Citizen Staff Writer
DENOGEAN COLUMN

Citizen Columnist

Sitting on the couch and grousing about how the country is run is a cop-out.

That’s the driving philosophy of the third hopeful in the District 8 congressional race: Independent Derek Tidball.

Anyone who’s read a newspaper or watched television news over the past few days knows state Sen. Tim Bee, a Tucson Republican, has entered into the ring for the District 8 seat held by Democrat Gabrielle Giffords in what promises to be a battle of political heavyweights.

But you probably haven’t heard of Tidball and his aspirations for the office.

Tidball, a U.S. Army veteran, is all of 29 and a resident of Arizona for a year short of a week.

But the motivated former paratrooper believes those like himself who think our country is being run poorly have to do something about it.

“It’s our duty,” said Tidball, who needs about 2,000 signatures to get on the November ballot. “You can’t just sit back and complain about what’s going on around you and not try to do something about it. Placid attitudes won’t fix anything.”

Tidball is a government contractor at Fort Huachuca, teaching field reconnaissance techniques to soldiers preparing for combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served eight months in Afghanistan in 2004 in the Khost Bowl and Gardez Pass regions.

Tidball was born in Des Moines, Iowa, where he grew up, but said he has come to love Arizona for the independent, “Wild West” spirit of its residents. Currently living in Sierra Vista, Tidball and his wife of three months, Yasmin, a German immigrant, plan to move to Tucson this year. He’s studying public policy and administration at Pima Community College.

“I chose this state,” he said. “I like the history around here that provides people with a maverick attitude.”

He left the Army last January after a nine-year military career with the sole intent of running for Congress. He came home from overseas after five years and didn’t like what was happening in America.

In his eyes, veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with physical injuries and psychological problems weren’t getting the care they deserved. The Iraq War was necessary but poorly conducted. The federal government was using “the politics of fear” to seize power from the states and citizens and to expand its already bloated waistline, the Department of Homeland Security being one example,Tidball offered.

So, he started crafting his positions and organizing his candidacy. He has about three dozen volunteers working on his behalf. His positions, documented on his Web site, www.tidball08.com, trend conservative, particularly on immigration on which he uttered the words that make liberals like myself choke on their horchata:

“Russell Pearce . . . I agree with him.”

Specifically, like Pearce, Tidball believes the American-born children of illegal aliens shouldn’t be granted automatic U.S. citizenship. Tidball also believes in first securing the border with fences, technology and a bolstered Border Patrol presence and then creating a new guest worker program that doesn’t lead to citizenship.

“I’m not anti-immigrant. I just believe we have to have control over the amount of people who are coming in,” he said.

On the Iraq War, he supports Democratic Sen. Joe Biden’s “awesome plan” for a decentralized government that gives the Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis their own regions to control. The U.S. will squander the benefits of the surge if it keeps trying to foist one-size-fits-all Democracy upon Iraq, Tidball said.

But what does Tidball have to offer the people of District 8 that Giffords and Bee, both Tucson natives who are plugged into the power structure, don’t have?

Independence, he said.

“You have two people who are part of the two-party system. It doesn’t matter what these candidates say when they run, because when they get to Washington they are going to be told where to stand in line and they are going to be told what to say and when to say it by their parties,” Tidball said.

Giffords, he charged, has been part of a “do-nothing Congress.”

He believes he’s a level-headed candidate who can appeal to the political demographic of District 8, which breaks down 38 percent Republican, 33 percent Democrat and 29 percent unaffiliated voters.

It’s pretty clear to the casual observer that Tidball has picked a fight outside his weight-class. Giffords has a war chest of more than $1.5 million. Bee already has brought in some $300,000. Tidball has raised less than $5,000 to get his message out.

What’s less clear is whether the scrappy challenger can garner some attention, reframe the debate and perhaps influence the outcome of a battle that realistically will come down to Giffords and Bee and a few percentage points.

“I want to take away the whole comfort level of the situation,” Tidball said.

Those of us outside of the party power structure and anyone who believes open debate makes America great should welcome Tidball into the ring.

Why not? Options to the status quo keep everybody dancing on his or her toes.

Anne T. Denogean can be reached at 573-4582 and adenogean@tucsoncitizen.com. Address letters to P.O. Box 26767, Tucson, AZ 85726-6767. Her columns run Tuesdays and Fridays.

Denogean

Citizen Staff Writer

BLAKE MORLOCK

bmorlock@tucsoncitizen.com

State Senate President Tim Bee isn’t a candidate for Congress . . . yet.

