CONGRESSIONAL RUMORS

posted to Political Buzz by Andrea Kelly

The Arizona Republic reported this weekend that State Sen. Ron Gould, a Republican from Lake Havasu City, is considering running for Congress in what will likely be the new district 4.

If the districts don't change, Gould could end up in a primary race with Paul Babeu, Republican Sheriff of Pinal County. It's worth noting that neither of the men have formally filed an exploratory committee, according to online Internal Revenue Service records. Once a person is officially a candidate for office, their financial accounting is done through the Federal Election Commission. While considering a run, potential candidates must create an exploratory committee through the IRS.

Keep in mind the puzzle of redistricting is not yet fully put together. The draft maps are still the subject of public hearings throughout the state, and need final approval from the U.S. Justice Department. Then there's the other issue of contention about whether the mapping process has been fair and legal, which is also still playing out.

REDISTRICTING TRUTH: HE SAID, SHE SAID

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

The independent chairwoman and two Democratic members of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission have denied any wrongdoing in relation to the state Constitution and the Open Meeting Law.

One Republican commissioner reiterated his claim that the chairwoman offered him a quid pro quo in exchange for his vote to hire Strategic Telemetry as the commission's mapping consultant.

Chairwoman Colleen Mathis said in her written response to Gov. Jan Brewer's demand that commissioners explain why their actions aren't illegal that she sought unanimous consensus on Strategic Telemetry. She denied offering a quid pro quo, and she concluded her letter by saying, "I certify under penalty of perjury that my response to all questions and requests are true and correct."

Republican Commissioner Richard Stertz said in his letter, "Chairwoman Mathis confirmed that if I were to vote with her in regards to the selection of Strategic Telemetry, she would provide a favorable vote for me in the future."

Democratic Commissioners Jose Herrera and Linda McNulty in their letters denied any wrongdoing. The letter from Republican Commissioner Scott Freeman was not made available Monday morning by the commission's spokesman.

REDISTRICTING INDEPENDENT? HARDLY

posted to Political Buzz by Michael Chihak

Independence for the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission is being threatened from all sides.

Republicans are complaining -- and taking legal action. Democrats are complaining -- and hanging on to the reasoning from legal action they took years ago, resulting in 2009 case law that helped define the commission's role and activities.

Today -- Monday, Oct. 31 -- is the deadline that Republican Gov. Jan Brewer set for the commissioners to submit in writing responses to her inquiries about the commission's actions. Failure to do so is tantamount to an admission of wrongdoing, the governor said.

Whatever happened to the Fifth Amendment?

Brewer's demand is that the commission explain how it didn't violate the state's open meeting law and how it didn't violate the state constitution in the draft maps it drew up.

Attorney General Tom "this is not a partisan inquiry" Horne, a Republican, on Friday was bounced from investigating the commission by a Superior Court judge who said Horne has a conflict of interest because he once represented the commission on open meetings issues. He quickly turned the matter over to the Republican Maricopa County attorney.

Has anyone connected to this bothered looking at the state open meeting law? It exempts the legislative body in political caucus and conference committee and allows an open-to-interpretation exemption in other instances.

That applies to the Legislature, of course, and work in the Legislature often occurs privately, with the results made public upon floor debate and votes. Just look at this year's budget negotiations for an example.

What's the point? you ask. In 2009, the Arizona Supreme Court in a ruling regarding the Independent Redistricting Commission opined that the commission is doing legislative work and therefore acts as a legislative body, subject to the state's provisions for the Legislature.

It needs further legal exploration, but that would seem an appropriate starting point for determining if what some are saying the commission did is a violation of the open meeting law.

