Wake-Up Call: Wednesday, August 13, 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.

Arizona is one of most electorally competitive states this fall

Nearly half of the state's eight congressional districts are listed as being among the most competitive in the country this fall, a new Politicker.com analysis shows.

The Pindell Report, which launched today, shows that only much larger states like Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and Florida have more competitive House elections. Even California just has two races that are competitive. (PolitickerAZ.com, Staff)

Link: http://www.politickeraz.com/editoraz/1859/arizona-one-most-electorally-c...

Endorsement war continues in AZ-1 GOP primary

Both Republican Party-backed primary candidate Sydney Hay and her rival, Sandra Livingstone, added key endorsements Monday in their battle to secure the 1st Congressional District nomination. (PolitickerAZ.com, Evan Brown)

Link: http://www.politickeraz.com/evanbrown/1867/endorsement-war-continues-az-...

Panel dismisses complaint against Ariz. senator

A legislative committee dismissed an ethics complaint Tuesday against a lawmaker accused of breaking rules to force a vote to put a same-sex marriage ban on the ballot.

The complaint against Republican Sen. Jack Harper of Surprise was thrown out on a 3-2 vote by the Senate's ethics committee. (Arizona Republic, AP)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/12/20080812ethics-complai...

Governor's Office changes: Cunningham retires, Lesher new chief of staff

One Tucsonan is moving up and another is moving out of Gov. Janet Napolitano's office.

George Cunningham, deputy chief of staff for finance and budget, has announced his retirement. Jan Lesher will be the governor's chief of staff, when Dennis Burke departs next month. (Tucson Citizen,

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/arizona/93484.php

Congressman to tour Corona

Corona del Sol High School students will get a visit Thursday from U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell.

Mitchell, D-Tempe, a former Tempe Union High School District teacher, is touring the school to see renovations the district has made to improve the building's air quality. (Arizona Republic,

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/12/20080812tr-mitchell081...

Schools chief told to fund vouchers

PHOENIX — Republican lawmakers voted Tuesday to make an end run around the budget by shifting around some money to fund public and private school vouchers for some students. (Daily Star, Howard Fischer)

Link:  http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/252544.php

National Republicans pro-Bee; congressional leader in Tucson visit

Republican congressional candidate Tim Bee showcased his national party support Tuesday, hosting a top GOP official in town for a series of fundraising and speaking events. (Daily Star, Daniel Scarpinato)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/252555.php

Political Notebook by Daniel Scarpinato : Napolitano staff shuffle includes 2 Tucsonans

One Tucsonan is in and another is out (kind of) in a staff shuffle at Gov. Janet Napolitano's office in Phoenix.

As part of a host of changes, Jan Lesher, a native Tucsonan who is currently director of the Department of Commerce, will take the reins next month as Napolitano's chief of staff, replacing current bigwig Dennis Burke, who has been with the governor since the '90s. Marco Lopez Jr., an international-affairs adviser to the governor, will succeed Lesher. (Daily Star, Daniel Scarpinato)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/252535.php

5th District GOP race takes negative turn

The aura of camaraderie is beginning to fade among the six Republican candidates vying to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell.

The Republicans had previously put a premium on civility in the race, remembering six-term Republican incumbent J.D. Hayworth's bombastic performance in his losing campaign against Mitchell in 2006. (East Valley Tribune, Paul Giblin)

Link: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/122954

7 vie for 2 spots in Legislative District 23

The race for the two House seats in the state's 23rd Legislative District has opened up with the decision from longtime Democratic legislator Pete Rios to step down and run for a spot on the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. (East Valley Tribune, Jason Massad)

Link:  http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/122939

Pearce passes on candidate forum, leads poll

The format wasn’t the most contentious: scripted questions sent in advance to the District 18 Senate primary candidates, with no room for debate, cheers or boos.

Yet, one of the District 18 Senate primary candidates did not attend a forum Tuesday due to a prior commitment, organizers of a local faith-based organization said. (East Valley Tribune, Sonu Munshi)

Link: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/122923

District releases detailed list of school cuts in Mesa

Mesa Public School student field trips, some teacher bonuses and other programs will be reduced or cut this school year.

Officials released a more detailed list of the deep cuts that will amount to $13 million over the next three years after a request by The Republic. (Arizona Republic, Ray Parker)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/12/20080812mr-cuts0913.ht...

Giffords: Congress likely will approve offshore drilling

Congress will likely pass a compromise bill next month to allow some form of offshore drilling, said freshman Democrat U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. (Tucson Citizen, Blake Morlock)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/93492.php

In CD-1: The fry bread factor

CHINLE -- Knowing how to make fry bread is not something most people look for in a U.S. representative.

But it definitely did not hurt Mary Kim Titla to mention her bread-making skills at Thursday's forum for Arizona's First Congressional District candidates. Her concluding comment, "I know how to make fry bread," drew applause and laughter from the 200 mostly elderly Navajos who attended the event, sponsored by the Arizona Conservation Partnership's Native American Committee.  (Daily Sun, CINDY YURTH)

Link: http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2008/08/12/news/local/20080812_local_...

Denogean: State relents, and 97-year-old gets to vote

Arizona issued 97-year-old Shirley Freeda Preiss a state identification card last week, making it possible for her to vote in the 20th presidential election of her adult life. (Tucson Citizen, Anne Denogean)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/93467.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.