The Arizona Republic endorses Rodney Glassman and Felecia Rotellini

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona Republic continues its endorsements today. The Arizona Republic's voters' guide to 2010 primary election:

U.S. Senate (Dem.): Glassman displaying energy, savvy

With national focus on Arizona's Republican race for the U.S. Senate, the candidates on the other side of the aisle have gotten scant attention. They deserve more.

Rodney Glassman, former vice mayor of Tucson, is one of those sound prospects. He is a savvy, young newcomer with a bright political future. And Cathy Eden, former director of the state Department of Health Services, comes to the race with a well-earned reputation as a sound manager with a heart of gold.

We lean toward Glassman, if only for the extraordinary energy he has brought to his campaign and the impressive political resume he has accumulated.

A lawyer and JAG officer in the Air Force, Glassman served on the staff of Rep. Raúl Grijalva. He has served on the boards of an astonishing number of civic organizations – a mark of both dedication and ambition. Eden, a former state legislator and manager of Coconino County, is an Arizona native. Not surprisingly, her approach to politics dovetails with the Arizona politician she admires most, Mo Udall.

Political organizer Randy Parraz is intensely focused on immigration and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, to the exclusion of most else. News reporter John Dougherty seems intent on practicing his investigative skills in the Senate.

Arizona Democrats would be well-served with either Glassman or Eden on the ballot in November. We give the nod to Glassman.

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Attorney General (Dem.): Rotellini a fierce enemy of fraud

What a placid environment is the Democratic primary for attorney general. While the Republicans heave knives at one another, the Democrats are positively tranquil.

Whoever the Republicans deliver to the general election will be badly damaged by accusations. If those GOP hopefuls are paying attention – and, rest assured, they are – there is one Democrat they don't want to face: Felecia Rotellini.

She will bring it on.

In this field, she is the ferociously smart prosecutor who has clocked significant time in the courtroom taking down lawbreakers and unwinding the complex strands of financial fraud.

As superintendent of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, she slapped $5 million in fees and fines on Western Union for violating laws meant to cut off funds to Mexican cartels. In 1999, she was lead litigator in the successful case against accounting giant Arthur Andersen for failing to protect investors from the Baptist Foundation fraud.

We like her opponents. David Lujan is one of the very decent people and leaders at the Legislature. And former Assistant Attorney General Vince Rabago has a ground-level knowledge of border issues.

But they lack Rotellini's breadth of experience as a prosecutor and manager.

The Republic recommends Felecia Rotellini.