THE HILL’S MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

posted by Christopher Conover

The Hill, a newspaper dedicated to covering Capitol Hill in Washington, DC is known for having the inside scoop on what is going on in Congress. And for the eight year in a row it has a beautiful people section.

The Hill staff put together a photo shoot and wrote biographies of those they deemed to be the 50 most beautiful people working in, on, and around Capitol Hill. Information for readers includes the person’s name, hometown, political party and relationship status.

One Arizona staffer made the list this year. Cassiopeia Sonn ,who works for Arizona Congressman John Shadegg, is number 29.

POLITICAL SIGNS OF THE TIMES: NAME ID A MUST

posted by Michael Chihak

Like mushrooms sprouting after heavy rain, political signs are appearing all over Tucson, on the eve of the primary election.

In recent days, a dozen or more "Write in Rick Grinnell" signs popped up downtown, including several stuck into the tree wells in Presidio Park just east of City Hall. Grinnell is a Republican running for mayor.

Signs for Republican Jennifer Rawson also appeared around town, including several downtown. She is challenging incumbent Democrat Paul Cunningham, for the Ward 2 City Council seat to which he was appointed last year. That anticipates their general election matchup in November.

And, along West St. Mary's Road, a big black-and-yellow billboard asks: "Would You Trust 'Payday Joe' Flores?" Then answers: "Didn't think so." Flores is a Democrat challenging incumbent Democrat Regina Romero in Ward 1, and the billboard, paid for by a Democratic committee, alludes to his ties to the payday loan industry.

As signs begin cluttering street corners, supporters' front yards and street medians around town, people ask: Why? Why add to the city's cluttered look? Why don't the candidates spend their resources to get out information about how they stand on the issues?

Two words: Name recognition.

And two more words: Write-in candidate.

Grinnell needs 1,060 write-in votes in the primary election to qualify for the general election ballot.

A curiosity about the signs, as noted by colleague Andrea Kelly: There seems to be a dearth of signs pushing Democrat Jonathan Rothschild's mayoral candidacy. He is, however, the clear leader in bumper stickers.