Jonathan Paton

Some folks decided to bash Jonathan Paton in one of my posts about Steve Leal. Hey, bash his silly, somewhat punitive and nakedly partisan proposal, but, the guy does live in city limits.

Republicans in Tucson have been trying to get rid of partisan elections for city council for years. The arguments have ranged from whiny claims that the system is unfair to Republicans to goo-goo arguments that “garbage has no party affiliation” and that non-partisan elections will mean that goverment will only serve the public interest, and all other more petty concerns would fall away.

(I wonder what it says about our local Republican party that the only way that they think they can get their people elected is by hiding their party affiliation.

State Senate Pres. Bob Burns (R-Peoria) has released committee assignments for the new legislative session, and incoming freshman occupy three of the 12 top slots.

Sens.-elect Russell Pearce (R-Mesa), Jonathan Paton (R-Tucson) and John Nelson (Glendale) will chair the Appropriations, Judiciary and Natural Resources committees, respectively, when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

None of the three are strangers to the Capitol, however, as all are sitting members of the Arizona House. Pearce is switching chambers but not job titles, as he chaired Appropriations in the House last session, whereas Nelson was chairman of the Committee on Counties, Municipalities and Military Affairs. This is Paton's first time with a gavel.

Thursday night, twelve Arizona legislators were honored at the annual Governor's Celebration of Innovation awards for their work to help facilitate technology development in Arizona.

The awards, backed primarily by the Arizona Technology Council and presented by Tech Council CEO Steve Zylstra and Jan Lesher, chief of staff to Gov. Janet Napolitano, included the "Tech 10" - ten legislators who were highlighted for their contributions to technology advancement - plus two "Outstanding Legislator" awards to those who were especially influential.

RITA RANCH -- Candidates for state House and Senate in Legislative District 30 met Thursday night outside of Tucson for a debate that was at turns lighthearted and intensely serious, as issues surrounding the Rosemont Mine development, the state's education system and tax policy predominated.

Senate 

The senate debate was hobbled by the absence of state Rep. Jonathan Paton (R-Tucson), who was out of state attending a conference on border issues. In his place appeared Ray Carroll, a Pima County supervisor, to face off against Democrat Georgette Valle.

RITA RANCH -- Candidates for state House and Senate in Legislative District 30 met Thursday night outside of Tucson for a debate that was at turns lighthearted and intensely serious, as issues surrounding the Rosemont Mine development, the state's education system and tax policy predominated.

The senate debate was hobbled by the absence of state Rep. Jonathan Paton (R-

UFCFans of Ultimate Fighting Championship are one step closer to seeing the popular sport coming to Arizona.  read more »