Lena Saradnik Passes the Torch
Lena sent a letter to her supporters in LD 26. It included the news that Cheryl Cage will be seeking a seat on the Oro Valley Marana town council in the May 2009.
Full text after the jump…
Michael Bryan
Tim Bee’s Big Surprise
Tim Bee stunned the Arizona political scene with a completely unexpected announcement that he is challenging Gabby Giffords for the CD 8 Congressional seat.
Seriously, though, Tim made it official — he’s in. I know, I was there. And, no, I didn’t get tazed, Bro.
It was the kind of non-news news event one expects in the kabuki dance of American politics. But there were a few interesting bits.
Much more after the flip…
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer Draws a Line in the Sand on RealID
Link: Montana Governor Foments Real ID Rebellion. "Today, I am asking you to join with me in resisting the DHS coercion to comply with the provisions of REAL ID, " Schweitzer wrote. "If we stand together either DHS will blink or Congress will have to act to avoid havoc at our nation’s airports and federal … Read more
Sponsors Back-Pedalling on Employer Sanctions
Link: Employer sanctions law challenged by sponsors.
Looks like a number of Republicans are getting crosswise on the employer sanctions law now that it has taken effect and real enforcement actions seem imminent, threatening to put good, upstanding (and possibly Republican) businessmen on skid row.
This issue just screams DEMOCRATIC WEDGE ISSUE FOR 2008 STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES at the top of its lungs. I hope it’s not too much longer before every other word coming out of the Arizona Democratic Party’s mouth-piece is "employer sanctions." You don’t get monumental political fuck-ups like this dropped in your lap every day, you know.
Much more after the flip…
Nancy Young Wright: Second Choice of LD 26, First Choice of CHuckelberrians
UPDATE 12pm: The Board voted 4-1 (Ray Carroll being the dissenter, as he so frequently is) to select Nancy Young Wright as the new State Representative for LD 26. Interestingly, even though Jorgenson got the most support among the PCs of 26 (not to mention Lena’s) the Board nominated Nancy immediately, and Ray Carroll couldn’t get a second when he suggested that Don deserved an up or down vote on the record before considering Nancy. Nancy is going to file papers to run today, so she will definitely be seeking re-election. She also said that she will be resigning her current job with the county, as she was a direct employee, not a contractor. Don Jorgenson and Cheryl Cage were both in attendance at the Board’s meeting and were very supportive of Nancy once the vote confirmed what everyone expected. Don is certainly still running as Nancy’s running mate. I don’t know whether Cheryl Cage will also run, or if she will return to running the LD 26 campaigns. I will be sitting down with Nancy as soon as her schedule allows to give everyone a feel for her priorities for this and future sessions.