Wednesday, January 5, at the Arizona Inn, 2200 E. Elm Street (between Tucson Blvd. and Campbell):

The Off the Record Debate series, with breakfast from 7 to 7:30 a.m. will feature a political debate from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Republican National committeeman Bruce Ash will moderate a debate about SB 1070′s “effectiveness at curbing illegal immigration”. Arguing for SB 1070 is LD 30 State Senator Frank Antenori, and arguing against it is LD 28 House Rep. Steve Farley. Ash is also in contention to be Chair of the Arizona Republican Party.

The cost is $40 per debate or $110 for the remainder of the season. For reservations, e-mail David Foster at david@votesmart.org. The nonpartisan Project Vote Smart, which is housed at the University of Arizona, hosted a series of these debates which kicked off on November 11, 2009, promoting a public political discourse. Read more at UA News.

I heard these same gentleman debate last May for “Wake Up Tucson” 1030 AM KVOI Radio, (click here), just after SB 1070 was signed into law on April 23, 2010 by Governor Jan Brewer. They also debated about many legislative issues facing Arizona.

Should be another exciting debate between Antenori and Farley, especially as it concerns immigration, a hot issue in Tucson and Southern Arizona.

UPDATE: Senator Antenori unable to debate after all, will be replaced by LD 30 House Rep. Ted Vogt, per David at Project Vote Smart.

Senator Frank Antenori

Rep. Steve Farley

Bruce Ash, moderator

Rep. Ted Vogt

Radio talk show “Wake Up Tucson” (1030 AM KVOI) is hosting “The Great State Debate” on Friday May 7, between LD 28 State House Rep. Steve Farley and LD 30 State Senator Frank Antenori, at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites, 5151 E. Grant Road. The event will be in the Fire + Spice Bistro restaurant at high noon, to 1:30 p.m.

“Wake Up Tucson” is aired 6 to 8 a.m. daily by two businessmen hosts Joe Higgins and Chris DeSimone. Higgins challenged District 1 Pima County Supervisor Ann Day in the Republican primary of September, 2008.

From their website:
“Wake Up Tucson offers a unique perspective about the southern Arizona region. The topics range from small business, tourism, politics, economic opportunities and education. Tucson and the surrounding communities are at a turning point. The challenges and obstacles are great. Now more than ever the community needs to engage in a discussion about our options. The host(s) are highly involved in the community and bring first hand accounts to their listeners. Wake Up Tucson is a radio show with a mission and purpose to educate the community and engage the listeners to get involved in our community. ”

Democrat Steve Farley ran unsuccessfully for Tucson City Council (Ward 6), before being elected to the Arizona State House, where he has served for over three years, since 2007. Republican Frank Antenori was formerly a State House Rep. in LD 30 for one year prior to be appointed by the Pima County Board of Supervisors in March, 2010 to the State Senate. Both men are up for re-election this November. Antenori ran for CD 8 U. S. House in 2006, but lost to former LD 30 State House Rep. Randy Graf in the Republican primary.

Sounds like it will indeed be a “great state debate” about this past legislative session, and the future of our state.

LD 28 Rep. Steve Farley

LD 30 Sen. Frank Antenori