Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Tucson Weekly has its "Scramble Watch" to engage in wild political speculation. Here we just call it SWAG - "silly wild ass guesses" (with a measure of fact and solid rumors). Today's focus is on the potential and rumored Democratic candidates.
For those of you who would like to play along at home, here is a link to the Arizona Secretary of State's Campaign Finance - Committee Search page. For a general search, go to "committee search - by type" and use the "select" cursor to select "candidate" and "2010." When the page comes up, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to find the most recent entry, and work upwards.
(Note to Secretary of State Ken Bennett: please change this program to most recent entry first)
Governor
It is widely expected that Attorney General Terry Goddard will run for Governor. No committee has been filed. Former Arizona Democratic Party Chair and 2006 candidate for U.S. Senate Jim Pederson is exploring running for Governor. No committee has been filed. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon is often rumored to be a potential candidate for Governor. This week Mayor Gordon unveiled a lofty 17-point green plan for Phoenix. Could he be planning a "Green Gordon for Governor" campaign? (that's why we call it SWAG people). Rep. David Bradley (LD 28) recently filed an exploratory committee entitled "Bradley for Arizona" that does not disclose the office sought. Rumors have been circulating for some time that Bradley may be interested in running for Governor. Only he knows his intentions. Bradley recently had this guest opinion published in the Arizona Daily Star Lawmakers on all sides must make hard choices.
Secretary of State
Recently resigned Senator Steve Gallardo (LD 13) is widely believed to be running for Secretary of State. He still has an active state senate exploratory committee. Former Arizona Real Estate Commissioner Sam Wercinski is exploring running for Secretary of State. He has been appearing at Democratic functions across the state. No committee has been filed. Former Representative Ted Downing (LD 28) is rumored to be exploring running for Secretary of State or, alternatively, running for the open House seat in LD 28 being vacated by David Bradley, who is termed out. Downing has filed an exploratory committee that does not disclose the office sought. First term City of Tucson Councilman Rodney Glassman is rumored to be exploring running for Secretary of State. No committee has been filed.
Attorney General
I have previously addressed this race. SWAG re: 2010 Arizona Attorney General race Tim Nelson, Democratic candidate for Maricopa County Attorney in 2008, is exploring running for Attorney General. No committee has been filed. House Minority Leader David Lujan is exploring running for Attorney General. He has filed an exploratory committee. Deputy Attorney General Vince Rabago (former Pima County Democratic Party Chair and current Vice Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party) is exploring running for Attorney General. No committee has been filed.
Treasurer
Andrei Cherny, former Assistant Attorney General, political advisor and speech writer, author ("The Candy Bombers" and "The Next Deal: The Future of Public Life in the Information Age") and president of the national public policy journal and think tank Democracy, is believed to be exploring running for Treasurer. He has filed an exploratory committee that does not disclose the office sought. Cherny recently had this opinion published in the Tucson Citizen Brewer on tax hike: Take it from a Democrat, this is the wrong direction
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jason Williams, who was the Democratic candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2006, is back again for another try. He has filed his committee. Oddly, I have not heard any SWAG about any other Democrats seeking this office. Aren't we supposed to be the pro-education party? I expected more interest.
(h/t to Bill Scheel) Penny Kotterman, former head of the Arizona Education Association, is another candidate exploring running for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
State Mine Inspector
I propose a constitutional amendment to eliminate this office as an elected position and make it an executive position appointed by the Governor. No one ever knows for whom they are voting.
Southern Arizona Legislative Races (committee filings only)
LD 27
Rep. Carmen Cajero Bedford has filed an exploratory committee for the Senate after being termed out of the House. Bob Gilby, the husband of former Pima County Democratic Party Chair and former First Vice Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, Donna Branch-Gilby, has filed a committee for one of the open House seats in 2010.
LD 28
Ted Prezelski over at R-Cubed blog has filed a committee for the open house seat being vacated by David Bradley, who is termed out. As previously mentioned, former Rep. Ted Downing has filed an exploratory committee that does not disclose the office sought. He may be exploring returning to the House where he previously served.
U.S. Senate
Stuart Starky, a junior high school teacher from Phoenix who was the Democratic challenger to Senator John McCain in 2004, is back again for another try. He has been appearing at Democratic functions across the state. John Adams, Brig. Gen. Ret., for whom some activists started a "draft John Adams" web site, has stated that he is not a candidate. Perhaps Jim Pederson is also exploring his options for another U.S. Senate run after his unsuccessful bid against Senator Jon Kyl in 2006.
If anyone has any SWAG to share, that is what the comment section is for. Fact or solid rumors are preferred.
NB: revised 3/13/09
