Croteau ran for Pima County Sheriff in 2000 garnering 16% of the vote, and lost to Sheriff Clarence Dupnik. In 2007 Croteau challenged Mayor Walkup (when no Democrat ran), and got 28% of the vote. Read my previous blog about Croteau’s background (click here).

DeCamp ran against Councilmember Karin Uhlich in 2009 and Republican challenger Ben Bueller-Garcia. DeCamp got 6% of the vote, with Uhlich narrowly beating Bueller-Garcia by 175 votes.
Read my previous blog about DeCamp and her background (click here).

The Shanty is at 401 E. 9th St. (NE corner of 4th Avenue and E. 9th Street), just north of the 4th Avenue Underpass. For more information on Drinking Liberally, go to www.livingliberallytucson.org. They meet at The Shanty to discuss political issues and/or listen to speakers every Sunday at 6 p.m.

For more information on the Green Party of Pima County, go to their website, www.pimagreens.org. If you miss this Drinking Liberally meeting, you can hear both Green candidates speak at their upcoming monthly Green Party meeting on Tuesday July 5th, 7:15 to 9:15 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 400 E. University Blvd. #205.

The Green Party of Pima County (GPPC) is the official county chapter of the Arizona Green Party and the Green Party of the United States, Our primary mission is to get Green Party members elected to local, state, and national office. We also work to reform the electoral system, increase grassroots participation in government decision making, develop cooperative leadership models, and ensure that Green politicians remain accountable to those who place them in office.

Dave Croteau

Mary DeCamp

Who’s officially filed & running for Mayor of the City of Tucson & for Council Wards 1, 2, and 4?

Deadline to file nomination petitions (with valid signatures) was June 1st, 5 p.m.

Here’s the updated 2011 candidate list from the Tucson City Clerk’s website, with # of signatures submitted in parentheses.

City Clerk’s website: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/gov/elections

Mayor:
Democrats: Marshall Home (2950) and Jonathan Rothschild (3283)
Republicans: Ron Asta (1205) and Shaun McClusky (1183)
Greens: Dave Croteau (28) and Mary DeCamp (23)
NOP (Nomination Other than Primary/Independent): Pat Darcy (3104)

Asta, Croteau, & Darcy have run for Mayor of Tucson before — in the 1983 general, 2007 general, and 1999 primary respectively. Unless there is a petition challenge by June 15, the two Democrats, two Republicans, and two Greens will all face off in their respective August 30 primaries, to face Independent Pat Darcy in the General Election on November 8.

Ward 1:
Democrats: Joe Flores (551), and Regina Romero, Councilmember (539)
Independent Michael Navarro had expressed an interest in this seat but there is no candidate listing for him on the Clerk’s website of June 1, 2011.
UPDATE: Navarro filed to run for this seat as an Independent “Write-In Candidate” on June 8, for the General Election. Further update: Navarro has withdrawn per City Clerk website as of June 16, 2011.

Ward 2:
Democrat: Paul Cunningham, Councilmember (634)
Republican: Jennifer Rawson (543)

Ward 4:
Democrat: Shirley Scott, Councilmember (521)
Republican: Tyler Vogt (428)

The Democrats in Ward 1 will face off in the August 30 primary. Everyone else in these Council races will run in the General Election of November 8, 2011.

If you’re wondering how many signatures were required for each of the 4 races, log onto the City of Tucson Clerk’s Candidate Information Pamphlet here (see page 10):
http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/sites/default/files/clerks/2011%20Candidate%20Information%20Pamphlet%203-10-11.pdf

The candidates who would be Mayor (in alphabetical order) and earlier May blog summarizing who was running (click here)– with the exception of Mary DeCamp who entered the race this week.

UPDATES: 6/16/11 Democrat Marshall Home withdrew from the race (click here), and 6/17/11 Republican Ron Asta found to be ineligible due to lack of minimum # of signatures on his petitions (click here), both in Superior Court actions.

6/20/11 UPDATE: Independent Pat Darcy also lacked minimum # of signatures so he’s out as well (click here), and Republican Shaun McClusky, facing a similar challenge in court withdrew today (click here), but the hearing is till on for 6/21/11.

Ron Asta (R)

Dave Croteau (G)

Pat Darcy (NOP, Independent)

Mary DeCamp (G)

Marshall Home (D)

Shaun McClusky (R)

Jonathan Rothschild (D)

Michael Navarro

Growing up on the streets of Barrio Hollywood on Tucson, Arizona’s west side, was not easy for Michael, but he decided he wanted something better than to get swallowed into a life of crime and trouble.

When Michael graduated from the University of Phoenix, he decided to attend Trinity Law School in Santa Ana, California. After graduating from law school, he moved back to his native Tucson, and began work with several different law firms as well as the Attorney General’s office.

He then began working for the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court and also acts as pastor at Westside Baptist Church.

He has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Navarro/163916763669189
and can be reached by mnavarro@q.com. Hope to update tomorrow on Navarro’s voting record once I confirm it with the Pima County Recorder’s Office.

Councilmember Romero is running for re-election for her 2nd term, and is facing a Democratic challenger businessman Joe Flores in the August 30, 2011 primary. The winner of that primary will face off with Navarro, should he get enough signatures to qualify for the General Election on November 8. No Republican is running for this Council seat as yet.

