Ben Buehler-Garcia vs.Councilmember Uhlich on AZPM

Last night Arizona Illustrated Channel 6 (AZPM) held a City Council forum with Democratic Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich (2 term) and her Republican challenger Ben Buehler-Garcia. Buehler-Garcia challenged Uhlich before in 2009 and lost by 175 votes in a 3 way race with Green candidate Mary DeCamp. Watch the video here. Biographies of the candidates are shown prior to questioning by Host Jim Nintzel.

Councilmember Uhlich was first elected in 2005 by upsetting Republican incumbent Kathleen Dunbar. She is the Executive Director of the Southwest Center of Economic Integrity, and the former E.D. of the Primavera Foundation. Her campaign website, www.karinfortucson.com

Buehler-Garcia is a self employed community/economic developer and small businessman. His campaign website: www.votebencitywide.com

Upcoming radio forum between these two candidates will be on the Buckmaster Show, 1030 AM KVOI on October 14 at 12:30 p.m.

My previous post about upcoming forums in October for the Tucson City Council races in Wards 3, 5 and 6 (click here).

The General Election is on November 5. Mail-in ballots will be mailed on October 17. Voting for these races is city-wide, which means that all voters in Wards 1 to 6 vote for each Councilmember, although the Primary was by ward only, as the candidates must live in their respective wards.

No write-in candidate to oppose Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik

Yesterday at 5 p.m. was the deadline for any write-in candidate to file to challenge Democrat Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik in the General Election coming up on November 5 for the Tucson City Council.

No one filed with the Tucson City Clerk, so Councilman Kozachik (aka Steve K) will be running unopposed. Steve was first elected as a Republican to the Tucson City Council in 2009 and changed his political party affiliation in January, 2013 to a Democrat.

Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik

More about Counciman Kozachik from his City of Tucson website:

Steve has a B.A. in Public Administration and an MED in Higher Education Management.
He has worked for the UA since 1988 in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. He is the Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and Project Management. He is responsible for overseeing project management from design through occupancy. Prior to that he worked in Industrial Relations for ASARCO and ran a small business (Long John Silver’s) for a year.

Steve Kozachik was also voted as the “Best Public Servant” in the Tucson Weekly’s Best of Tucson issue (September 26,2013 page 15). They say ” Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik was an unlikely candidate to be come one of Tucson’s favorite politicians…but over his first term in office, he’s emerged as a no-bullshit guy who tells it like it is and takes on entrenched interests…We may not always agree with him, but we appreciate that he’s working day and night for the people of Tucson”.

Two other City Council members are up for re-election: Democratic 2 term Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich, and Democratic one term Ward 5 Councilman Richard Fimbres.

They are being challenged by Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia (who previously challenged Councilmember Uhlich in 2009, in a 3 way Ward 3 race with Green candidate Mary DeCamp), and Republican Mike Polak II, a political newcomer in Ward 5.

Campaign websites for all candidates in alphabetical order:

Ben Buehler-Garcia, www.votebencitywide.com
Richard Fimbres, www.fimbresfortucson.com
Steve Kozachik, www.votekoz2013.com
Mike Polak II, www.mikeforcitycouncil.org
Karin Uhlich, www.karinfortucson.com

Vote wisely on or before November 5. Vote by mail ballots will be mailed out by City Elections starting October 17.

Republican gun parts & accessories businessman Mike Polak II to challenge Councilmember Fimbres in Ward 5

On March 6, self employed Republican Mike Polak II filed his Statement of Organization with the Tucson City Clerk, with his intent to challenge one term Councilmember Richard Fimbres in Ward 5. He filed two amended statements thereafter.

Bio from Polak:

• The Boeing Company 1997 to 2012, Long Beach, CA & Tucson, AZ. Worked with Domestic and International Air lines companies. Supported Satellite launch operations and international transportation.
• McDonnell Douglas Long Beach, CA 1987 to 1994
• Northrop 1986 to 1987
• 8 years in the United States Marine Corp
• Graduated for Southern California Institute of Technology with B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Electronic Engineering
• Small business owner.

