Carolyn Classen

Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, a life long Democrat, was born & raised in the State of Hawaii, was a Legislative Aide for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye on Capitol Hill, and practiced law for a while. In Tucson she worked as a tribal staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and later was the Interim Executive Director of the now defunct Domestic Violence Commission. In 2008 she became a “My Tucson” guest columnist for the Tucson Citizen newspaper, then continued blogging for Tucsoncitizen.com for over four and a half years. Her blogsite was entitled “Carolyn’s Community” about community events and some political news, until Gannett Publishing shut down the site on January 31, 2014. She started with Blog for Arizona on Feb. 11, 2014. Part time she sat as a Hearing Officer in Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts Small Claims Division since April, 2005 for 15 years. She is married to University of Arizona Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen, a native of Germany. They have one son, who lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and daughter. She is also the Editor of the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition website, www.southernazjapan.org (since Jan. 2013).

Can an Independent candidate win in Tucson?

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Can an Independent candidate win in a Tucson City Council race?  For the first time in a long time, an Independent (Gary  Watson in Ward 3) is running for political office in Tucson.  Having reported for Tucsoncitizen.com for 4.5 years and here at Blogforarizona.net for 3.5 years, I’m trying to recall when Independents have run or been in political office.

Former Republican Pima County Supervisor Ed Moore ran for re-election in Nov. 1996 as an Independent, and lost to newcomer Democrat Sharon Bronson.  Tucson City Council member Carol West was a long time Democrat and changed to Independent, then did not seek re-election in 2007.   Former Republican Gene Chewning ran for AZ House in LD 27 in 2010 as an Independent and lost, as did former Dem AZ House Representative Ted Downing in LD 28 State Senate race. And didn’t Green Party candidate Dave Ewoldt also run as an Independent for State Senator in LD 28, to get onto the 2010 General Election ballot?  They both lost to the Democrat incumbent Senator.

So, no Independent candidate has run and won  in Tucson (as far as I know). Chewning told me after his 2010 loss, that because he ran as an Independent, he no longer had a party structure to assist in his campaigning. He got a lot more votes as a Republican for the same LD 27 House race in 2006 (11,327 to 4,526).

Firefighter /Captain of a Northwest fire station Gary Watson (I, former Republican) said at a recent AZ Independents forum at Murphy-Wilmot library that he was “not R enough for the Republican Party”, and “not D enough for the Democratic Party”.

Gary Watson

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Autumn Moon Festival At Tucson Chinese Cultural Center

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  PROGRAM: “Where Are You From?” TIME: 6-8:30 PM DATE: Saturday, October 7th, 2017 WHERE:  Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Rd. Featuring Asian Pacific American Storytellers from around Tucson ** and special guest storytellers from Phoenix**Celebrating diversity and fighting stereotypes under the Autumn Moon In collaboration with the National Asian Pacific American Women’s … Read more

“Dolores” film about activist Dolores Huerta coming to the Loft

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Dolores STARTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson Meet Dolores Huerta in person at a post-film Q&A on Monday, October 9 at 7:30pm! Regular admission prices.  UPDATE: SOLD OUT! “Dolores Huerta is one of the most important, yet least known, activists in the fight for racial, class and gender equality … Read more

Two independent film festivals in Tucson in October

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I know I was confused too, but there are two independent film festivals coming up in the Old Pueblo in October, so here’s the information on both: 13th Annual Tucson Film Fest, October 5 to 8 at UA Gallagher Theater, 1303 E. University Blvd.; El Con Theater, 3601 E. Broadway Blvd; and the Loft Cinema, … Read more

Listen to Prop. 204 Strong Start Tucson forum on Buckmaster radio show

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KVOI Radio host Bill Buckmaster moderated on September 28,  a Prop. 204 forum between Penelope Jacks, chairwoman of Strong Start Tucson and Democratic activist Luke Knipe, chairman on No on 204.  Listen to the discussion here: http://www.buckmastershow.com/2017/09/28/buckmaster-show-9282017-debating-strong-start-tucson/ Prop. 204 is on the November 7, 2017 ballot, and is a proposed 1/2 cent sales tax increase … Read more