The Tucson Republican has started raising money for a prospective challenge to U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a freshman Democrat serving Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. The district spreads from the Northwest Side through the Catalina Foothills across central and east Tucson and much of southeastern Arizona.

Legally, Bee can’t announce his candidacy for Congress until after Jan. 1, unless he resigns to run. But Bee wants to finish out his term presiding over the senate even should he run for office.

He says the law is not clear about whether he can discuss issues openly and until he finds out he can, he is stuck with general platitudes about how he “enjoys public service.”

Bee is already bristling about not being able to openly discuss issues such as the war in Iraq.

“It’s very frustrating,” Bee said. “That’s not who I am.”

He also said he’s not sure if he will run.

“I honestly have not made up my mind yet,” he said. “I want to see if there is enough support out there first.”

The Arizona Democratic Party is investigating whether Bee can even start raising money without resigning first and has pointed to Bee’s willingness to discuss the war as proof of his candidacy.

“What we want is for Tim Bee to be upfront about his intentions,” said Democratic Party spokeswoman Emily Bittner.

A 1993 opinion by then Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods determined that forming an exploratory committee does not violate the law.

“The state law and attorney general opinions, at that, have provided for an exploratory committees so that a current office holder can decide whether to be a candidate,” said Nathan Sproul, a political consultant Bee has hired to help him raise money.

Bee started collecting money last week, so he has until the middle of next week to actually form an exploratory committee.

Giffords has raised almost $1 million for her re-election bid and any candidate would have to start soon to compete for the seat.

Bee, 38, is in his fourth term in the Senate and is not eligible for re-election.

This year, he helped forge a bi-partisan budget deal with Democrats. Bee said that has made a difference in how the senate works.

“In the Senate, myself and others have set a tone of working together to address issues,” Bee said.

Bee and Giffords were schoolmates as kids and have been friends for years, throwing an interesting wrinkle into what may be a contentious campaign.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

PHOENIX – A Democratic state lawmaker has resigned from the Legislature to run for the congressional seat now held by Republican Rick Renzi, but two GOP legislators also eying the seat say they’re waiting for Renzi to tip his hand.

Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-Safford, and Sen. Tom O’Halleran, R-Sedona, both have expressed interest in running for the 1st Congressional District seat, though neither has formed an exploratory committee.

Flagstaff Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick took that step last April in the midst of news reports regarding a search of a real-estate business owned by Renzi’s wife. Renzi subsequently stepped down from his U.S. House committee assignments but remains in office.

Renzi’s term runs through 2008. He has not announced whether he will seek re-election.

Kirkpatrick resigned from the Legislature last week when she announced she would run for the congressional seat now held by Renzi.

State law bars an elected official from remaining in office while running for another office except in the last year of his or her term.

In the wake of Kirkpatrick’s resignation, Konopnicki told the Arizona Capitol Times that he remains interested in running for Congress but has no immediate plans to resign from the Legislature.

Konopnicki also said he will not decide if he will seek re-election to the state House or make a bid for the congressional seat until Renzi “says one way or the other what he’s going to do.”

O’Halleran said he is still considering running, but he will defer to Renzi and let the congressman run for re-election if he chooses. If Renzi announces he won’t seek re-election, O’Halleran said he would have to consider resigning to run.

Such a decision would not be easy because of his legislative priorities, O’Halleran said.

Attorney Howard Shanker and former television newscaster Mary Kim Titla have also announced their candidacies for the Democratic nomination.

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will appoint a legislative replacement for Kirkpatrick.

The Associated Press

URBANDALE, Iowa – John McCain on Sunday assured Iowa supporters that
he’s doing fine and intends to seriously compete in the state’s leadoff
caucuses despite staff cuts and money problems.

The Republican presidential candidate met privately with supporters,
then held a news conference at his Iowa campaign headquarters.

“I’m happy about the state of our campaign,” the U.S. senator from Arizona told reporters.

“We are competitive and we will win in Iowa,” he added.

At the conference, McCain brusquely cut off questions about the disarray in his campaign and its fundraising difficulties.

“I will not respond to any more questions about process,” he said.
“I did for two weeks. I cut down at least three forests worth of paper
being written about it. I’ll answer all questions but that.”

McCain’s visit to Iowa was his first since June 9.

He was scheduled to appear on a conservative talk radio program Monday before heading to Michigan.

The Associated Press

Citizen Staff Writer

BLAKE MORLOCK

bmorlock@tucsoncitizen.com

State Rep. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, has filed paperwork needed as a precursor to running for a seat in the state Senate representing Legislative District 30, the district he represents now.

The district covers the far East Side and stretches south through Green Valley and southeast to Fort Huachuca.

