Putnam: East Valley Whispers

INSIDE POLITICS

East Valley Whispers

By Pat Putnam
September 26, 2005

An ever-increasing national profile is fueling speculation that State Representative Russell Pearce may challenge Congressman Jeff Flake in 2006. Isn’t it futile to challenge a fiscally conservative, pro-family incumbent? Maybe not. While Flake is fiscally conservative and pro-life, the same applies to Pearce. Moreover, Flake’s stances on Cuba and illegal immigration would allow Pearce to raise plenty of cash and make up ground on the single most important issue in the minds of the voters. Stan Barnes’ 2004 campaign failed to generate as much buzz or money as a Pearce campaign would, and he was burdened by plenty of personal baggage, yet he only lost, 35,000 to 25,000 votes. Can Pearce convince 5,000 people to change their minds? Don’t bet against it!

Looks Like We’re Not the First to Notice

Nor is Pearce’s potential going unnoticed in the district. Already, former State Rep. Debra Brimhall has filed her campaign papers for a House seat, and it isn’t because of a vacancy. Rep. Mark Anderson is serving his first term and won’t be term-limited for another seven years. Expect a royal rumble if Pearce makes his move, as locals expect Mary Jo Vechiarrelli to also run for the House after her close 2004 contest with State Senator Karen Johnson for that Senate seat. Hard feelings likely linger after a bitter contest though, so expect someone more to the liking of Pearce, Anderson and Johnson to also get into the contest.

Speaking of a Royal Rumble

Word has it that former California Congressman Frank Riggs is seriously considering a challenge to State Senator Carolyn Allen, the state’s most liberal Republican (now that Slade Mead has formally changed parties). Riggs’ conservative ideology, fundraising prowess and the grassroots support available to anyone willing to take on Allen would present Allen with something she has never faced before: a real race! With adequate funding to educate voters on Allen’s record, Riggs would be the odds-on favorite to win a nasty Republican primary in Legislative District 8 (Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Rio Verde).

Did You Say Republican Primary in LD8?

Fountain Hills City Councilman John Kavanagh has told supporters he intends to run for the State House in 2006 against incumbents Colette Rosati and Michelle Reagan. No word yet on who he is targeting, but Kavanagh’s conservative ideology would be a better match with the conservative Rosati, rather than the center-left Reagan. Also expected to run again is Royce Flora, a RINO who finished a distant third in 2004.