Wake-Up Call: Tuesday, July 29, 2008

With the PolitickerAZ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Arizona's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerAZ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Arizona's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

McCaffrey slams "bad journalism" on McCain fundraising numbers

In an interview with PolitickerAZ.com, Sean McCaffrey, executive director of the Arizona Republican Party, described the party's vision of itself under the leadership of Chairman Randy Pullen, and slammed what he sees as irresponsible journalism surrounding the presidential campaign. (PolitickerAZ.com, Evan Brown)

Link: http://www.politickeraz.com/evanbrown/1777/mccaffrey-slams-bad-journalis...

No shortage of Democrats in District 29 primary

If two is a party, and three is a crowd, then seven is, well, a lot of candidates.

It's a long ballot in the Legislative District 29 primary for the House, with seven Democrats vying for two spots in the general election.

The crowded field offers voters a little bit of everything, with some established names running against political unknowns. (Daily Star, Josh Brodesky)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/250317.php

Ariz. to get 1st wind-power farm

The state's first wind-energy farm could be operating by late next year, filling a gap in Arizona's alternative-power offerings.

Salt River Project officials said the proposed plant, to be built about 18 miles northwest of Snowflake with turbines stretching more than 300 feet high, finally offered the utility an affordable wind-power option. (Arizona Republic, Ryan Randazzo)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/07/29/20080729biz-windpower0...

Ethics panel to investigate senator who ended debate

The state Senate Ethics Committee voted Monday to investigate a Surprise senator who turned off Democrats' microphones on the last day of the legislative session - a move that ended a filibuster and enabled lawmakers to vote on the same-sex marriage ban. (Arizona Republic, Amanda Crawford)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/07/29/20080729ethics0729.htm...

City finance director choices down to 2

Tucson has narrowed its list of candidates for finance director to two - a longtime municipal finance worker and a private contractor with public finance experience in the U.S. and abroad. They are:

• Denise Bell is a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., and has been that city's finance director for five years. She worked for Winston-Salem's finance department for the 15 years before that. (Tucson Citizen, Carli Brosseau)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/92179.php

Wanted: a slew of Pima County school board hopefuls

There's only about a week until the Aug. 6 deadline to file nominating petitions to run for a local school board seat and only 13 people have filed for the 49 positions available.

Susan Hankinson, senior administrative specialist for elections in the Pima County Schools Superintendent's Office, said the turnout seems a little lower than in previous years. (Tucson Citizen, Mary Bustamante)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/92166.php

State gets $2M for better food stamp processing

A major improvement in how Arizona handles food stamp applications has netted the state a $2 million bonus.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday said the state's error rate in processing requests for aid in 2007 was less than 4.9 percent. That compares with a national figure in excess of 5.6 percent. (East Valley Tribune, Howard Fischer)

Link: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/121802

Special TUSD governing board meeting Tuesday

Tucson Unified School District's governing board will have a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the fully insured medical program for retirees and look into incentives for hiring hard-to-fill positions, specifically in special education. (Tucson Citizen, Mary Bustamante)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/92135.php

University of Arizona student finalist in political online video competition

YUMA — A University of Arizona student is one of five finalists in an online video competition that will send the winners to the national Democratic and Republic conventions to act as citizen journalists.

Contestants in the MySpace Impact contest had to submit a two-minute video answering three questions — why they vote, why they’re the best person for the job, and how they’ll get the scoop when no one else can. (Daily Star, AP)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/250170.php

With the PolitickerAZ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Arizona's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.