Arizona Daily Star endorsements: Arizona Legislature

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The only way the "Free Republic of Arizona" can derail the wingnut Republican leadership from the State of Maricopa is if legislative districts outside of the State of Maricopa elect Democrats to office. Not one wingnut Republican should be elected from Southern Arizona because they only enable the wingnuts from the State of Maricopa.

By electing Democrats and giving them a larger caucus in the Arizona Legislature, Southern Arizona actually gains influence and power vis-à-vis the wingnut Republican leadership from the State of Maricopa and will serve as an effective counter-weight to curtail their batshit craziness. A five year old child is smart enough to comprehend this. But apparenty not the editors of the Arizona Daily Star who continue to endorse Republicans.

In Legislative District 26, a swing district, the Star wisely endorsed Democrat Cheryl Cage over Cap'n Al Melvin (aka Atomic Al) for Senate and incumbent Democrat Nancy Young Wright to return to the House. Cage, Williams, Young Wright are our choices in District 26. I previously chastized the Star for endorsing Vic Williams who has been one of the enablers of the wingnut Republicans from the State of Maricopa, but upon further reflection, I can see how this was a choice of the lesser of two evils. Terri Proud makes Vic Williams look sane by comparison.

In Legislative District 27, a heavily Democratic district, the Star endorsed Democrat Macario Saldate and Green Party candidate Kent Solberg for the House. Democrat Olivia Cajero Bedford faces no opposition for election to the Senate. For District 27 House, we like Saldate, Solberg. The editors liked Solberg because he gave more detailed responses to their questions than the other candidates. This is a theme the editors will repeat in later endorsements, so pay attention. A Green Party candidate has zero chance of election in this heavily Democratic district. Sally Ann Gonzales, who previously served in the Legislature, will win the other House seat regardless of how the editors of the Star deemed her responses to their questions inadequate.

In Legislative District 28, a heavily Democratic district, the Star endorsed incumbent Democratic Senator Paula Aboud, incumbent Democratic Rep. Steve Farley, and Democrat Bruce Wheeler, who previously served in the House representing an earlier configuration of the district. District 28 needs Farley, Wheeler in House, Aboud back in Senate. Given the lopsided advantage to Democrats in this district, this was a no brainer. The only drama in this district is a four way senate race with a couple of independents in addition to the wingnut Republican.

In Legislative District 29, a heavily Democratic district, the Star fudged to give the lone Republican a shout out by saying that all the candidates are qualified. All District 29 House candidates are qualified. Really? Apparently the editors have not heard the wingnut radio ads by Pat Kilburn. Incumbent Democrats Matt Heinz and Daniel Patterson will retain their House seats. Incumbent Democrat Linda Lopez faces no opposition for election to the Senate.

In Legislative District 30, a heavily Republican district, the Star endorsed Democrat Todd Camenisch over "Don't make me angry" Frank Antenori for the Senate, and gave a backhanded endorsement to Democrat Andrea Dalessandro, whom the Star previously endorsed in 2008, but declined to make any endorsements for the House in 2010. Camenisch offers solid background for state Senate.

The reason the editors did not give Dalessandro an express endorsement this year is because of their pissiness over detailed responses to their questions, as noted above. The Republicans boycotted the Star editorial board so this is a bullshit excuse. District 30 Republicans are the worst-of-the-worst enablers of the wingnut Republicans from the State of Maricopa. Dalessandro is the only choice here for the Star's endorsement. The Star's backhanded endorsement of Dalessandro reflects poorly on the judgment of the editors, given the stark choices in this district. Replacing one of the two wingnut Republicans in the House should be as much a priority for the editors of the Star as replacing "Don't make me angry" Frank Antenori in the Senate.

District 25, a semi-swing district, is still to come. As I explained in the opening paragraph, the only choices here are the Democratic candidates, incumbent Manny Alvarez for the Senate, and incumbent Patricia Fleming and challenger Ruben Ortega for the House. Replacing wingnut Republican Rep. David "repeal the 17th Amendment" Stevens, an enabler of the wingnut Republicans from the State of Maricopa, should be as much a priority for the editors of the Star as replacing Cap'n Al Melvin and "Don't make me angry" Frank Antenori.

We have got to drain the swamp, people. Defeating as many wingnut Republicans outside of the State of Maricopa as possible is the only way we are ever going to restore sanity to the "Free Republic of Arizona."