Legislative District 6 leaders and Arizona GOP officials have selected Navajo County supervisor Sylvia Allen to replace the late Sen. Chester Crandell as the party’s Senate nominee. Senator Crandell passed away earlier this month, and Allen, a former legislator had been considered the natural choice.
Her wide-spread popularity in Arizona’s northern rural communities and off-the-cuff comment that the “Earth is only 6000 years old,” made her a target of environmentalists who oppose the very industries, like mining, upon which her constituents rely. Her political enemies reposted the comment thousands of time in a concentrated effort to discredit her and the real concerns of the people of northern Arizona who have seen the economy in their region take a huge hit from the new policies imposed by the EPA.
“In the last few days, I have been overwhelmed by the number of friends, colleagues, and party leaders who have reached out and encouraged me to seek the appointment to replace Senator Crandell’s name on the general election ballot,” stated Allen. “I am humbled and honored by their trust in me and am pleased to announce that I will seek the appointment.”
Allen continued, “Senator Crandell was a dear friend of mine. His loss is a tragedy for the residents of northern Arizona, who had grown to appreciate his folksy humor and principled policymaking. While no one will ever replace him, I am determined to fight for the same issues he stood for: limited government, personal property rights, and a return to the values and principles upon which our great nation was founded.”
Allen has received the support and endorsement of Senator Crandell’s widow, Alice. “I am grateful that Sylvia has chosen to put forward her name as a candidate for my late husband’s senate seat. I know that Chester would have supported her. He loved her as a friend and colleague and knew that she stood for the same issues that he did. They were very close both personally and professionally. She is the right person to fill his shoes.”
Allen’s candidacy was immediately endorsed by a broad range of community and party leaders throughout the state.
Arizona Republican Party Chairman Robert Graham expressed his support for Sylvia and her candidacy. “With Democrats attempting to use a stealth candidate to steal this seat, it is critically important for Republican voters to come together and support the candidate who is most likely to bring us victory in November. There is no doubt in my mind that the right candidate is Sylvia Allen.”
Graham continued, “Sylvia is a longtime party activist and public policymaker who has spent the last thirty years dedicating her life to the cause of freedom. As former state director of People for the West, she fought against environmental regulations that later proved catastrophically destructive to Arizona’s forests and rural way of life. As a two-term state senator, she fought for balanced budgets and a secure border. More recently, as a county supervisor she has advocated against higher property taxes and fought for new jobs for rural Arizona.”
“Clearly, there is no one better qualified, no one with more passion and experience, and no one more likely to win in November, than Sylvia Allen,” concluded Graham.
Representative Brenda Barton (R-Payson) encouraged the precinct committeemen of northern Arizona to rally around Allen’s candidacy. “As a close friend, seatmate, and colleague of Senator Crandell, I can state unequivocally that there is no one better qualified to take his place at the Capitol than Sylvia Allen. I hope and am confident that the part leaders of Legislative District 6 will agree and lend her their support.”
A former two-term state senator whose public service began with her appointment to finish the term of State Senator Jake Flake in 2008, Allen is well known to the residents and precinct committeemen of Legislative District 6. She has been a champion for a number of issues critical to the residents and businesses of northern Arizona.
Supervisor Allen serves as President of the Arizona/New Mexico Coalition of Counties, as a board member of the Little Colorado River Resources Conservation District, board member of the Northern Arizona Council of Governments Community Action Board, and was recently appointed by the Arizona Corporation Commission to the Transmission Line Sitting Committee.