Mark anderson

Legislative preview, House districts 16-20

LD16
LD16 is solid district for Democratic candidates and current Representatives Ben Miranda and Cloves Campbell are popular within the district. Both work hard to keep their name out there and should have little problem defending their seats against Republican Raymond Williams.

David Schweikert is set to win the 5th Congressional District Republican primary.

With 97.6 percent of precincts reporting, Schweikert tops the six-person field with just under 30 percent of the vote. Susan Bitter Smith, who has kept pace with him throughout the night, currently has 28 percent of the vote, but it will not be enough to overcome Schweikert's lead.

Schweikert, who served as Arizona House majority leader and Maricopa County treasurer, will go on to face U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) in the general election.

Schweikert and Bitter Smith were the front runners throughout the counting, leading the rest of the field by double-digit margins. Former state Rep. Laura Knaperek came closest with over 15 percent of the vote, followed by state Rep. Mark Anderson (R-Mesa) with 13.6 percent, Jim Ogsbury at just under 12 percent and Lee Adam Gentry with a point-and-a-half.

DENVER -- U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) is not worried about the outcome of the Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District, which will lead to the selection of his  opponent in the general election.

"It makes no difference," said Mitchell, when asked if he had a preferred candidate to face after the Sept. 2 primary. "We've always run tough races. This is my 17th election. We always run against Republicans in Republican districts. This is no different, we're ready for any of them."

Up until a week ago, the 5th Congressional District primary has been most notable for the amazingly quiet contest the Republicans have been running.  But over the last week the theme seems to have shifted to whacky publicity stunts.

First we had Susan Bitter Smith accusing Harry Mitchell of push-polling against her. 

Last week, PolitickerAZ.com sent out a questionaire asking the Republican candidates in the 5th Congressional District about their takes on some key questions currently facing Congress and the nation.

In parts 1-3, four of the five candidates discussed the Iraq War, diplomacy toward "rogue states," veterans care, tax breaks for oil companies and global climate change (the fifth candidate, David Schweikert, chose not to participate).

In the last installment, the candidates present their views on 2nd Amendment rights and whether or not a national anti-gay marriage amendment should be pursued.

Last week, PolitickerAZ.com sent out a questionaire asking the Republican candidates in the 5th Congressional District about their takes on some key questions currently facing Congress and the nation.

The first installment ran on Friday, where the candidates expressed their views on how the Iraq War should be handled. The second part came out yesterday, dealing with threats posed by "rogue states" and the issue of veterans' care.

In the third installment, the CD5 Republican field speaks up about tax breaks to oil companies, and offer their views and ideas on global climate change.

Once again, PolitickerAZ.com notes that former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert has chosen not to participate.

Last week, PolitickerAZ.com sent out a questionaire asking the Republican candidates in the 5th Congressional District about their takes on some key questions currently facing Congress and the nation.

The first installment ran on Friday, where the candidates expressed their views on how the Iraq War should be handled.

Read Part 1.

In the second installment, the candidates discuss the question of Iran, and how they favor expanding educational benefits for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Again it must be noted that former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert chose not to participate in this questionnaire. 

Last week, PolitickerAZ.com sent out a questionaire asking the Republican candidates in the 5th Congressional District about their takes on some key questions currently facing Congress and the nation. Now, the results are in.

With the exception of recently-identified Lee Adam Gentry, whose very existence was the source of speculation until today, and David Schweikert, who has chosen not to participate, all Republicans running to face Rep. Harry Mitchell in November responded, and gave their views on issues ranging from a national gay marriage amendment to the Iraq War to global climate change.

Here, then, is the first installment of On the Issues: CD5 Republicans. 

Last night's CD5 Republican candidate forum offered a different take on the contenders from last month's event in Scottsdale. While the candidates fielded questions on earmark spending, border security and cuts in government programs, what emerged spoke less to individual policies as the sense that whoever emerges as the nominee will shoulder a heavy burden for the Party.

The field acknowledged a profound dissatisfaction with the Republican Party among voters and a need to reconnect with conservative principles in action, not just as a campaign ploy. They also pledged not to let the primary get so heated as to destroy the victor's chances of beating Rep. Harry Mitchell, and that, once the ticket was set, the others would unite behind the effort of unseating Mitchell in the general.

Last week Inside Edge pointed out the curious decision of Susan Bitter Smith to make her formal announcement on a Friday, the day typically set aside to release bad or negative news.  Well now that decision also appears to be have cost her a public appearance with her Republican rivals.  While Mark Anderson, Laura Knaperek, Jim Ogsbury and David Schweikert will be appearing in a CD5 Republican forum being hosted by LD8, Smith will not be invited as she will not be an official candidate until the next day.

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