Ron Barber

#cyclingforchange

#PowersForThePeople Team #CyclingForChange in the AZ Legislature at #Cyclovia

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#cyclingforchange
Cycling for Change Team at Cyclovia. Many thanks to Andrew Broan and his friends, my husband Jim (far right), and my good friend Michael Gordy (not pictured) who decorated their bikes with my signage for Cyclovia. The guys were so photogenic as they rode together that the national press photographed them. Now if the local press would only take notice.
Congressman Ron Barber and Pamela Powers Hannley
Congressman Ron Barber and Pamela Powers Hannley at Cyclovia

Although Cyclovia got a little soggy this year, the #PowersForThePeople #CyclingForChange team was undeterred. Six of us decorated our bikes with “Cycling for Change in the Arizona Legislature” and “Powers for the People” signage and rode in Cyclovia. While the guys rode the route, I talked with voters at the Himmel Park hub and collected signatures.

My husband Jim and I saw many friends at Cyclovia. What a great community event it is. Itnot only promotes gathering and communication, it also promotes exercise and health.

One of the people I ran into was Congressman Ron Barber. (He and his wife Nancy have two of the coolest bikes in Tucson.) Barber has been very supportive of my campaign, and we talked at length about strategy and progress as we dodged the raindrops.

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Dr. Jo Holt elected Chair of Pima County Democratic Party

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Dr. Jo Holt, new Chair of Pima County Democratic Party
Dr. Jo Holt, new Chair of Pima County Democratic Party

Dr. Jo Holt who holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry was elected Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party today at the special election following resignation of former Chair Cheryl Cage in late September. The meeting of precinct committeepersons was held in the UA Social Sciences auditorium (1145 E. South Campus Drive)  this morning, with 139 Democrats voting.  Acting Chair Pat Burns welcomed everyone, then former PCDP Chair Jeff Rogers conducted the election.

Dr. Holt ran unsuccessfully twice for LD 11 State Senator (against Senator Al Melvin and Steve Smith, respectively in 2012 and 2014). She said that she had intended to run again for that same seat but stepped forward to lead the county party instead.

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Ron Barber to announce for CD2 – Democrats need a vigorous primary

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Jim Nintzel at The Tucson Weekly reports Ron Barber Will Announce His 2016 Plans on Zona Politics on Sunday Morning:

Screenshot-12Democrat Ron Barber, who lost the closest congressional race in the country last year by 167 votes to freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, will announce whether he’s in for a rematch on Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel, airing this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on KGUN-9.

Zona Politics is taped in advance, so Jim Nintzel already knows what he is teasing with his program promo. Spoiler alert, the Arizona Republic reported this morning that Ron Barber “has reached out to state Rep. Bruce Wheeler, a Democrat who has been exploring a bid for the 2nd Congressional District seat.” This is called a courtesy call; one does not need to make a courtesy call unless one is running for office.

Even the Sierra Vista Herald in an editorial opinion today says “If Ron Barber follows the expected script on Sunday morning, his bid to return to Congress will likely put him in the ring against Republican Martha McSally next November.” OUR VIEW: Prepare yourself.

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4th year anniversary of shooting on January 8, 2011 (photos)

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The tragic Tucson Tragedy happened 4 years ago on Saturday, January 8, 2011.  Here are photos taken this afternoon by freelance photographer Jon Scanlon of the memorial plaque on the boulder in front of the Safeway supermarket at the SE corner of Oracle/Ina.  Many people left lovely flowers today in remembrance of this mass shooting at this site.

safewayplaque

Six people died that day on that sidewalk outside the supermarket.  Let us not forget them:

Christina-Taylor Green, age 9,
Dorothy “Dot” Morris, age 76,
Judge John Roll, age 63,
Phyllis Schneck, age 79,
Dorwan Stoddard, age 76,
and Gabriel “Gabe” Zimmerman, age 30 (whom I knew).
Safewayplaqueflower
A Prayer gathering was held today at the Northminster Presbyterian Church on Tucson Blvd/Ft. Lowell (where Phyllis’ funeral was held in 2011), and a Day of Kindness & Remembrance was scheduled  at Tohono Chul Park. Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild rang the fire bell at Tucson Fire Central on Cushing Street in downtown Tucson at 10:10 a.m. this morning, at the exact time of the shooting.
Two events tonight at 7 p.m. —
Memorial services at St. Philips in the Hills,  4440 N. Campbell Ave. and a Memorial poetry reading at the UA Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen  St.
Former LD 2 Congressman Ron Barber who was shot twice on Jan. 8, 2011 will be reading at the latter event.  Mayor Rothschild will be at the Memorial service.

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