He currently is the owner of Desert Armory Gun Parts & Accessories, a small business selling gun equipment and participating in gun shows. He says that his top priorities in this campaign are:
• Bringing Jobs to Tucson
• Improving the infrastructure and services in Tucson
• Improve public safety

Mike Polak II

Polak’s campaign info: mikeforcouncil@gmail.com, phone 520-243-3511, 2004 E. Irvington St. #175, website: Facebook.com/Mike for City Council.

Fimbres defeated political newcomer Republican Shaun McClusky in 2009 to win his Ward 5 seat (53% to 46%). Democratic Councilman Steve Leal had retired after 5 terms serving Ward 5.

Ward 3, 5, and 6 are up for election this year. One term Councilmember Steve Kozachik is running for re-election in Ward 6, as is 2 term Councilmember Karin Uhlich. All three Councilmembers up for re-election are Democrats. Kozachik is running unopposed at this time, and Uhlich is being challenged again by Republican community activist Ben Buehler-Garcia who lost to her in 2009, in a 3 way race with Green candidate Mary DeCamp.

Councilman Kozachik to kick off campaign with four Tucson Mayors

From one term Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik’s re-election campaign:

On Wednesday, March 20th, Ward 6 Council Member Steve Kozachik will be joined by the City of Tucson’s four most recent mayors for a campaign kickoff event. Former mayors George Miller, Tom Volgy and Bob Walkup will join current Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild at Borderlands Brewery in downtown Tucson for the event.

Steve Kozachik Campaign Kickoff
Wednesday, March 20, 5:30 – 7:00 P.M.
Borderlands Brewing Company
119 E. Toole Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701

“Borderlands is the perfect venue for this kick-off,” said Kozachik. “It’s the poster child of a successful private sector venture that has quickly grown into a successful downtown business. It is emblematic of the successes we’re seeing in the downtown core, a success story that I’m proud to have been a part of and one that I am excited to continue to support.”

Former Council Member and honorary campaign co-chair Carol West will also be in attendance. Kozachik announced previously that West, Walkup and former United States Surgeon General Richard Carmona will be co-chairing his campaign.

The event marks the first time in recent memory that four mayors, representing two parties have come together in support of a city council candidate. Each mayor offered their own insights into what makes Kozachik an effective leader, deserving of their endorsement.

The current Mayor Jonathan Rothschild (elected 2011) is a Democrat, along with former Mayors Tom Volgy (1987 to 1991) and George Miller (1991 to 1999). Former Mayor Robert Walkup (1999 to 2011) is a Republican.

Councilman Steve Kozachik (aka “Steve K” or “Koz”) is running unopposed for the Ward 6 Council office so far. He was elected to this seat as a Republican and just changed to a Democrat on January 14, 2013.

Two term Ward 3 Councilmember Democrat Karin Uhlich is facing Republican challenger Ben Buehler-Garcia, who ran against her before in 2009. He lost by 175 votes in a three-way race with Councilmember Uhlich and Green candidate Mary DeCamp.

One term Ward 5 Councilmember Democrat Richard Fimbres is facing a Republican challenger as well, political newcomer Mike Polak II, a self employed businessman. Stay tuned for a future post about Polak’s candidacy. He just filed his Statement of Organization on March 6 with the Tucson City Clerk.

Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia to challenge Councilmember Uhlich in Ward 3 (again)

Ben Buehler -Garcia

Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia filed a campaign finance Statement of Organization on 2/22/13 to challenge 2 term Councilmember Karin Uhlich in the Ward 3 race.

As a political newcomer he ran against incumbent Democrat Uhlich four years ago in 2009, and lost by 175 votes (33,782 to 33,607). Green party candidate Mary DeCamp got 4,429 votes in that three-way race. Uhlich was first elected in 2005 by defeating Republican incumbent Kathleen Dunbar in Ward 3.

Biography from the candidate:

Ben Buehler-Garcia is a 34 year resident of Tucson and Ward III. He first came to Tucson in order to attend the University of Arizona where he earned a degree in Public Administration with a Criminal Justice minor.

