Richard Elias

Okay, I stayed out too late on Wednesday (but Los Lobos, as expected, effin’ rawked), spent yesterday doing nothing…but at my advancing age and with lingering “flu-like symptoms,” I am unable to gin up the creativity necessary to reach the heights that y’all have come to expect from this here blog.

So, instead I comment on a couple of things I read in the Weekly.

First off, there was a bit from last week that I missed. Former Nogales City Attorney Hugh Holub is once again flying the flag of an independent Baja Arizona. Holub has been touting this idea for decades. Look at old cars from long time bajaarizonenses and you’ll see his “Free Baja Arizona” stickers that he printed up during Evan Mecham’s administration (when, more than ever, it didn’t seem like a bad idea).

Richard Elias

Richard Elias, chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, indicated to PolitickerAZ.com Wednesday that he might be interested at taking a run for the 7th Congressional District seat if U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson) vacates it to become secretary of the Department of the Interior in the Obama administration.

"If that happens, and I certainly wish Congressman Grijalva all the best with it, me and my family would have to take a long, hard look" at a run for his seat, Elias said.

Grijalva is regarded as one of the top contenders for the Interior post, and if he were nominated and confirmed, his departure would trigger a special election to fill his 7th district seat.

Tom Dunn, campaign spokesman for Tim Bee for Congress, is pushing back against demands by Pima Democrats that the campaign pay the costs incurred to the city of Tucson and Pima County due to the visit of Pres. Bush on Bee's behalf.

"The campaign has paid the expenses based on longstanding regulations," said Dunn in a statement. "The White House has a formula that has been in place since Reagan that has been adhered to by Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush."

Dunn's response came as prominent Pima County Democratic officials, including Pima County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Elias, Tucson Vice Mayor Karen Uhlich and Pima County Democratic Party Chairman Vince Rabago gathered at a press conference to demand the campaign reimburse the city and county the estimated $99,000 spent on law enforcement escorts for Bush's July 17 visit.