Who's Hanging with Ramon Valadez?

Ramon Valadez is having a kick-off fund-raiser. Appropriately enough at the Rio Nuevo Business Plaza (developed by Diamond Ventures).

In case that small type listing the hosts is hard to read, and maybe those names aren't so familiar to Democrats in our community, here they are:

Bill Estes III (R, SD 4) of The Estes Co., a longtime residential developer in the Tucson market

David Goldstein (O, SD 1), President of Diamond Ventures

Mike Grassinger (O, SD 4), Principal of The Planning Center

David Greenberg (O, SD 1), President, DR Horton Homes

Robert Iannarino (R, SD 1), Real Estate Developer/Engineer, Diamond Ventures

Chris Kemmerly (R, SD 1) CEO Kemmerly Homes

Rob Longaker (O, SD 1), WLB Group

Ken Perry (R, SD 1), Principal and Vice-President of Land Development, Engineering and Environmental Consultants, Inc.

Michael Racy (R, SD 1), lobbyist, Racy Associates (clients include Diamond Ventures and Tucson Airport Authority)

Keri Silvyn (D, SD 1), Attorney, Lewis & Roca, in Real Estate practice representing developers, including Diamond Ventures.

Priscilla Storm (R, SD 3), vice president for public policy and community planning, Diamond Ventures.

John Take, managing principal at Stantec, which is designing a wastewater treatment plant in Marana.

Mark Taylor, Westland Resources

Alice Templeton (D, SD 2), Project Manager, Stantec Consulting

Corey Thompson (R, SD 4), Engineer, Stantec Consulting

Jim Tress (O, SD 1), Principal, Westland Resources

Richard Underwood (R, SD 1), Owner, AAA Landscaping

Vince Vasquez (R, SD 4), Diamond Ventures

These are the folks hosting Ramon's fund-raiser. All developers, lobbyists, lawyers and consultants for developers. Only two are even Democrats, and only one even lives in Ramon's district. So, I guess that who really supports Ramon. And who Ramon really represents.

Of course, I suppose he could still prove me wrong... but I'm not holding my breath.

Comments

[Anna Russo]

Apparently, Ramon's campaign plan hasn't changed much since his last run. From the Tucson Weekly archives:

PUBLISHED ON APRIL 22, 2004:

The Skinny

By EMIL FRANZI , CHRIS LIMBERIS and JIM NINTZEL

THAT DIAMOND TOUCH

Don Diamond's posse is hosting a big bash on Thursday, April 22, for Pima County Supervisor Ramon Valadez, the Democrat who has no opposition in his bid to win election to the southside District 2 seat, to which he was appointed last year when his one-time boss, Dan Eckstrom, retired.

We'd go (the cover charge is a mere $100), but the invitation is so off-putting that we'll just have to say no. The Diamond propaganda says, "Ramon Valadez is an intelligent, talented and hard working young man; a community leader that (sic) is one of today's bright stars on the political horizon."

We sense a storm--namely, Diamond lackey Priscilla Storm--on this one. The invite also urges support to "re-elect" Valadez. This is no re-election for Valadez. He's never run for the county office.

So does Diamond own Valadez, or is he just leasing him?

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=55885