GEORGE HANSON LEAVING ... EVENTUALLY

posted to Cue Sheet by James Reel

In case you missed the item in the newspaper over the weekend, here's the Tucson Symphony's announcement that George Hanson will be leaving his music director's post, but only after another few seasons:

TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA EXTENDS CONTRACT OF GEORGE HANSON AS MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR THROUGH 2015

(Tucson, AZ)—Music Director and Conductor George Hanson has signed a contract extension that will keep him on the podium with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra through June 2015, Tucson Symphony Society Board of Trustees President Barbara R. Levy announced today. Mr. Hanson has informed the Board of Trustees that his newly-renewed contract will be his last with the TSO. He will conclude his 20 year tenure with the Orchestra as Music Director Laureate in the 2015-16 Season.

“On behalf of the Board, we are immensely grateful to George for the exciting growth of our orchestra and the many memorable performances he has brought to our community,” stated Ms. Levy. “He has become an icon for the Tucson Symphony. Thanks to his accessibility, his easy going conversations with audiences and his strength on the podium, the Tucson Symphony has blossomed and grown. Our musicians are providing everyone with a level of artistic excellence Tucson is fortunate to enjoy.”

George Hanson is the fourteenth Music Director and Conductor in the 83-year history of the TSO and the conductor with the longest tenure. Mr. Hanson is the primary conductor and artistic director of the Classic, TSO Pops! and MasterWorks Chamber Orchestra Series. He began his sixteenth season with the TSO by conducting Fabio Bidini’s performance of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and the Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz October 14 and 16 at the Tucson Music Hall.

Critics have noted remarkable artistic growth by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra during Mr. Hanson’s tenure. Since his arrival in 1996, he has led the TSO to international recognition. TSO’s first recording, released in 2008, reached No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 on U.S. Classical charts, and was lauded by critics around the globe. Stereophile Magazine praised the orchestra’s “chamber-music-like interaction” with pianist Alain Lefèvre in André Matthieu’s Piano Concerto No. 4, “a work demanding-- and here receiving- utmost virtuosity and musicality.” In an editorial, the Arizona Daily Star proclaimed, “TSO recording proves Tucson has a gem.”

“My work with this organization and its wonderful musicians and staff has been deeply gratifying,” stated Mr. Hanson. “I will remember forever the many wonderful performances and the dedication of all involved with TSO. It is in the best interests of the TSO and the community to have a smooth transition into the future. We look forward to staying involved with the orchestra and the community in the coming seasons.”

In a statement, the musicians’ orchestra committee said: “During George Hanson's tenure, the Tucson Symphony has seen consistent artistic growth. He and his wife Petra have been instrumental in helping to raise the level of relevance and recognition of the TSO through their work in the Tucson community. His collaborative efforts with guest soloists have also given the Tucson Symphony worldwide attention with our first commercial recording. The musicians will miss the intensity and energy he brings to the podium, but we understand and respect his decision to move on to other projects. We wish George and his family the best of luck in their future endeavors.”

FLAKE OIL MONEY

posted to Political Buzz by Christopher Conover

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is leading an online attack aimed at Republican Senate Candidate Jeff Flake. The DSCC is complaining that Flake’s campaign has received tens of thousands of dollars from oil companies.

An Arizona Public Media review of Flake’s donations from PACs this year finds otherwise. In the three reports that Flake’s campaign has filed he has a $5000 donation from Devon Energy which is an oil and gas company based in Oklahoma. He also has two donations from Southwest Gas which is a supplier of natural gas. The AZPM review did not look at individual donations so it is possible Flake received donations from oil company executives. He did, however, receive numerous donations from mining companies.

To see Flake’s full campaign finance report from the last quarter go to AZPM’s special report on campaign finance.

ZIMMERMAN BILL HELD UP IN HOUSE

posted to Political Buzz by Andrea Kelly

A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives appears to be stalling on a bill that would name a meeting room in the Capitol Visitor's Center in Washington, D.C. after Gabe Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, who worked for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was one of six killed in the Jan. 8 shooting as she met with constituents. He's the only congressional staffer to be killed in the line of duty.

Giffords' office and several others support the bill to name a room after him to honor his service, but it's stalled in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, according to an article in The Hill newspaper.

The resolution to rename the room was introduced July 20, and according to a news release Giffords' congressional office issued the same day, Zimmerman was one of GIffords' first staff members.