Cleans Elections money spent by candidates on laptops & hiring relatives

Read this comprehensive report from Alyssa Newcomb of Cronkite News, about how some Arizona clean election candidates spent their campaign money:

http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2010/11/special-report-some-clean-elections-money-went-toward-laptops-hiring-relatives-nra-dues/

What is the Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC):

The Citizens Clean Elections Act was passed by the people of Arizona in 1998 to level the playing field when it comes to running for office. The Act allows candidates, running for the Legislature or statewide offices the opportunity to forgo special interest money by collecting a certain number of $5 donations. In return, the candidate will receive full funding for their campaigns.

Excerpts from this Cronkite News report about Southern Arizona politicians and/or candidates in the recent 2010 elections:

“Cronkite News confirmed computer purchases through campaign finance reports or interviews with candidates. Some candidates who listed amounts paid to stores that offer computers as “miscellaneous” expenses didn’t return calls seeking comment:

– Gene Chewning, Independent, State Rep. District 27, Tucson

– Robert Compton, Republican, State Rep. District 27, Tucson”

Chewning was a candidate in LD 27 House, lost in the General, ran before for this House seat in 2006 as a Republican. Compton also ran for House in LD 27, lost in the General, and this was his first bid for public office.

Democratic Sen. Manuel V. Alvarez, who lost his re-election bid, said living in the small Cochise County town of Elfrida made hiring his family the easiest option. He paid three relatives a total of $2,759.99 to install signs, work on advertisements and consult.“In a town of 300, where are you going to find people to work for you and your campaign?” he asked.

State Senator “Manny” Alvarez (D) represents District 25, but lost in the General to Gail Griffin (R), who was not a Clean Elections candidate.

Eric Carbajal-Bustamante, a Tucson Democrat who lost in the primary, reported spending $385.59 on office supplies at IKEA, a furniture and furnishings store; and Ken Smalley, a Tucson Republican who lost in the general election, reported spending $229.87 on a “post-debate discussion” with staff members at T.G.I. Friday’s.“This is small stuff, talking about me taking the campaign staff out,” Smalley said. “Did you know you can spend up to $800 on equipment?”
Smalley’s campaign finance reports also noted that he spent $403.66 on a printer at OfficeMax.Carbajal-Bustamante didn’t respond to repeated phone messages.

Bustamante (D) lost a bid for LD 27 House in the primary, and Smalley (R) lost his bid for LD 28 House in the General. Bustamante ran before for LD 29 House in 2008, and Smalley has run before for Tucson City Council and Pima County Treasurer.

“Todd Lang, executive director of the Arizona CItizens Clean Elections Commission, says his staff doesn’t micromanage campaigns. However, he said the commission is aware of the tension between not wanting to interfere and keeping in mind that candidates are spending public money.”

I guess it would also be up to the Arizona voters to let the CCEC know what you think is appropriate campaign spending for these candidates, such as hiring their relatives. Apparently the candidates get to keep these laptops & other equipment they purchased.

How to contact the Citizens Clean Elections Commission in Phoenix:
602-364-3477 Main
602-364-3487 Fax
877-631-8891 Toll Free (928 & 520 Area Codes)

Email
ccec@azcleanelections.gov

State Senator Manny Alvarez

Eric Carbajal Bustamante

Gene Chewning

Robert Compton

Ken Smalley

Do Pima County Independents vote for Independent candidates?

Do Independent voters vote for Independent candidates? About 29% of the registered voters in Pima County are now declaring No Party/Independent/Other affiliation (see Pima County Recorder’s Office website by clicking here.)

For the first time (as far as I know) there were more Independent candidates in a legislative race (LD 28 Senate) than candidates from the major parties. There was one Democrat (the incumbent), one Republican, and two Independents running in that legislative race.

But it seems that Independent candidates don’t receive a lot of votes.

November 2006 General Election: Jay Quick ran as an Independent in CD 8 House, and got 1.68% of the vote (3523 votes). This past August, 2010 he ran again for CD 8 House as a Republican in the primary, and received 2.29% of the vote (1648 votes), slightly more percentage wise.

November 2008 General Election: Ralph Nader ran for U. S. President as “Nonpartisan” and got only 0.51 % of the vote in Pima County (1995 votes). He formerly ran for President as a Green Party candidate.

November 2010 General Election: Harley Meyer just ran in CD 7 House as an Independent, and got 2.83% of the vote (4506 votes).

In LD 27 Gene Chewning just ran for State House as an Independent & got 6.46% of the vote (4,114 votes). He ran before for the same seat as a Republican in November 2006, and got 19.54% of the vote (11,327 votes)– which shows that major party affiliation does help.

