The deck gets shuffled some more with candidate announcements

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

You won't have Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker to kick around in the GOP gubernatorial primary any more. He has decided that he would rather run for Congress in Congressional District 3. CQ Politics | Eye on 2010 – Parker Running For Shadegg's Seat, Ending Bid For Gov He joins state Sens. Jim Waring and Pamela Gorman, and Rep. Sam Crump in the GOP primary. You would think that former congressman J.D. Hayworth would want to get in on this action (one does not have to live in the district to run, but it helps). He has better odds of winning his old job back than he does of knocking off Senator John McCain in a GOP primary.

The Arizona Republic reports today that perennial potential candidate Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon may run as well for the congressional district 3 seat. Bid for Congress by Gordon could disrupt City Hall The only question I have is whether he will run as a Republican or a "purported to be a" Democrat. Gordon has endorsed so many Republican politicians over the years that he has little support among the Democratic Party activist base.

The only Democrat currently running for congressional district 3 is Jon Hulburd (who has done a phenomenal job of fundraising by the way).

In other news, Rep. Chris Deschene (D-LD2) has made it official: he is running for Secretary of State. 1-term legislator to run for secretary of state:

Chris Deschene, D-Window Rock, said Arizona needs someone who will ensure the integrity of the voting process. The secretary of state is the state's chief elections officer.

Deschene said he got a firsthand look at what can go wrong in the 2008 election when some county recorders refused to count the signatures on nominating papers of some candidates because the signers were reservation residents and used a post office box for their address. The Arizona Supreme Court eventually ordered that the signatures be allowed.

Deschene acknowledged Arizona's history of having secretaries of state that have become governor, most recently just a year ago when Janet Napolitano quit to take a job in the Obama administration. That elevated Jan Brewer to the top spot.

That also happened in 1997, 1988, 1977 and 1948.

He said, though, his lack of experience in state government does not mean he would not be a good governor if that transition happened again.

"It doesn't take four terms in the House, it doesn't take four terms in the Senate to understand that there's a failure of leadership at all levels of government," Deschene said, citing the current multibillion-dollar budget deficit.

"I think what this state needs are bold leaders willing to make tough decisions, willing to stand up, who have a proven record to take our state in the right direction," he said. And Deschene said all the experience of those who have been in government much longer "hasn't gotten us any further in solving this crisis."

He touted his own background, including graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, 10 years as a Marine, and a law degree and master's in mechanical engineering from Arizona State University.

Deschene will face primary opponent Sam Wercinski, who served for two years in the Napolitano administration as state real estate commissioner.