Ben has 25 years professional experience in Economic & Community development, serving 9 years in a management role at the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

For the last 16 years he has been self-employed, providing Economic & Community Development Planning, Small Business Advocacy and Non-Profit Consulting Services.

A firm believer in volunteerism and community engagement, he has been recognized with the Copper Cactus Award for Community service for his role with organizations such as the United Way, Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, the Arizona Children’s Foundation and the Tucson Community Cares Foundation.

He also volunteered 9 years with the City of Tucson Industrial Development Authority Board of Directors and 2 years as a member of the City of Tucson Economic and Workforce Development Selection Committee. For the past 9 years he has also served as Executive Director of the Stand Up for Kids Tucson Chapter, an all-volunteer organization working with homeless teens and street kids.

2013 campaign goals by Buehler-Garcia on why he is running again:

I have a great passion for our community and it breaks my heart that it has been allowed to drift so far from its true potential.

Things have not improved; Tucson was ranked the 6th poorest large metro area in 2011 and the City of Tucson’s most recent stress index states that 29.7% of children in the City live in poverty. More than half of our residential streets are in failing or poor condition. The same study shows that Ward III is ranked highest in the incidence of burglary & domestic violence (My own property has had 6 attempted burglaries and one successful burglary!) The lowest median household income in Tucson is in Ward III.

We have a top research university, a major defense installation & manufacturer, wonderful weather and are located 50 miles from one of our nation’s largest trading partners. How is it conceivable that we are not leading the state in economic recovery rather than trailing?

I believe that much of the waste in Rio Nuevo resulted from the lack of professional knowledge and political courage. Budgeting priorities are misplaced.

City Council Wards 3, 5, and 6 are up for re-election this year, and all three Democratic Councilmembers are speaking at Democrats of Greater Tucson (click here for earlier post). No Republican opponents have filed any statements of organization as yet against Councilmembers Fimbres (Ward 5) or Councilmember Kozachik (Ward 6).

31st Annual Peace Fair & Music Festival

Sponsored by Tucson Peace Center, read more in their calendar: www.peacecalendar.org

31st Annual Tucson Peace Fair & Music Festival!!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

10:00am – 5:00pm

Reid Park Bandshell – Country Club & 22nd St.

Arizona’s largest gathering of peace, social justice and environmental groups.

Live Music for the Whole Family! Children’s Activities! Food! Awesome Raffle!

Free to Attend!

Presented by the Tucson Peace Center

To Participate… Peace and Justice organizations looking to participate in the Peace Fair please email mdecamp@q.com with Peace Fair in the subject line, or call 520-234-7592.

You can also purchase raffle tickets, 3 For $20 to support the Tucson Peace Center, and the raffle drawing will be held at the Peace fair.

Since we are still fighting a war in Afghanistan, this is a timely event promoting peace. I hear that The Raging Grannies will be singing their usual (and unusual) peace songs, and there will be music by Earth Spirit, Juan De Bisbee, Baba Marimba, The Caballeros, and other local talents.

Councilmembers Fimbres, Kozachik, & Uhlich to speak at Democrats of Greater Tucson

Three Tucson City Councilmembers are up for re-election this year, in Ward 3, 5, and 6. Two are scheduled to speak at Democrats of Greater Tucson (DGT) this month, with the third in March.

February 18: Steve Kozachik, Councilmember, Ward 6 – Tucson City Council -Tucson’s newest Democratic Councilmember will discuss, “Tucson’s Gun Buy-Back — The Plan, The Event, What’s Next?”

February 25: Richard Fimbres, Councilmember, Ward 5 – Tucson City Council – “Oh the Changes I’ve Seen In the Tucson City Council”

March 25: Karin Uhlich, Councilmember, Ward 3 – Tucson City Council – “Tucson’s Future”

Democrats of Greater Tucson hosts weekly speakers at their Monday luncheon meetings at Dragon’s View restaurant, 400 N. Bonita Avenue, west of I-10, south of St. Mary’s Road, at high noon. Website: http://tucsondemocrats.org/

Both Kozachik and Fimbres were elected in 2009, winning over their challengers. Then-Republican Kozachik defeated Democratic incumbent Ward 6 Councilmember Nina Trasoff, who had served one term. Democrat Fimbres faced off with Republican political newcomer Shaun McClusky, who later tried to run for Mayor of Tucson in 2011. Fimbres’ wife Mary is a Council aide for Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham and she also worked for former five term Ward 5 Councilmember Steve Leal, who retired in 2009.

