CD1

Camp Verde - The Congressional Candidate Forum on the Future of Arizona's Natural Resources brought out most of the AZ-1 field, where the candidates who showed up navigated their way through a proving ground of environmental questions. The whole panel was in agreement on the need for renewable energy investment, even if not all saw a consensus on the fact of global climate change. The biggest question of the afternoon wasn't asked by the moderator, however - it was "where is Sydney Hay?"

The seven participants included Democrats Jeffrey Brown, Ann Kirkpatrick, Howard Shanker and Mary Kim Titla, Republicans Tom Hansen and Preston Korn, and independent Brent Maupin. Two other Republicans who filed, Sandra Livingstone and Barry Hall, declined to participate.

However, Sydney Hay, who has been embraced by the Republican establishment, including the state party and numerous Republican state legislators and members of Congress, did not show up. Audience members and press instead received a letter from Hay that apologized for her absence but gave no explanation.

Most pundits and observers believe the CD1 Congressional race is going to be Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick vs Republican candidate Sydney Hay. While the two do appear to be on a collision course to meet in November unless there is a major upset, there may be another player who has a say in the outcome.

Brent Maupin, a Sedona businessman, is also running for the seat being vacated by Congressman Rick Renzi. Maupin, a lifelong Republican, is running as an independent for the office. Maupin calls himself a “centrist” and thinks both parties are out of touch.

Maupin has retained outside professional help with the addition of Steve Kush and Kush and Associates out of New Jersey to handle his media.

If you visit Maupin’s website, make sure you check out his song “Stand Up America.”

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) today announced the endorsement of  Democratic Congressional candidate Ann Kirkpatrick in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.  LCV Senior Vice President for Political Affairs and Public Education Tony Massaro joined Kirkpatrick at the kickoff celebration of Conservationists for Kirkpatrick at Flagstaff’s Wheeler Park.
  
“At our state capitol, Ann stood out for her vision and leadership on key conservation issues,” Arizona League of Conservation Voters Board Chair Jessica Catlin said.  “I know she will take those qualities with her to our nation’s capitol.”

SPOKANE -

The morning session, which focused on establishing the party platform and selecting national delegates, is over and done. The convention goers have had their lunch and are currently heading back into the hall to finish their business. During the break, PolitickerWA.com caught up with two of the GOP's congressional candidates to see what they thought of the day's work.

Larry Ishmael (R-Kirkland), who is seeking to unseat Rep. Jay Inslee in the 1st District, and Steve Beren (R-Seattle) who is taking on Rep. Jim McDermott in the 7th, both appreciated the disagreements in the party, and felt good about the party unification that was coming out in spite of it.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is taking its counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, to task over their support of CD1 candidate Ann Kirkpatrick. Ken Spain, spokesman for the NRCC, criticized Kirkpatrick as the "hand-picked Washington candidate" after the DCCC added her to its Red to Blue list, which helps Democratic challengers with fundraising and organization.

“Despite repeated claims that they would remain neutral in primaries, the DCCC has decided to make Ann Kirkpatrick the hand-picked Washington candidate of choice" said Spain in an email. "That is because they know she will be a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and her liberal agenda of higher taxes, government-run healthcare, and soaring energy costs.”

The DCCC, however, denies that her inclusion in the program amounts to an endorsement, saying it is only a reflection of her strength as a candidate.

With Gov. Janet Napolitano's endorsement of CD1 Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has all but endorsed the former state legislator as well. Today, DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen announced that Kirkpatrick has been added to the Red to Blue program, which helps Democratic challengers raise money to capture Republican-held congressional seats.

"Ann's experience in city, county and state government and her commitment to promoting economic development, while protecting Arizona’s environment, will make her an effective voice for clean government and change," said Van Hollen, a Maryland congressman.

In addition to financial support, the program also helps "structure" campaigns to become more effective. Kirkpatrick is one of 11 Democrats in the program vying for an open seat.

"The DCCC's decision shows confidence in Ann's ability to win the primary and be successful in the general election," said Kirkpatrick campaign spokeswoman Mary Bradley.

1st Congressional District democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick is in a primary for the right to succeed Rick Renzi in CD1, but don’t tell that to the DCCC.  The DCCC has added Kirkpatrick to their Red-to-Blue program which will help Kirkpatrick with fundraising. 

Kirkpatrick was also endorsed last week by Governor Janet Napolitano.

Capping a day when CD1 candidate Sydney Hay picked up the support of ten state legislators in the district she hopes to represent, Hay also gained a backer in higher office: U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-3).

Shadegg is the second member of Congress to lend his support to Hay, who looks increasingly likely to become the Republican nominee to face off against the eventual Democratic nominee for the open seat. U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake endorsed Hay on May 20, and U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-2), for whom Hay was a spokeswoman during his 2006 re-election campaign, endorsed her as soon as she entered the race last August.

"We need you in the halls of Congress," the release from the Hay campaign quoted Shadegg as saying.

CD1 Republican candidate Sydney Hay announced today she has lined up the support of seven state representatives and three state senators, further consolidating her frontrunner status in her primary battle against Preston Korn, her chief rival for the nomination.

The Hay campaign issued a press release saying the legislators have signed a "support pledge" naming her as their pick for the nomination. The list includes state Rep. Bill Konopnicki (R-Safford), state Sen. Jake Flake (R-Snowflake) and state Rep. Andy Tobin (R-Paulden), all of whom had considered running for the seat themselves.

The full list, as given by the Hay campaign, reads:

"Senator Jake Flake and Representative Bill Konopnicki of District 5, Representatives Lucy Mason and Andy Tobin of District 1, Senator Ron Gould and Representatives Nancy McLain and Trish Groe of District 3, and Senator Jack Harper and Representatives Judy Burges and Tom Boone of District 4."

The Hill is reporting the FBI had recorded at least 50 calls between Rick Renzi and others during the fall of 2006.  Renzi is asking a judge to exclude the wiretapped calls from trial. Renzi’s team is arguing that many of the calls during that time were between Renzi and and his lawyers and should be protected.