Better Know a District Race: LD26 House Republicans

The Democrats in LD26 have high hopes for this Republican-favoring district. Bolstered by the election of a Democratic senator, Charlene Pesquiera (D-Tucson), and House member, Lena Saradnik, in 2006, Democratic candidates Cheryl Cage, Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D-Tucson) and Don Jorgensen are hoping the last election is a sign of a shift in the district's sensibilities, and wasn't simply down-ballot fallout from a disastrous year for national Republicans.

But the Republicans aren't even close to ceding this district. With Rep. Pete Hershberger (R-Tucson) challenging Al Melvin for a crack at the Senate seat Melvin lost to Pesquiera by a few hundred votes last go around, three Republicans have stepped up to keep his seat for the GOP and knock off Young Wright, who has only been at her post since the beginning of the year.  

TRENT HUMPHRIES

Humphries is the agreed-upon frontrunner at this juncture. Tucson Weekly and a number of political blogs have pegged him as such. So has Rep. Bob Stump (R-Peoria), whose endorsement brings conservative bona fides that will likely help first-time candidate Humphries in the primary.

Humphries brings in substantive support from his position as a Precint Committeeman in LD26, connections throught the homeowners' association of which he was president and, of course, Arizona 8th, the blog he started to focus on politics within the Eighth Congressional District.

"As far as I know, no blogger has ever been elected in the state of Arizona," said Humphries, though he pointed out that some have turned to blogging after leaving office, such as former state legislator Greg Patterson of EspressoPundit.com.    

Humphries is doing what he can to make sure he's the first, including putting in place an experienced political team.

"We actually have a full staff," he said. "Not only do we have them, but we have people who are actually good at their jobs. We've cherry-picked the best people from the district."

The team includes former Chairman of the Pima County Young Republicans as media advisor; Donna Alu, a member of the Tucson Republican Women's executive board; and campaign manager Kevin Herring, who is a veteran of numerous campaigns.

Humphries is running, he said, because he thinks he has to.

"This is a terrible, terrible price my family and me have to pay," he said. "This is not something I ever wanted or aspired to."

However, he said his motivation lies in the Legislature's ineffective handling of the issues important to Southern Arizona, and his belief in his ability to get things done.

"I'm still young enough to be a true believer," Humphries said. "In our district, if we don't turn a corner, things are going to get bad," taxes being his chief concern.

"In Southern Arizona we send a lot of Democrats up there [to Phoenix] and they forget about us. Even some Republicans do that."

Humphries is the youngest in the field at 35, and counts his youth as an asset.

"I'm young enough to be a true believer," he said. "I'm still young enough and new enough that I don't have too many enemies. We're going to need someone after the Melvin/Hershberger fight is over to unite the party and pick up the pieces."

VIC WILLIAMS

While many Republicans call Rep. Pete Hershberger (R-Tucson) a RINO (Republican In Name Only), or an out-and-out liberal for siding with Democrats in the Legislature more often than any other Republican lawmaker, Vic Williams is not among them.

"I think Pete's done a great job for the district," said Williams, who is trying to parlay his position as Pima County Republican Party Treasurer into a seat in the Arizona House. Williams makes no bones about hoping for Hershberger's endorsement, though he doesn't think that's likely to come soon.

"We have a contested primary," he said, virtually precluding Hershberger from stating a preference.

Hershberger faces his own primary against Al Melvin, who knocked off sitting Sen. Toni Hellon in 2006 in the Republican primary, only to lose to Charlene Pesquiera in the general by a miniscule margin. 

Williams seems to be investing in the belief that LD26 is currently a climate that favors conservatives in Republican primaries and centrists in general elections. While Humphries is running on being a solid conservative, Williams seems to be gambling on the idea that there will be room enough for two Republicans on the ballot in November, and that playing more to the middle might be the better strategy.

However, he does label himself as a "fiscal conservative," which is why, he said, he isn't trying for Clean Money.

"The hardest decision was whether to run a traditional campaign or accept public funds. It rubs me as wrong to accept public money as a fiscal conservative," he said.

There may be other factors involved as well, though. Williams acknowledged he's had difficulty raising money so far, and it's not a guarantee he'd have been able to muster the necessary amount of $5 contributions to qualify for state funding.

"With a favorite son in the presidential race and a highly contested congressional race, there's a big sucking noise," said Williams. "There are not a lot of extra contributions laying around on the floor for freshman candidate."

Williams sold a successful warehouse equipment business in 2003, and his personal wealth will enable him to largely self-finance if need be.

That doesn't mean Williams isn't going after grassroots support, though. He said he's knocked on over 2000 doors and gathered 600 signatures by himself. To Williams, retail politics is the name of the game, and there's no better measure of success than fundraising.

"When you talk about your platform, beliefs, representing Southern Arizona, and then turn around and ask for a $20 contribution, you know if you're connecting with people."

MARILYN ZERULL

Several things distinguish Marilyn Zerull from the other two Republicans in the race. Aside from the obvious difference of gender, she is also the most avowedly conservative on social issues.

Unlike Humphries or Williams, whose stated platforms closely mirror each other in their focus on fiscal responsibility and education, Zerull's stances also emphasize non-fiscal considerations, such as Second Amendment rights and border security. She brands herself a "traditional Republican," who, while not at odds with her opponents on matters of more limited and efficient government, better education, market-based fixes to economic crises and so on, has a more expansive view of Republicanism. She plays up "personal responsibility" and makes it a point to guard against abuse of eminent domain.

In these ways she sees a distinction between herself and Williams. "I'm more of a conservative, and Vic is more of a moderate," she said. 

Zerull will also be the first candidate to file.

As of today, she said, "I have raised all of my seed money and have all of my signatures." She expects to file as a Clean Money candidate as soon as she is certain all the paperwork is in order. She said she is "looking forward to putting the money part behind me so I can focus on the campaign," which she acknowledges will be an uphill climb.

She doesn't count on a lot of instituional support, and is aware of the challenge of facing a recognized frontrunner on the one hand and a personally wealthy party official on the other.

"I'm basically an unknown," she said, "so it will be an appeal directly to the voters."