Kris Mayes

Arizona Corporation Commissioner and one-time prospective congressional candidate Kris Mayes has thrown her support behind Sandra Livingstone in the 1st Congressional District Republican primary.

"Dr. Sandra Livingstone understands the critical energy and water issues facing Arizona," said Mayes, "and has the training and knowledge to put practical solutions to work for Arizona. She's the candidate who's best suited to go to Washington on our behalf and help America achieve energy independence. I enthusiastically endorse Dr. Sandra Livingstone's candidacy and look forward to working on her behalf to help her win in September and November."

Mayes, who formed an exploratory committee in February when she was herself considering a run in the 1st district, becomes the second person the Republican Party attempted to recruit in the race who is now backing Livingstone over rival Sydney Hay. Former state Senate President Ken Bennett, who was also unsuccessfully recruited by the GOP to challenge Hay in the primary, endorsed Livingstone Aug. 1. 

PRESCOTT -- Wednesday night, residents of the 1st Congressional District gathered to hear Republican candidate Dr. Sandra Livingstone inside her campaign headquarters, which occupy the corner of an office building that overlooks Courthouse Square.

Livingstone, who is challenging Republican Party-backed Syndey Hay and other candidates in the primary, filed her candidacy just before the June 4 deadline, and flew under the radar until her Federal Election Commission report came out, showing she had near-parity with Hay in cash on hand. Her June fundraising came in at $4,725 - well behind Hay's quarterly take of about $95,000 - but she has put up $200,000 of her own money, meaning she is very much in the race from a money perspective.

Around 20 people, mainly senior citizens, showed up for the Livingstone town hall, where they heard her discuss Second Amendment rights, energy policy and her recommendations for bringing the nation's finances under control.

In a letter sent to the entire Arizona delegationin the U.S. House and Senate, the Arizona Corporation Commission is urging the state's national legislators to support the extension of the investment tax credit for solar energy and other renewable energy sources. The credit's renewal was passed in the House but is stalling in the Senate, and is set to expire in December of 2008.

"As rising natural gas prices drive the cost of electricity upward," read the letter, "it is vital that Arizona look to alternative sources of energy. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, solar power is the logical choice for our state."

The ACC has been supporting two large-scale solar power projects: The Solana Generating Station, which will cover hundreds of acres at Gila Bend, and another station whose construction costs and output will be shared by a "multi-state consortium of ten southwestern utilities."

In the letter, the ACC warns, "Unless Congress acts soon to extend the 30 percent investment tax credit ("ITC") past its December 31, 2008 expiration date, neither of these projects will come to fruition."

Kris Mayes has announced she will not run in CD1.

Ken Bennett expects to be in or out of the CD1 race by Friday.

On Stu Rothenberg's "Dangerous Dozen" list of House seats with a good chance of changing hands, Arizona's CD1 ranks fifth.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee claims Republicans in the First Congressional District are "in disarray."

Last week the Inside Edge reported former senate President Ken Bennett was giving serious consideration to entering the CD1 race for Congress. Bennett would face Sydney Hay and possibly Kris Mayes in a Republican primary. Maye

CD1 Republican contender Sydney Hay is off to Washington for an itinerary of fundraisers and meetings, as she tries to position herself as the candidate to beat. 

Former senate President Ken Bennett, who was rumored to be considering a run for the 1st CD this winter, appears to be taking another look at the race. Inside Edge has confirmed with more than one source Bennett is taking a hard look and may decide to enter the race in the coming month.  read more »