And in LD 28 Senate, Ted Downing (formerly a Democratic legislator) got 6.25% of the vote (3,085 votes) running as “Nonpartisan and Independent”, while Dave Ewoldt as an Independent (formerly with the Green party) got 2.86% of the vote (1,414 votes). Final tallies are not complete for these two races either.

Downing ran for this same seat in the September, 2006 Primary as a Democrat and got 45.71% of the vote (7746 votes). He only got 3085 votes this time in the 2010 General Election, so leaving the Democratic party seems to have lessened his chances of vote-getting.

Running as an Independent frees the candidate from a Primary Election challenge, but they don’t have a political party “machine”/resources to help them get out the vote, nor a political party platform to assist the voters in deciding what these candidates stand for. Being “independent” minded may not be enough for today’s discerning voter.

And I suspect that voters who choose “Other/No Party/Independent/Non partisan” status do so as they want to avoid party labels (or are unhappy with their former party), the closed Primaries, and want the freedom to pick & choose between all the Political Party candidates (Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green, Independent, etc.) in the General Election.

Time will tell if any independent/non partisan candidate will win a seat in Southern Arizona in the future.

UPDATE: Only Independent politicians in Southern AZ have been Ward 2 Councilmember Carol West (who changed from a Democrat), and District 3 Pima County Supervisor Ed Moore (who changed from a Republican).

Political parties to party on Election Night

November 2nd Election Day/night parties hosted by the official (and unofficial) political parties in Southern Arizona:

4 p.m. Tucson Tea Party, Doubletree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way (south of Broadway)

7 p.m. Pima County Republican Party, Doubletree Hotel, 445 W. Alvernon Way

7 p.m. Pima County Democratic Party, Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel, 880 E. 2nd Street (east of Euclid Avenue)

For a recent survey report on the Arizona Tea Party, click here.

And what about parties by the Green Party of Pima County and Pima County Libertarian Party? Does anyone know?

And where will the “Independent” candidates like Harley Meyer (CD 7 U.S. House), Gene Chewning (LD 27 House), Ted Downing (LD 28 Senate),and Dave Ewoldt (LD 28 Senate) go to party? I guess if they win, they will be throwing their own parties. Ewoldt does have a campaign headquarters at 2602 E. Grant Rd.

UPDATE: Ewoldt is having a free bbq/potluck BYOB party at his headquarters tonight starting at 5 p.m. See comments below.

(By the way, the only Independent politician in Southern Arizona — as far as I know — was Ward 2 Councilwoman Carol West, who was elected as a Democrat but changed to Independent before her term was up.)

Hope you find something to celebrate about on General Election Night.

Update on “Voting on Health” legislative candidate forum (LDs 25 through 30)

“Tucson Progressive” (Pamela Powers) reported on this health forum for state legislative candidates tomorrow night at the Mel & Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health (click here), but I’m posting an update of more candidates expected to speak.

From the University of Arizona’s Mel & Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health website:

The health and wellness of Arizonans is a hot topic of debate this election season. Get to know the candidates and where they stand on health issues next Wednesday, Oct. 20th at the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Graduate students from the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health will host the open forum titled, “Voting on Health: A Southern Arizona Candidate Forum.”

This is an opportunity for voters to hear what the legislative candidates have to say about their role in promoting the wellbeing of Southern Arizonans, and their plans to address key issues that affect the health of individuals living in this region. The forum in open to the public.

Participating Arizona legislative candidates running for state offices in the November 2nd election:

Paula Aboud (D) for State Senate, District 28
Dr. Ted Downing (N/I) for State Senate, District 28
Dave Ewoldt (I) for State Senate, District 28
Steve Farley (D) House seat, District 28
Pat Fleming (D) House seat, District 25
Sally Gonzales (D) House seat, District 27
Peggy Judd (R) House seat, District 25
Pat Kilburn (R) House seat, District 29
Bruce Wheeler (D) House seat, District 28

Drachman Hall, 1295 N. Martin Avenue, Room B109, Tucson, AZ. Parking is free in the Drachman Hall East lot after 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Refreshments will be served from 6:30-7 p.m.)

That’s the information on the website, but the latest update is that these candidates are also attending:

Gene Chewning (I), House seat, District 27
Dr.Todd Camenisch (D), Senate seat, District 30
Robert Compton (R), House seat, District 27
Ruben Ortega (D), House seat, District 25 (maybe)
Daniel Patterson (D), House seat, District 29
Dr. Macario Saldate (D), House seat, District 27
Ken Smalley (R), House seat, District 28
Kent Solberg (G), House seat, District 27

That’s a lot of candidates (15 or 16) to listen to in 2 hours, from the Democratic, Republican, and Green Parties, and three Independents.

