Pima County incumbents challenged by public not politicians

For the first time in a long time, the voters in Pima County have choices. Across the board, Pima County office holders are facing challengers in the upcoming primaries. Many of the officials have never before faced opposition.

Due to the failing infrastructure throughout the county, reported instances of waste and cronyism, the RTA vote fraud lawsuit, and the condition of the county’s schools, recruiting efforts for qualified challengers continued up until the last minute.

Members of the public have stepped up to take on the establishment. Political newcomers include:

Bill Beard, running against the long serving elected official in the state, F. Ann Rodriguez, decided to run after he discovered that he and hundreds of other voters had been disenfranchised by receiving the wrong ballot in the 2010 General election. Hearing too many stories from other voters about the failings of the Recorder’s Office, Beard stepped up to challenge Rodriguez.

Mace Bravin, a conservative school teacher in TUSD, is challenging County School Superintendent Linda Arzoumanian. First appointed by Raul Grijalva, Arzoumanian has held the office for nearly twelve years. Bravin was recruited to run as a result of complaints about Arzoumanian by school board members seeking reform. Arzoumanian has come under scrutiny for her secretive school board appointment process.

Ally Miller began considering her run County Board of Supervisors, District 1, due to work uncovering the mismanagement of Rio Nuevo. Miller is running for the seat being vacated this year with the retirement of Ann Day. Miller is an accountant with an M.B.A. from the Eller School of Business. She is credited for forcing the FBI investigation of the City of Tucson’s actions in the Rio Nuevo debacle. The investigation is ongoing.

Fernando Gonzales, a small business owner in Tucson, was recruited to run against Supervisor Richard Elias. Elias who is well known for his support of the TUSD Promotoras program, has come under scrutiny for his cronyism and use of public resources for his political benefit. Gonzales recognizes that he is “up against a political machine that has been in place for many years,” but he hopes to make a difference. The popular businessman has bipartisan support.

James Kelley, a well known writer and activist in Southern Arizona is challenging Supervisor Ramon Valadez in District 2. Kelley, a fourth generation Arizonan, has been active in the community south of 22nd Street in Tucson for many years. He was considered one of the more outspoken and independent voices testifying in the Independent Redistricting Committee hearings this past year.

Tanner Bell is challenging 4-term incumbent Democrat Sharon Bronson. The former University of Arizona football player is a counselor in the university’s athletic department. He is a member of the Executive Committee for the United Way Inclusion Council. Bell says he is running because “our business climate is broken. Our region has gotten so good at saying no that we’ve forgotten to ask ‘how can we help?’ We can and will do better.” Also on his website he says that, “we can no longer accept that one in four of our children live in poverty.”

Pima County ballot 2012:ASSESSOR

Bill Staples (DEM) 97 petitions, 1026 signatures

COUNTY ATTORNEY

Barbara LaWall (DEM) 157 petitions, 2034 signatures Incumbent
Claudia Ellquist (GRN) 1 petition, 8 signatures

RECORDER

F. Ann Rodriguez (DEM) 166 petitions, 2161 signatures Incumbent
Bill Beard (REP) 118 petitions, 1627 signatures

SHERIFF

Clarence W. Dupnik (DEM) 202 petitions, 2049 signatures Incumbent
Vinson K. Holck (REP) 166 petitions, 2319 signatures
Chester Manning (REP) 191 petitions, 2661 signatures
Walter M. Setzer (REP) 93 petitions, 1344 signatures
Mark Napier (REP) 139 petitions, 1838 signatures
Terry Frederick (REP) 80 petitions, 1124 signatures
Dave Croteau (GRN) 5 petitions, 43 signatures

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

Linda Arzoumanian (REP) 106 petitions, 1226 signatures Incumbent
Mace Bravin (REP) 70 petitions, 982 signatures

TREASURER

Beth Ford (REP) 151 petitions, 1272 signatures Incumbent
Elaine Richardson (DEM) 158 petitions, 2171 signatures

Board of Supervisors 1

Ally Miller (REP) 66 petitions, 813 signatures
Stuart W. McDaniel (REP) 39 petitions, 564 signatures
Mike Hellon (REP) 44 petitions, 446 signatures
Vic Williams (REP) 48 petitions, 710 signatures
Nancy Young Wright (DEM) 118 petitions, 1302 signatures

Board of Supervisors 2

Ramon O. Valadez (DEM) 51 petitions, 486 signatures Incumbent
James H. Kelley (REP) 14 petitions, 108 signatures

Board of Supervisors 3

Sharon Bronson (DEM) 47 petitions, 504 signatures Incumbent
Tanner Bell (REP) 22 petitions, 210 signatures

Board of Supervisors 4

Ray Carroll (REP) 75 petitions, 859 signatures Incumbent
Sean Collins (REP) 71 petitions, 699 signatures

Board of Supervisors 5

Richard Elias (DEM) 135 petitions, 1349 signatures  Incumbent
Fernando Gonzales (REP) 21 petitions, 215 signatures

CONSTABLE JP 1

David Lester (REP) 88 petitions, 1049 signatures
John Rademaker (DEM) 48 petitions, 657 signatures

CONSTABLE JP 4
James W. Driscoll Jr. (DEM) 44 petitions, 593 signatures

CONSTABLE JP 6
Geoffrey Belitsos (DEM) 58 petitions, 652 signatures
Bennett Bernal (DEM) 45 petitions, 646 signatures

CONSTABLE JP 7

R.C. Brown P.O. (REP) 33 petitions, 468 signatures

CONSTABLE JP 8
Mary C. Dorgan (DEM) 54 petitions, 755 signatures

CONSTABLE JP 9

Marisa Suarez (DEM) 53 petitions, 739 signatures
Colette Philip (DEM) 63 petitions, 699 signatures

CONSTABLE JP 10

Vince Roberts (REP) 31 petitions, 424 signatures

JP 2

Jose Luis Castillo (DEM) 49 petitions, 423 signatures

JP 4

Carmen Dolny (DEM) 81 petitions, 1045 signatures

JP 6

Paul Simon (DEM) 67 petitions, 896 signatures

JP 9

Maria L. Felix (DEM) 41 petitions, 544 signatures

JP 10

Jack C. Peyton (REP) 39 petitions, 550 signatures

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Possible RTA election fraud focus of lawsuit