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.

GRIJALVA INFORMS

posted by Christopher Conover

Congressman Raul Grijalva is launching his own iPhone app. According to Grijalva’s office the free download will allow iPhone users to get news, follow legislation, and find out about the Congressman’s public appearances.

Arizona Congressman Ben Quayle also has on iPhone app for constituents.

SEN. KYL NAMED TO DEBT CEILING COMMITTEE

posted by Andrea Kelly

Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl is on the list of six Republicans who will work with six Democrats to whittle down the federal deficit by $1 trillion.

Republican leaders named Reps. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas). Joining Kyl from the Senate are Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Pat Toomey (R-Penn.).

Democratic Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) were appointed to the committee. House Democrats on the committee are Reps. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

LINING UP TO REPLACE KYL

posted by Christopher Conover

Wil Cardon the CEO of the Mesa-based Cardon Group is the latest person to enter the race for US Senate. Cardon is running as a Republican which means he will face Congressman Jeff Flake in the primary.

Cardon says he will not be outspent in the campaign. That is a tall claim considering Flake already has a little more the $2 million in cash and an AZPM analysis of the last campaign finance reports show he’s not afraid to spend money.

Senator Jon Kyl has already announced he is not running for reelection.

GOSAR STAFF PROBLEMS HIGHLIGHED

posted by Andrea Kelly

In an article today, the Washington, D.C. newspaper Politico reported Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, (R-01) has had staffing problems.

The article says two of the Republican's staffers have connections to former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Apparently that's caused some problems, and the story quotes heavily from an email former Gosar staffer Stefani Zimmerman wrote in January, the first month Gosar was in office. Zimmerman and other staffers left Gosar's office this summer.

Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick jumped into the conversation later today, sending the article to her Congressional campaign email list. Gosar beat Kirkpatrick after her first term in Congress, and she is running against him in 2012.

IN AND OUT AT THE CAPITOL

posted by Christopher Conover

Since Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was wounded on January 8th, other members of Congress have been working on her behalf. Provisions of bills she has championed in the past have been folded into other legislation, a handful of lawmakers have traveled to Congressional District 8 to hold hearings and listening sessions about military bases and the border, and some have even sponsored bills.

Representative Adam Smith (D-WA,9) filed a bill on behalf of Giffords earlier this year that would move the Defense Department away from dependence on fossil fuels. Even though, that was a pet project of Giffords in the past she did not sign on as a co-sponsor during her visit to Washington, DC earlier this week. In an email, her staff said it was a “brief trip” and she was there only to vote “on a specific bill.”