By Sergio Arellano-Oros
In the same week Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik was sniping at fellow panelists on the Political Round Table hosted by Jim Nintzel, he announced that he was assembling a group of politicians from both sides of the aisle, for a performance of sorts at The Loft. According to a reporter from a Tucson area newspaper, Kozachik is now concerned for his safety.
Kozachik, a Republican whose rhetoric has become more vitriolic over the past two years, called the reporter to express his concern that his incessant snipping might make him a target for snipping. He referred the reporter to a piece in the Yellow Sheet in which State Senator Frank Antenori said he would be holding politicians accountable for their actions, and “snipping at them from the bushes.”
After telling Antenori, Kozachik’s fellow panelists on the Political Roundtable, to “shut up” twice during the taping, Kozachik is concerned about possible retribution. He told the reporter that he is afraid that Antenori, and his people, will cause a disruption at Kozachik’s civility event. He told the reporter that he bases his concerns the Yellow Sheet report and a radio interview he heard Friday morning in which the host Jon Justice, and Antenori discussed going to Kozachik’s event.
The two did not discuss disrupting the event. Still, Kozachik’s concern about disruption is confusing for some. Just last week he came out in support of TUSD’s Mexican American Studies classes, in which teacher’s encourage students to disrupt public events. Their takeover of a Governing Board meeting made national news.
Kozachik used to make a regular appearance on Justice’s show, but has been uninvited since his rhetoric has become increasingly anti-Republican.
Kozachik has been angry with Antenori ever since Antenori turned down an offer by Kozachik. Kozachik texted Antenori that if Antenori would give Kozachik credit for some minor political victory, Kozachik would stop snipping at Antenori. Antenroi turned down the offer.
“I understand that Steve is angry he didn’t get his way, but enough is enough,” said one person close to the two men. “Steve is growing more and more paranoid now that his seat on the council is up for grabs. He needs to decide if he is going to run as a D or an R, and neither of them have much use for him. Nintzel only trots him or Pete Herschberger out when he needs someone to bash republicans.”
“Steve turned his back on the very people who got him elected. He used the Tea Party, he used the support of the GOP and he used my show to get elected,” explained radio host Jon Justice. “He’s a fraud, a phony, and a thin skinned shell of what so many of us thought he was. He’s is either banking on the Pima Dems to not present a challenger to his seat when the elections roll around or he is not bright enough to know that he is beong used by them. The fact that he went from being on my show every week to take the city council members to task and to discuss GOP values as they relate to the issues, to now trashing local talk radio, supporting RAZA studies and buddying up to local scum like Pima County Dem “Shock” Chairman Jeff Rogers is dumb founding. Having the most “Uncivilized” political cartoonist in Arizona as the Emcee just serves to underscore what a joke this event is.”
Justice says he is going to attend the event, “I hope to personally attend with a large group of my listeners, not to disrupt, but to observe the Circus. I hope the presence of REAL conservatives in the audience will remind Steve K who actually got him elected and that we won’t be supporting him again.”
Kozachik, the lone Republican on the Tucson City Council, has been fairly ineffective in garnering support for his initiatives from his fellow councilpersons. As a result, he has been unable to bring about the transparency and accountability he promised voters during his race two years ago. He has however been very supportive of nearly all the proposals introduced by the democrats on the Board, except the ban on plastic bags.
Last week, he reminded republicans that plastic bags would be dead without him.
Two republicans are so grateful in fact, they are preparing to challenge him in the next republican primary.
So far only one republican, Ethan Orr has agreed to join Kozachik in his January event. Kozachik will be joined by democrat representatives Congressmen Raúl Grijalva and Ron Barber, as well as a handful of local democrat lawmakers.
Kozachik invited the Arizona Daily Star’s David Fitzsimmons to emcee the event. Fitzsimmons is known for his scathing cartoons of republicans and snow birds.
Kozachik told the Star’s reporter that “We need to remind ourselves from time to time about the need to work together in ways that put the community good ahead of partisanship and personal gain.”
Kozachik has spent the past year pushing a tax credit for the film industry. His brother Peter is cinematographer in the film industry.