This will hopefully be a neutral, non-partisan forum to learn about candidates’ views on health issues in the state legislature, prior to the 11/2/10 General Election. I corrected the notice on their website to reflect that Dr. Downing is no longer running as a Democrat, but now Non-partisan/Independent. I wrote about that change back in March (click here).

For more information, please call Renee Fullerton at 520.626.8036, rfullert@email.arizona.edu.

LD 27 candidates debate on September 9

Coming up on Thursday Sept. 9, the Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC) debate between “clean” candidates running for LD 27 State Senate and House of Representatives. There are 2 open seats in the House race as both current Democrats Rep. Phil Lopes and Rep. Olivia Cajero Bedford are termed out.

Ms. Cajero Bedford just won the Democratic nomination for State Senate in that same district, and faces little opposition in the General Election, only write-in Republican candidates Duke Schechter and Jaime Vasquez.

The CCEC debate is at PCC West campus
West Campus Student Lounge
2202 W Anklam Rd
at 6 p.m.
and the video of this debate will be available online w/in 72 hours, at http://www.azcleanelections.gov/home/video/generaldebatevids2010.aspx

However there is lots of opposition for the 2 Democrats Sally Ann Gonzales and Dr. Macario Saldate nominated in the August 24 house primary. Their websites are: http://www.votemacariosaldate2010.info/, and www.www.votesallygonzales.com. Gonzales is President of Guadalupe Community Development Corp., and is a former 2 term District 10 House Rep.(1996 to 2000), former Tribal Council member & Secretary of Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona (1992 – 1996). Dr. Macario Saldate IV, is the Director of Guadalajara Summer School,and a retired UA Educational Foundations & Administration professor.

Republican Robert Compton, a service technician at Hamstra heating/cooling company (www.thatcomptonguy.com) is making his first bid for public office. Green Party candidate Solberg ran before for this seat in 2008, and is the owner of Kent’s Tools (a small business on Grant Road), www.kent4house.org. Chaplain Gene Chewning (www.votechewning.com) ran for this seat in 2006 as a Republican, and is now an Independent seeking one of the these two House seats as well. So there’s one of each– Republican, Green, and Independent, facing off with the 2 Democrats.

All candidates are participating in the “clean” elections program.

Choose between 2 of these 5 candidates for LD 27 House of Representatives. LD 27 has
the following registered voters: 40,600 Democrats, 16,156 Republicans, 800 Libertarians, 295 Greens, and 24,290 Independents, for a total of 82,151 voters (from Pima County Recorders website, click here.)

UPDATE 9/15/10: CCEC video online click here.

Gene Chewning

Robert Compton

Sally Ann Gonzales

Dr. Macario Saldate

Kent Solberg

Clean Elections Commission debate schedule (statewide & legislative races) for General Election

Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission schedule for upcoming General Election debates:

Statewide races, all telecast on KAET Horizon Channel 8 in Phoenix, to be posted online at their website within 72 hours after the debates. D indicates Democrat, G indicates Green Party, I indicates Independent, L indicates Libertarian, R indicates Republican. Most of these candidates will be invited, but not all attend the debates, as it’s only mandatory for those participating in “clean” elections. To find out who’s a participating candidate, click here.

Governor
September 1, 7 to 8 p.m.
(Governor Jan Brewer – R, Larry Gist- G, Attorney General Terry Goddard- D, Barry Hess- L)

Attorney General (9/3/10 UPDATE: DEBATE CANCELED DUE TO NEITHER BEING A “CLEAN” ELECTIONS CANDIDATE).
September 8, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Tom Horne- R, Felecia Rotellini – D)

Superintendent of Public Instruction
September 15, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(John Huppenthal -R, Penny Kotterman- D)

Secretary of State
September 22, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Sec. of State Ken Bennett – R, Chris Deschene – D)

Treasurer (9/3/10 UPDATE: DEBATE CANCELED DUE TO NEITHER BEING “CLEAN” ELECTIONS CANDIDATE).
September 29, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Doug Ducey – R, Andrei Cherny – D)

Corporation Commission (2 seats)
October 4, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Commissioner Gary Pierce – R, David Bradley – D, Brenda Burns – R, Jorge Luis Garcia – D)

State Mine Inspector
October 06, 2010, 7 PM – 7:30 PM
(Inspector Joe Hart – R, Miguel Cruz – D)

Legislative Districts (Southern Arizona), all “Clean” candidates in House & Senate are required to participate, and others running traditionally may do as well. One seat is open in the State Senate, two seats in the State House in each legislative district.