Kozachik changed his registration to a Democrat on January 14, 2013, and prior to that was the sole Republican on the Tucson City Council. This is his first appearance at DGT. I reported the breaking news when he announced his change in political parties (click here).

Uhlich is a two term Councilmember, as she first defeated Republican incumbent Ward 3 Councilmember Kathleen Dunbar for that seat in 2005, then in 2009 defeated two political newcomer challengers Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia, and Green Mary DeCamp. (DeCamp ran for Mayor two years later and defeated fellow Green activist Dave Croteau in their Mayoral primary, but lost in the General to Democrat Jonathan Rothschild.)

I heard on the John C. Scott radio talk show that Buehler-Garcia may be considering a rematch with Uhlich. No other contenders have been mentioned to date, but stay tuned.

2/25/13 UPDATES: Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia has filed papers to run in the Ward 3 Council race. Click here for post about Buehler-Garcia’s candidacy.

Councilman Fimbres’ campaign kick off is on March 9, 11 a.m. at El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Rd.

Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich

Ward 5 Councilmember Richard Fimbres

Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik

Tucson Peace Center’s Vegetarian Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser

From the Tucson Peace Center:

Join us at this great fundraiser, social event, and prelude to the 31st annual Peace Fair & Music Festival (Feb. 23 at Reid Park).

Saturday January 26, 6 p.m
First Christian Church
740 E. Speedway (SW corner of Speedway and Euclid)
Music by Garvin Yee
$7 donation requested

For more info: www.peacecalendar.org, email Mary DeCamp at mdecamp@q.com, phone 520-235-0694. You can always pick up their monthly calendar at the Pima County public libraries.

Drone forum on August 2

This forum will be at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone, on August 2, 3:30 p.m.

Medea Benjamin is the founder of Code Pink and author of “Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control”. View this You tube video to learn more about drones:

[tnivideo caption=”” credit=””]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9SCwbvFn8w&feature=youtu.be[/tnivideo]

This drone forum was organized by Tucson Code Pink member and former Ward 3 & Mayoral candidate Mary DeCamp, who will be the moderator for the afternoon program. More info, contact Mary at mdecamp@q.com.

Drinking Liberally moving to Wednesdays

Drinking Liberally Tucson has been meeting for quite a while on Sundays at 6 p.m. at The Shanty, 401 E. 9th St., NE corner of N. 4th Avenue and E. 9th Street.

Starting Wednesday March 28 they are moving these weekly meetings to Wednesdays, same time, same place. The change is due to membership request, especially from those who disliked Sunday nights out. So no Drinking Liberally on Sunday March 25.

The group usually invites “liberal” speakers (Democrats, Greens, Independents) but has upon occasion invited Republicans. A few weeks ago my husband and I, along with about 20 people waited for Republican CD 8 House candidate Martha McSally to show, but her campaign cancelled due to miscommunications.

Last August I attended a debate there at Drinking Liberally between Green Mayoral candidates Dave Croteau & Mary DeCamp.

Local chapter website: www.livingliberallytucson.org. Living Liberally national website: www.livingliberally.org.

Drinking Liberally is a place for citizens to indulge in the pleasures of democracy: conversation, debate, socializing, networking, rabble-rousing, and just enjoying the company of your fellow citizens. The idea of an American Republic was born in the taverns of the American colonies. We strongly believe that the dreams that shape tomorrow’s America will also be born in our taverns, among everyday folks like you and me.

These meetings usually feature a speaker, then a Q & A period, and end by 9 p.m. (or so), and they do not encourage driving while under the influence of alcohol.