The Tucson Citizen Editorial Board interviewed candidates in contested general election races. Here are summaries of our previously published endorsements.
FEDERAL OFFICES
Raúl Grijalva
Democrat, U.S. Congressional District 7
The three-term U.S. House member is well known for his attention to early childhood and public education, conservation of natural resources and our nation’s wild places, as well as his appreciation of our military and desire for an end to the war in Iraq.
Gabrielle Giffords
Democrat, U.S. Congressional District 8
The accessible, candid first-term House member embodies the bipartisan spirit needed to get things done, has an excellent understanding of issues, such as the war in Iraq, and has the experience needed to use that knowledge on Arizonans’ behalf.
STATE SENATE
Manuel V. Alvarez
Democrat, state Legislative District 25
Rural health care is a major focus for the quiet, straightforward three-time state legislator. He astutely sees illegal immigration as primarily a federal problem and wants the state to focus on drug-runners and other violent criminals who break state laws.
Cheryl A. Cage
Democrat, state Legislative District 26
A businesswoman, Cage wants Arizona to exploit its potential for solar power, believes the state must diversify its revenue sources and says the Legislature should revisit a defeated initiative that would allow state universities to partner with private businesses.
Bob Westerman
Republican, state Legislative District 27
Westerman, a senior manager at Raytheon Missile Systems, has an enthusiasm for the job of governance, an unusually deep knowledge of the troubled state budget and a passion for education that would serve the Democrat-dominated district well.
Jonathan Paton
Republican, state Legislative District 30
Two-term state legislator Paton understands government and has done yeoman’s work, distinguishing himself most recently by co-sponsoring a package of laws designed to improve children’s safety and increase transparency in Child Protective Services.
STATE HOUSE
Richard Boyer
Democrat, state Legislative District 25
Boyer, a former Bisbee magistrate, has provocative ideas: He wants property tax relief, higher teacher pay and suggests teachers get the same deal as some doctors: help with college costs if they’ll work in a rural area initially.
Patricia Fleming
Democrat, state Legislative District 25
Fleming,who retired after 24 years with the Department of the Army, says southern Arizona’ No. 1 problem is drug trafficking and illegal immigration. She questions the proposed I-10 bypass and likes the concept of a Tucson-Phoenix rail connection.
Don Jorgensen
Democrat, state Legislative District 26
Jorgensen, a health care professional, promises transparency in the budget process. He wants a dedicated funding source for education, rather than leaving it to the whims of the Legislature, which has traditionally been stingy.
Nancy Young Wright
Democrat, state Legislative District 26
Wright, in the Legislature for a year, says prison costs should be reviewed, especially in private prisons. In budgets cuts, all-day kindergarten, KidsCare and prenatal services should not be touched; they save us money in the long run.
Olivia Cajero Bedford
Democrat, state Legislative District 27
Cajero-Bedford, a legislator for six years, has a deep sense of social responsibility and tried to increase cancer research funding. She is a staunch voice for education, social services, health care and services for elderly people.
Phil Lopes
Democrat, state Legislative District 27
Lopes, Democratic leader in the House, is one of the state’s outstanding legislators. He is a strong advocate for education at all levels. He has had a major role in helping craft palatable and workable budgets the past two years.
Matt Heinz
Democrat, state Legislative District 29
Heinz, a doctor, would bring real-world knowledge and advocacy for better health care. He wants to increase middle-class access to the state health care system. Safe communities and a stable educational system also make Arizona healthier.
Daniel Patterson
Democrat, state Legislative District 29
Patterson, an ecologist, wants economic justice for South Side working families. He says further tax cuts are not a good idea given Arizona’s spiraling budget deficit. Says a higher gas tax would increase needed revenues for transportation.
Frank Antenori
Republican, state Legislative District 30
Antenori, a program manager at Raytheon, is an advocate for smaller government. He wants to preserve strong public safety, transportation, basic health services and to ensure Arizona provides “a good, solid K-12 education.”
Andrea Dalessandro
Democrat, state Legislative District 30
Dalessandro, a retired accountant, opposes vouchers and tax credits, saying they take public dollars away from public schools. She is fiscally frugal and wants to encourage more business support of schools and better health care.
ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION
Marian A. McClure
Republican
McClure, who served eight years in the state House, is a passionate advocate for consumers and a fiery foe of the usurious payday lending industry. She wants to battle securities fraud to protect the elderly and help Arizona to become a leader in solar.
Bob Stump
Republican
Stump, a former legislator, says renewable energy costs will drop as our use of those sources rises. Wants to pursue all forms of cheaper, cleaner energy. Supports net metering, noting that “consumers can liberate themselves” by generating more energy than they use.
Barry Wong
Republican
Wong served six months on the ACC and helped pass and is a strong supporter of the renewable energy standard for utilities, which segues our state into less use of foreign oil. As a legislator, he worked to create tax credits and market incentives for renewable energy.
COUNTY OFFICES
Sharon Bronson
Democrat, Supervisor District 3
Bronson is knowledgeable and competent. Despite her opponent’s hollow claims, Bronson has worked to maintain essential county services during the declining economy. A strong supporter of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan.
Barbara LaWall
Democrat, County Attorney
LaWall, who has held office for 12 years, has reduced the trial rate while concentrating on the worst criminals. She has an excellent record in working with victims of crimes and children who have been victimized. She has stayed within her budget.
Clarence W. Dupnik
Democrat, Sheriff
Dupnik has been sheriff for 28 years and has been responsible for making the department a well-respected agency despite staff shortages. Has formed a border crimes unit to go after those who commit crimes after entering the country illegally.
Linda Arzoumanian
Republican, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Arzoumanian has held the county school job for eight years. Has efficiently served 15 of the county’s 17 school districts with oversight of bookkeeping, accounting, teacher certification and, in some cases, transportation.
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For more information . . .
• about where to vote in Pima County, go to the Web site for the Recorder’s Office: www.recorder.pima.gov
or to the Pima County Elections Division site: www.co.pima.az.us/elections
• to see video of the candidates’ interviews with our Editorial Board, go to www.tucsoncitizen.com/election.
• In next Monday’s Citizen: a roundup of our endorsements of state and local propositions.