The Mayor of Tucson and Council seats in Wards 1, 2 and 4 are up for election this year.

5/18/11 UPDATE: Navarro has been registered as a Democrat since July 19, 2007, changed to Independent on April 25, 2011, per Chris Roads (Deputy Recorder & Registrar of Voters) at Pima County Recorder’s Office.

As of today (May 17) with nomination petitions due 5 p.m. on June 1st to the Tucson City Clerk, here’s the current slate.

IN (in order of initial filing of paperwork with Tucson City Clerk‘s office):

–Republican Shaun McClusky, former candidate for Ward 5 Council office in 2009, chaired anti-Prop 400 sales tax campaign in 2010; a realtor, www.voteshaun.com

–Democrat Jonathan Rothschild (already submitted 3283 signatures, the maximum for his party), attorney & political newcomer; www.jonathanformayor.com

–Republican Ron Asta, former Democratic District 1 Pima County Supervisor (1972-1976), ran for Mayor in 1983 as a Democrat against Republican then-current Mayor Lew Murphy & got 36.4% of the vote; a land planner, www.ronasta4mayor.com

–Democrat Marshall Home (formerly registered as an Independent & Republican), a self-reported “multi-billionaire”, political newcomer

–Green Dave Croteau, former candidate for Pima County Sheriff (2000) and Mayor (2007– he’s the only one that challenged Mayor Bob Walkup in that race & got 28% of the vote, no Democrat or Libertarian ran); a community activist

–Independent Pat Darcy, former candidate for Mayor in the 4-way Democratic primary of 1999 (Councilmember Molly McKasson won that race over Councilmember Janet Marcus, Betsy Bolding, and Darcy– who got 8.6% of the vote–, but then Molly lost to Republican Bob Walkup, then a political newcomer); a realtor and former major league baseball player (pitcher for Cincinnati Reds)

Darcy had been considering a bid since March (click here for earlier blog) but only registered as an Independent on April 1, 2011, and took out paperwork with the City Clerk on Friday May 13, 2011 to run for Mayor. He has been registered as a Democrat since 1971 per Chris Roads (Deputy Recorder & Registrar of Voters) at the Pima County Recorder’s Office.

OUT:

–Democrat Thomas Lombardi, a hall monitor at Mt. View High School, political newcomer (withdrew)

–Green Jon McLane, a businessman & political newcomer who withdrew last week & endorsed Republican Shaun McClusky

Democratic Mayoral candidates need between 1642 and 3283 signatures, Republicans between 1060 and 2119, and Green Party candidates only 17 to 32 signatures to qualify to run for the office of Mayor.

Independents (Nomination Other Than by Primary-NOP) only qualify for the Mayoral General election ballot (no primary) but need to get 2596 signatures by June 1st. “Any registered voter can sign the petition for an NOP candidate as long as they have not already signed a petition for another candidate running for the same office” according to the 2011 Candidate Information Pamphlet issued by the Tucson City Clerk. The number of valid signatures on the NOP petition must be equal to at least 3% of the total number of registered voters who are not members of a qualified political party (Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Green) — as of 3/1/11.

Stay tuned for any other changes in the next weeks before the filing deadline. I hear other rumors of other potential candidates…and no woman is running as yet.

Dave Croteau

November, 2007 General election results:
Mayor Walkup (R) 45,543 71.20%
Dave Croteau (G) 17,962 28.08%

Croteau lists his residence address in the City of Tucson. He also tried to run for Ward 6 Council seat in 2009 but was apparently unable to due to invalid signatures. He also ran for Pima County Sheriff in 2000 and got 16% of the vote to Sheriff Clarence Dupnik’s 72%. In 1999 Croteau was a write-in candidate for Mayor in the General election, along wth Molly McKasson (D) and Robert Walkup (R).

Croteau is a is a lifelong resident of Tucson, a graduate of Palo Verde High School, and has attended Pima Community College. He is part Native American and a Vietnam Veteran. He can be reached via email at tucsonrestorer@gmail.com. (Website: http://futurefocustucson.blogspot.com/)

Another Green candidate Jon McLane is also seeking this seat, but has problems with his voter registration in the City of Tucson according to Chris Roads of the Pima County Recorder’s office. Roads (Deputy Recorder & Registrar of Voters) stated that McLane first registered to vote in Pima County in May 2007 but has not voted in any election in Pima County. He did not vote in 2008 and 2010 so his voter registration was canceled on December 6, 2010. McLane re-registered in Pima County recently on March 4, 2011 at 1022 N. Palo Verde Blvd. in the City, just prior to filing for Mayor on March 21, 2011. His prior address (before his registration was canceled) was 8001 N. Suwannee (a County address).

Four others are seeking the job of Mayor: Democrat Jonathan Rothschild (who submitted the maximum amount (3283) of Democratic signatures this week), and Marshall Home; and Republicans Shaun McClusky and Ron Asta. Democrat Thomas Lombardi (a political newcomer) withdrew from this race last week. Croteau needs to get only between 17 to 32 Green Party signatures in the City of Tucson to qualify for this race, by the June 1 (5 p.m.) deadline.

More info on the Green Party of Pima County: http://pimagreens.org/. If both Croteau and McLane qualify to run for Mayor, they will face off in the August 30 primary.

5/12/11 UPDATE: Jon McLane withdrew today (click here) but endorsed Republican candidate McClusky over Croteau.