Political Buzz – 2011
posted by Andrea Kelly
Arizona's Independent Redistricting Commission wants to hear from you, even though the part of their work most voters are likely interested in — the new map of voting districts — isn't yet available.
The Commission is holding public hearings throughout the state (find the dates and agendas here) to find out what people want to see in the new districts. The idea is to get some feedback before drawing the map, to incorporate those comments into the mapping process, said Ray Bladine, the commission's executive director.
Another round of public hearings will be scheduled this fall a draft of the map is available, Bladine said. The commission then hopes to get the map to the U.S. Justice Department in November. The department must approve the map before the new districts are official.
All of this needs to be finished before the 2012 election.
July 25th 2011 at 15:45 —
c (0) —
K
f
g
k
posted by Andrea Kelly
The Americans Elect Party is the newest political party in Arizona.
The party joins the Democrat, Green, Libertarian and Republican parties, and means candidates can be officially recognized on the ballot.
To become an official party, the group had to collect 23,041 signatures from voters in the state, including from each of the 15 counties in Arizona. The Secretary of State's office verified the signatures this week.
"Americans Elect is the first-ever open nominating process. We're using the Internet to give every single voter—Democrat, Republican or independent—the power to nominate a presidential ticket in 2012. The people will choose the issues. The people will choose the candidates. And in a secure, online convention next June, the people will make history by putting their choice on the ballot in every state," says the Americans Elect website.
July 21st 2011 at 9:41 —
c (0) —
K
f
g
k
posted by Andrea Kelly
The voter registration deadline is approaching for those who want to vote in Tucson's upcoming primary election. The deadline to register is Aug. 1 The primary election is Aug. 30.
The entire election is by mail this year, so those who need to update their mailing address must also do so by Aug. 1. That will ensure they receive a ballot in time to vote and mail it back to the city to be counted.
Tucson's west side ward one has two Democrats running, Joe Flores is challenging incumbent Regina Romero. Two Democrats are also running write-in campaigns to challenge the party's mayoral candidate, Jonathan Rothschild.
Wards two and four are also up for election this year, but they do not have primary races. The incumbent Democrats in those east side wards will face Republican challengers in the November general election.
July 20th 2011 at 9:42 —
c (0) —
K
f
g
k
posted by Christopher Conover
According to campaign finance reports for the last quarter, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has nearly $780,000 on hand. Her campaign raised more than $280,000 in the last three months. About half of the money came from individual donors with the balance coming from political action committees.
Giffords, who was shot on January 8th, still has not announced whether or not she is running for reelection. She does not have to legally make that decision until May.
July 15th 2011 at 13:49 —
c (0) —
K
f
g
k
posted by Christopher Conover
Jerry Lewis is a conservative Republican from Mesa and according to Channel 12 in Phoenix he is set to take on Senate President Russell who is up for a recall election. Lewis, who is a political new comer, is an accountant and charter school official in Mesa. Like Senator Pearce he is also Mormon.
Senate President Pearce is the first elected official in Arizona to face a recall vote in 100 years. Opponents gathered more than 10 thousand signatures to force the recall.
July 15th 2011 at 13:43 —
c (0) —
K
f
g
k
posted by Michael Chihak
An interview we did for a future Arizona Week uncovered Flagstaff's worst-kept secret: that Mayor Sara Presler is a superstar.
While those in Flag know about Presler, we didn't, and we assume many others south f the Mogollon Rim don't either. Here's a brief look.
We spent just an hour or so with the two-term mayor and were impressed with her political savvy, her knowledge of the convention and visitor business that makes Flagstaff business tick and how to keep it ticking.
She also showed the smarts to let business take the lead in Flagstaff's downtown redevelopment. She was so proud of it that she didn't hesitate to take yours truly for a stroll through downtown before the formal interview. Then, in the interview, she plugged it shamelessly.
Presler is 31, a lawyer and the first woman and the youngest person ever elected Flagstaff mayor. She was 28 when first elected in 2008. She is in the last year of her second two-year term and has already announced she won't run for a third term.
Flagstaff elections are nonpartisan, but Presler says "everyone knows" that she is a Democrat.
Sara Presler is someone to watch in Arizona. If she wants it, she could have a bright political futute.
July 15th 2011 at 13:18 —
c (0) —
K
f
g
k
