Wake-Up Call: Thursday, August 7, 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.

Arpaio maintains comfortable, but slimmer lead

Although Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's lead in recent polling appears to be shrinking, he still maintains a comfortable lead over Democratic challenger Dan Saban, according to a recently released survey. (PolitickerAZ.com, Ben Brier)

Link: http://www.politickeraz.com/benbreier/1834/arpaio-maintains-comfortable-...

Senate race takes an ugly turn

The race for a state Senate seat in west Mesa broke out into a wide-open brawl Wednesday, with allegations that Rep. Russell Pearce attacked his wife nearly three decades ago and Pearce's campaign firing back that the charge is false and the height of sleazy campaigning. (Arizona Republic, Mary Jo Pitzl)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/07/20080807pearce0807.htm...

Tim Nelson vows to put public safety first

Tim Nelson is dialing for dollars.

On a hot afternoon he sits at the desk in his north-central Phoenix home office. The button-down, sandy-haired attorney picks up the phone, punches in the digits and gives the pitch for money.

As a Democratic candidate for Maricopa County attorney, the top prosecutor job, he's going to need a lot of it - more than the $206,000-plus he has already raised from a massive donor base that crosses traditional party lines and leanings, according to a review of the most-recent financial disclosure forms filed with the county. (Arizona Republic, Yvonne Wingett)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/07/20080807nelsonprofile0...

School board races have dearth of candidates

Voters in November won't have many options in deciding who should run local school districts.

With 49 positions open across 17 school districts, only 57 candidates filed by the Wednesday deadline to make the ballot. (Daily Star, Rhonda Bodfield)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/251674.php

No, candidate's bullying ways will reflect poorly on entire nation

In November 1986, the Arizona Republican Party held an election-night celebration at a Phoenix hotel to toast its victorious candidates. The marquee attraction was a two-term congressman named John McCain, who won the Senate seat vacated by GOP icon Barry Goldwater. (Daily Star, Jonathan Zimmerman)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/251578.php

TUSD board's Rodriguez, Ireland are stepping down

Tucson Unified School District's board will see a big change after November's election: President Alex Rodriguez and 20-year veteran Joel Ireland aren't seeking new terms.

Voters in TUSD will have four choices for three spots. (Daily Star, Rhonda Bodfield)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/251672.php

Panel will probe handling of gay- marriage debate

PHOENIX — A Senate panel voted Tuesday to hear from Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, and the senator who filed an ethics complaint against him, but not anyone else for now — if ever.

Members of the Ethics Committee rejected a request by Sen. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix, to seek testimony from Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, when the panel hears evidence next week about whether Harper broke ethics rules. (Daily Star, Howard Fischer)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/251693.php

4 seek 3 TUSD board slots; 8 on Marana ballot

Marana Unified School District's school board race will be the most crowded in the area in the Nov. 4 election.

Six Marana challengers will be on the ballot with incumbents Maribel Lopez and Daniel Post, all vying for three seats. (Tucson Citizen, Mary Bustamante)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/93012.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.