District 26 (9/3/10 UPDATE:DEBATE CANCELED AS ALL CANDIDATES NOT PARTICIPATING IN CLEAN ELECTIONS, RUNNING TRADITIONALLY)
September 16, 6 p.m.
PCC Northwest Campus, 7600 N. Shannon Rd.
(State Senate: Cheryl Cage – D, Senator Al Melvin – R;
State House: Terri Proud – R, Rep. Vic Williams- R, Rep. Nancy Young Wright – D)

District 27
September 9, 6 p.m.
PCC West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Rd.
(State Senate: Olivia Cajero Bedford- D, Duke Schechter- R is a write-in candidate,as is Jaime Vasquez – R; State House: Gene Chewning – I, Robert Compton – R, Sally Ann Gonzales – D, Dr. Macario Saldate – D, Kent Solberg – G)

District 28
September 14, 6 p.m.
PCC Community Room, 4905 E. Broadway
(State Senate: Senator Paula Aboud – D, Ted Downing – I, Dave Ewoldt – I, Greg Krino – R;
State House: Rep. Steve Farley – D, Ken Smalley- R, Bruce Wheeler- D)

District 29
September 28, 6 p.m.
PCC Community Room, 4905 E. Broadway
(State Senate: Senator Linda Lopez – D, unopposed;
(State House: Rep. Matt Heinz – D, Pat Kilburn – R, Rep. Daniel Patterson – D)

District 30
September 30, 6 p.m.
PCC East Campus, 8181 E. Irvington
(State Senate: Senator Frank Antenori – R, Dr. Todd Camenisch – D;
State House: Andrea Dalessandro – D, Rep. David Gowan – R, and Rep. Ted Vogt -R)

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Primary election results – final update 8/31/10

View the latest results at 5:55 a.m. (August 25) from Secretary of State Ken Bennett, with Maricopa & Pima Counties not completely reporting:

http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AZ/19539/32130/en/summary.html

Line up for the General Election (so far):

U. S. Senator John McCain (R) vs. former Tucson Councilmember Dr. Rodney Glassman (D) vs. Jerry Joslyn (G) vs. David Nolan (L)

CD 7 U. S. House Rep. Raul Grijalva (D) vs. Raytheon rocket scientist Ruth McClung (R) vs. George Keane (L) vs. Harley Meyer (I)

CD 8 U. S. House Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) vs. businessman Jesse Kelly (R) vs. Dr. Steven Stoltz (L)

Governor Jan Brewer (R) vs. Attorney General Terry Goddard (D) vs. Larry Gist (G) vs. Barry Hess (L)

Secretary of State Ken Bennett (R) vs. House Rep. Chris Deschene (D)

Attorney General
Tom Horne (R) vs. Felecia Rotellini (D)

Treasurer:
Businessman Doug Ducey (R) vs. Former Assistant AG Andrei Cherny (D)

Superintendent of Public Instruction:
State Senator John Huppenthal (R) vs. Former Arizona Education Association Pres. Penny Kotterman (D)

Corporation Commission (2 seats):
Commissioner Gary Pierce & Brenda Burns (Rs) vs. David Bradley and Jorge Luis Garcia (Ds)

In Southern Arizona Legislative districts:

LD 26:
State Senator Al Melvin (R) vs. businesswoman Cheryl Cage (D)
State House: Rep. Vic Williams and paralegal Terri Proud (Rs) vs. State House Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D)

LD 27:
State Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford (D), vs. write in candidates Duke Schechter (R) and Jaime Vasquez (R);
State House: former legislator Sally Ann Gonzales and Dr. Macario Saldate (Ds) vs. businessman Robert Compton (R), businessman Kent Solberg (G), pastor Gene Chewning (I)

LD 28:
State Senator Paula Aboud (D) vs. Independents Dave Ewoldt and Ted Downing, and Attorney Greg Krino (R)
State House: Rep. Steve Farley and former legislator Bruce Wheeler (Ds) vs. businessman Ken Smalley (R)

LD 29:
State Senator Linda Lopez (D) unopposed
State House: Rep. Matt Heinz and Rep. Daniel Patterson (Ds) vs. businessman Pat Kilburn (R)

LD 30:
State Senator Frank Antenori (R) vs. Dr. Todd Camenisch (D)
State House: Rep. David Gowan and Rep. Ted Vogt (Rs) vs. businesswoman Andrea Dalessandro (D)

UPDATE: Wed. 8/25 at 7:57 p.m. Sec. of State website listing vote total at 801,003, 25.81% of the registered voters cast ballots, with only Maricopa County still partially reporting. Stay tuned for final unofficial results, especially for AG race which is still too close to call for the Republican nomination. Other races likely to remain the same till all votes counted, and the canvass is accepted.

