Posted on our Blog for Arizona image Calendar were 3 LWVGT and AZPM candidate forums for Arizona statewide offices in early October (6, 8, and 9). As of today, three have been cancelled, the ones for Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Secretary of State. Instead, there will now be Conversation with the Candidates at PCC West Recital Hall:
Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m. Felecia Rotellini, Democrat for Attorney General
Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m. Dr. David Garcia, Democrat for Superintendent of Public Insruction and Terry Goddard, Democrat for Sec. of State
All statewide candidates were invited to participate and the deadline to respond was September 12, 2014. Apparently many of the Republican candidates declined to attend these Southern Arizona forums.
The other candidate forum for AZ Corporation Commission (2 Democrats vs. 2 Republicans) is still scheduled for Oct. 6, 7:45 p.m. So is the Governor’s one on October 9, 6:30 p.m. (although I heard that Republican Treasurer Doug Ducey will not be attending). These debates will still be held in the PCC West Proscenium Theatre, 2202 West Anklam Rd.
Stay tuned for any further updates or go to League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson website: www.lwvgt.org. Tickets are still required at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dUH1anLwUg-l57IAzRMIjLkdb8WphJ0mrFAjj4W_bFU/viewform?c=0&w=1
AZ Corporation Commission debate has also been cancelled by LWVGT today, with now the Oct. 6 event being Conversations with candidates Jim Holway and Sandra Kennedy, both Democrats.
What is the point of Republicans going to southern Arizona? Southern Arizona is firmly Democrat and there is not much that can be done to change that. To be honest, I don’t think there will ever be many Republicans even living in southern Arizona. Every time I visit Tucson, there is something in the air that smacks of liberal whackiness. I can’t explain it, but I can feel it. It’s the same feeling I get when I visit San Francisco. A pretty place to visit, but I would never want to live there.
The only thing that might possibly happen is a major faux paux of some sort that has a negative effect on the Republican candidates campaign in central Arizona. Nothing of any good could come out of it, so why bother?
Of course, I may have overlooked something, so I challenge anyone on this site to tell me of a reason why it would be good for a Republican to go to southern Arizona for a debate or other appearance.
Take a look at the current voter registration numbers for Democrats, Republicans and Independents (others) for Pima County: http://www.recorder.pima.gov/voterweb/voterttlsdist.aspx.
Thank you, Carolyn, for showing me those figures. They were a surprise to me. I guess there are more reasons for Republicans to go south than I thought. I stand corrected.
Thanks for replying Steve. Yes, there are a lot of Republicans and Independents down here in Pima County, and I think they would have appreciated hearing from the Republican candidates. And the Republicans down here turn out more voters (percentage wise) than the Dems.
Well, now I am really wondering why Republicans don’t go down there and preach the Party line. It doesn’t make any sense with that many registered Republicans and Independents down there. Are we afraid of the competition? Do we not believe in what we preach? No wonder Democrats carry southern Arizona so consistently…they work the area and turn out the voters.
This information you gave me, Carolyn, leaves me VERY disappointed in my Republicans. We should be down there fighting hard for that constituency. The constituency deserves it, and we should be able to stand up for what we believe in. It is a sad situation…
I wonder how southern Arizona Republicans feel about their candidates being unwilling to debate in front of them. Seems like a trend these days.
Yes, quite disappointing not to be able to see/hear all the statewide candidates in these forums. Thanks for commenting Georgia.