He can’t declare his candidacy yet because state law would require him to resign his House seat if he announced he was running before the calendar year of the election. Instead, he’s forming an exploratory committee.

Paton is one of the few pro-war Republican politicians to volunteer to go to Iraq. The Army Reserve first lieutenant garnered national attention for his six-month tour that bridged 2006 and 2007.

Though he can’t campaign yet, he said: “This is the district I grew up in.”

“I live one mile from the house I grew up in. I’ve really enjoyed serving the district and my constituents.”

Senate President Tim Bee, a Republican, holds the seat but term limits do not allow him to run again.

Citizen Staff Writer

BLAKE MORLOCK

bmorlock@tucsoncitizen.com

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., has raised nearly $1 million for 2008, likely making her a tough customer to knock off in what will be probably her first and most vulnerable re-election bid.

Through June 30, Giffords raised $908,494 and has $941,489 in the bank. The latter figure includes money left from her last campaign.

According to federal records, she ranks fifth among House Democrats in fundraising for the current election cycle and second among the freshman class of Democrats, which gave the party a majority for the first time in 12 years. Some representatives have yet to file their reports.

Giffords, of Tucson, has no announced opposition in the 8th Congressional District, which covers most of southeastern Arizona and the eastern half of Tucson.

Democrats are funneling money her way to protect her job serving a district in which Republicans hold the edge in voter registration, said Mike Hellon, an ex-state Republican Party chairman and former 8th District congressional candidate.

“Our best chance to beat her is next year,” he said. “Democrats know that, too, and are trying to get as much money and momentum behind her as possible.”

Hellon called Giffords’ fundraising “very impressive,” but predicted a hard fight for her seat in 2008.

Presidential election years tend to feature higher voter turnout than midterm elections, and that turnout tends to favor the party with the most voters in a district, Hellon said.

Former Tucson Mayor Tom Volgy, who unsuccessfully ran in Giffords’ district in 1998, said her fundraising won’t scare off competition but may deter Republican leaders nationally from investing too much time and money in the district.

“The Republicans are not going to go after even a swing district if you got an incumbent sitting on a million-dollar war chest,” Volgy said.

RealFAST LOCAL NEWS

John McCain’s top communications aides and several staffers in Iowa and South Carolina quit Monday, the latest departures to hit the Republican as he struggles to rebound from financial and political woes.

Brian Jones, McCain’s communications director, and his two deputies, Matt David and Danny Diaz, stepped down but plan to stay on through the week. Two others in the communications shop at the campaign headquarters also are leaving, as are two staffers apiece in Iowa and South Carolina.

“We structured the campaign in too large a fashion and in too bureaucratic a fashion,” McCain said at a gathering in Santa Clara, Calif. “And we raised pretty good amounts of money, but we spent too much. It’s not too much more complicated than that. . . . We fixed the mistakes, we’re movin’ on, and we will have the kind of campaign that succeeds.”

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

MESA – State Rep. Russell Pearce, known for his calls to crack down on illegal immigrants, said he is considering running for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District.

If he runs, the Mesa Republican would face Republican congressman Jeff Flake, who has about $581,000 already in his campaign coffers, according to the latest federal campaign finance reports.

Pearce accused the four-term congressman of being soft on illegal immigration, and he said voters want tighter border security and stricter laws against illegal immigrants.

“People are mad, and they have the right to be,” Pearce said. “I’ve received a lot of phone calls from people and groups wanting me to run. I’m open to the idea, and I’m thinking about starting up an exploratory committee.”

He did not say when he would make a decision. Flake could not be reached for comment.

Some Republican Party consultants believe Pearce has a good shot at unseating Flake, even if he’s behind in cash.

“Love him or hate him, he’s one of the most influential people in Arizona,” said Stan Barnes, who ran unsuccessfully against Flake in the 2004 Republican primary. “And immigration is the No. 1 domestic issue of our time.”

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON – John McCain is trying to restart his campaign – again.

The Arizona senator accepted the resignations of his two top aides and elevated a third to campaign manager Tuesday in a dramatic effort to save his weakened presidential candidacy.

McCain, considered the front-runner for the GOP nomination as the year began, has watched his popularity tumble and his fundraising dry up as he embraced two of President Bush’s controversial policies – the Iraq troop increase and comprehensive immigration reform.

Over the past six months, he’s tried to reinvigorate his campaign at several points, from rolling out the “Straight Talk Express” bus from his 2000 bid to formally announcing his candidacy with a multistate tour.

Now, he’s shaking up his staff for the second time in a week.

“I’m determined to continue to face our challenges head-on and win,” McCain said in a e-mail to supporters, vowing to press on. Aides insisted he would not drop out of the race.

Campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver offered McCain their resignations, and the Arizona senator accepted them with “regret and deep gratitude for their dedication, hard work and friendship.” Several other senior aides followed them and stepped down as well.

By midday, the campaign announced that Rick Davis, who managed McCain’s 2000 bid and has served as the current campaign’s chief executive officer, will take over.

The shake-up comes after behind-the-scenes maneuvering among senior advisers for control of the campaign, and as McCain grapples with several problems ranging from his dwindling bank account of some $2 million to slippage in opinion polls. He now faces significant hurdles to winning the Republican nomination that eluded him seven years ago.

“I think we’re doing fine. I’m very happy with the campaign the way it is,” McCain said at the Capitol, even as the departures roiled his staff. He spoke to reporters after delivering a speech in the Senate in which he reiterated his defense of Bush’s troop increase in Iraq.

His backers long have argued that, in the end, GOP primary voters will gravitate toward the 70-year-old’s record of experience, leadership and character when they survey the entire GOP field. The stakes are even higher now given the few options left to revive his candidacy.

“John McCain’s appeal as a stalwart defender of his principles and as an American hero continues to give him a seat at the table regardless of his financial standing,” said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster who is unaligned in the race. However, he said, “It becomes very difficult to run an effective campaign anywhere without significant resources.”

For that reason and more, other Republicans are all but counting him out.

But one of his top rivals said it was premature to count McCain out. “I’d be the last one to think John McCain is done,” Rudy Giuliani said during a campaign stop in New Hampshire.

McCain’s campaign said Mark Salter, a top aide whom some consider the senator’s alter ego, will continue to advise him and the campaign without pay, an arrangement worked out last week. But two officials said Salter’s adviser role will be limited to McCain’s official Senate duties.

Other senior aides followed Nelson and Weaver in resigning Tuesday, including deputy campaign manager Reed Galen, political director Rob Jesmer and finance director Mary Kate Johnson.

Lackluster fundraising and a high rate of spending left McCain’s campaign with $2 million on hand six months into the year, forcing him to lay off dozens of campaign aides last week across all areas of the organization.

At the time, Nelson and Weaver acknowledged that the campaign incorrectly assumed that it would raise more than $100 million this year, and built an expansive national campaign organization based on that assumption.

Citizen Staff Writer

ERIC SAGARA

esagara@tucsoncitizen.com

Candidates in the city elections have raised nearly $126,000 in campaign contributions during the first five months of this year.

Rodney Glassman, a Democrat running for the East Side Ward 2 seat, led candidates in all city races in donations, collecting nearly $37,000.

Lori Oien, the Ward 2 Republican candidate, collected more than $10,700. Robert Reus, a Democrat also running for the Ward 2 seat, collected $410. There is no incumbent in that race.

Republican Mayor Bob Walkup collected more than $30,000 for his re-election bid. Green Party mayoral candidate Dave Croteau filed a statement saying he has not spent more than $500 on his campaign.

Josh Garcia, a Democrat running for mayor, did not file a campaign finance report.

Incumbent Shirley Scott, a Democrat seeking to keep her Ward 4 seat, raised $15,576. Her Democratic primary challenger, Daniel Spahr, raised $2,631.

In Ward 1, Democrat Regina Romero raised more than $28,600. Her primary opponent, Democrat Kenneth Green, raised slightly more than $1,000. There is no incumbent in the Ward 1 race.

Most of the candidates have signed public financing contracts with the city. Garcia and Croteau have not. Under the program, the city will match donations with public money.

As the system stands, mayoral candidates are allowed to spend $180,400 on their campaigns. Half of that money would be public funds.

Council candidates are allowed to spend $90,200 on their campaigns.

Those limits, which are based on a formula that incorporates the Consumer Price Index, will be revised later this month. An official in the City Clerk’s Office said it’s not known whether the funding limit will go up or down.

To qualify for the public matching funds program, mayoral candidates must collect 300 individual donations of $10 or more. Council candidates must collect 200 donations of $10 or more.

Glassman is the only candidate to have requested public matching funds, collecting nearly $18,000 in public funds in addition to the $37,000 in donations. Glassman also led the pack in spending, doling out nearly $11,000 for expenses.

Reus, Green and Spahr have not collected enough donations to qualify.

Citizen Staff Report

A front-page article Tuesday about the University of Arizona’s planned management of Biosphere 2 misstated the title of University of Arizona official Joaquin Ruiz. He is dean of UA’s College of Science.

A front-page article Monday about Mayor Bob Walkup misstated the Green Party’s showing in local elections. Green Party candidate Dave Croteau won 16 percent of the vote in the race for Pima County sheriff in 2000.