UPDATE: Thurs. 8/26 5:07 p.m. 869,441 votes counted to date, 28.02% voter turnout. Stay tuned for tomorrow night’s tally. Horne ahead of Andrews by wider margin (1073), same with Rotellini over Lujan by a much wider margin (3203), causing Lujan to concede tonight. Same candidates still ahead in LD 26, 27, 28, which are the only close races to watch now.

UPDATE: Friday 8/27 6:36 p.m. 913,578 votes counted to date, 29.44 % turnout. Andrew Thomas thought of conceding today but has apparently changed his mind since he is only 485 votes behind Horne now. Most candidates leading in LD 26, 27 and 28 seem to have won. About 22,000 votes still to be counted, stay tuned for next tally.

UPDATE: Saturday 8/28 8:13 p.m. 931,817 votes counted, 30.03% turnout. Andrew Thomas still behind Tom Horne by 853 votes. Let’s see what Monday’s tally will be.

UPDATE: Monday 8/30, 5:54 p.m. 933,212 votes counted, 30.08% turnout. Tom Horne has declared victory,but Thomas has not conceded. Sec. of State’s office told me they had 3800 votes to count today and into tomorrow. Counties have 5 working days to submit their votes, so tomorrow night is the deadline. Finally!

FINAL UPDATE: Tuesday 8/31, 4:29 p.m. 934,113 votes cast (final unofficial results), turnout 30.10 % of the 3,102,876 registered voters in Arizona. Tom Horne received 899 more votes than Andrew Thomas for the AG Republican nomination, a very close race considering how many votes were cast in that race (555,699).

on the LD 27 House campaign trail…May 11

Seven (yes, SEVEN) Democratic candidates are running for two state house seats in LD 27. Your first chance to meet & greet all of them is coming up on Tuesday May 11, at a League of Women Voters moderated forum at the Joel D. Valdez Main library lower level meeting room, from 6 to 8 p.m. Here’s the list of who’s running (click on their campaign websites in blue to see their photos and positions on issues.)

–John Martin Bernal, Math and Economics teacher at Calli Ollin High school, (nephew of Pima County Public Works director John Bernal, his namesake),www.people4bernal.com

–Eric Carbajal Bustamante – Behavioral Health Associate for the Arizona Children’s Association, former Americorps volunteer, candidate in LD 29 state house in 2008, www.ericcarbajalbustamante.com

–Dustin Cox, former Executive Director of Anytown, Arizona Inc., 2009 Arizona Daily Star’s “Top 40 Under 40” finalist & awardee, www.dustincox2010.com

–Bob Gilby, Math teacher at Marana High School and PCC, (husband of Donna Branch-Gilby who was a candidate for Ward 3 Pima County Supervisor in 2008), www.bobgilby.com

–Sally Ann Gonzales, President of Guadalupe Community Development Corp., former 2 term District 10 House Rep.(1997 to 2000), former Tribal Council member & Secretary of Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona (1992 – 1996), http://www.votesallygonzales.com- under construction

–Sami Hamed, district aide to CD7 Congressman Raul Grijalva, Hearing Officer (inactive) in Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts, Small Claims, www.samihamed.com

–Dr. Macario Saldate IV, Director of Guadalajara Summer School, retired UA Educational Foundations & Administration professor, www.votemacariosaldate2010.info

Also running for LD27 house: Republican Robert Compton, a service technician at Hamstra heating/cooling company (www.thatcomptonguy.com – under construction), and Green Party candidate Kent Solberg. Solberg ran before for this seat in 2008, and is the owner of Kent’s Tools (a small business). Chaplain Gene Chewning (www.votechewning.com) also ran for this same seat in 2006 as a Republican, and is now an Independent seeking one of the these two House seats as well.

So that’s a total of TEN candidates for two House seats in LD 27. Quite a crowded race.

Voters will have to choose two of these candidates to represent them in LD 27 House. The current House Reps. Phil Lopes and Olivia Cajero Bedford are termed out, and Ms. Bedford is running for the LD 27 State Senate seat.

Contact: Jim Hannley, LD 27 Chair, at jhannley2@msn.com, (520) 792-1229, or for more information on LD 27, click here for the Pima County Democratic Party website.