An article on Page 4A Tuesday about Tucson High Magnet School students winning first place in the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement national competition Sunday incorrectly identified the project the students’ project. They designed and built a counterweight trebuchet, used to launch a projectile.

Citizen Staff Writer

An information box accompanying an article on Monday’s front page about Mayor Bob Walkup, a Republican, incorrectly named his Democratic opponent in 2003. It was Tom Volgy.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

GILBERT – Former Mass-achusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has topped $1 million in contributions in the home state of Arizona Sen. John McCain, one of his chief rivals for the Republican nomination for president, campaign officials said Wednesday.

Romney, who surpassed McCain this year in both fundraising and opinion polls in early voting states, was expected to add another $175,000 after speaking to 250 supporters at a fundraiser Wednesday night.

Romney called McCain a “terrific senator and American hero” but he differed with McCain on a number of key issues.

“My expectation is that I’ll see him in a number of debates but when it is all said and done, I’ll win the prize,” Romney told reporters before the fundraiser here.

Jason Rose, state director of Romney’s campaign in Arizona, said McCain’s support for an immigration reform bill has been tough for some Arizona Republicans to stomach. In addition to tightening security on the Mexican border, the bill would give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to stay in the country and eventually become citizens.

“In one county alone in southern Arizona last year, 478,000 illegal immigrants crossed the border,” Rose said. “So it’s a big issue all over the country, but especially so in Arizona.”

Romney called McCain’s immigration reform bill “a mistake.”

“The provisions of the Senate bill that says everybody who’s here illegally today, that they all get to stay as permanent residents of the United States, that’s fundamentally unfair, and it’s the wrong course for the nation,” Romney said.

The former governor didn’t say how he would remove the millions of illegal immigrants living throughout the country.

McCain’s campaign spokes-man Tucker Bounds dismissed Rose’s claim that McCain’s support is slipping among the state’s Republican base.

“For over 20 years, Sen. McCain has been overwhelmingly re-elected in Arizona to work and stand beside (Arizona) Sen. Jon Kyl to take on the hard things that need to get done for the good of the state,” Bounds said. “Immigration is another thing where Sen. Kyl and Sen. McCain are working together to make sure that things get done.”

Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera said that Romney still hasn’t offered a tangible immigration plan of his own.

“He offers a lot of criticism, but he doesn’t offer any solutions for how he would solve the (problem,” LaVera said.

Supporters at Wednesday’s fundraiser paid at least $500 to get in to the event. They paid another $1,800 to attend a reception with the former governor.

Citizen Staff Writer

BLAKE MORLOCK

bmorlock@tucsoncitizen.com

Two procrastinators added a bit of life to upcoming city elections, filing their nomination petitions hours before the deadline and giving voters choices in two council primaries.

A citywide mayoral primary will also be held, even though Republican Mayor Bob Walkup faces opposition only from Green Party challenger Dave Croteau.

Until Wednesday, there were no official primary contests.

In Ward 1, “A” Mountain Neighborhood Association President Kenneth Green turned in his petitions Wednesday morning and will challenge former city staffer Regina Romero for the Democratic nod. There are no Republican candidates in the West Side ward. The seat is held by Councilman José Ibarra, who is not seeking re-election.

Access Tucson cable producer Robert Reus turned in his signatures Wednesday afternoon and will challenge former congressional aide Rodney Glassman for the Democratic nomination in the Northeast Side’s Ward 2, where incumbent Carol West is not seeking re-election.

Reus called Glassman the “establishment candidate” and admitted to being an underdog.

“With two names on the ballot, it’s a democracy,” Reus said. “With one name, it is not.”

Reus turned in just 45 more signatures than the required 384 and wondered if Glassman would challenge them.

Glassman has not yet reviewed Reus’ signatures but said he would as a “standard practice.”

For now, he said, “I am looking forward to a positive discussion about how to improve the quality of life for Tucson families.”

Republican neighborhood activist Lori Oien awaits the winner of the Glassman-Reus primary.

To request an early ballot for the Sept. 11 primary election, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 791-4213, visit the office at 255 W. Alameda St. or visit the clerk’s Web site, www.tucsonaz.gov/clerks/.

• Read Morlock’s blog, “Is this thing on?” at www.tucsoncitizen.com.

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Republican presidential front-runner Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday he won’t compete in a high-profile Iowa straw poll. Rival John McCain of Arizona followed suit in bypassing the early test of strength.

Among the top-tier candidates, just Mitt Romney said he would participate in the nonbinding August straw poll.

The Associated Press