Sunday, April 22nd, 2007...9:09 pm
Them Buzzards Overhead…
With the word “Renzi” looking more and more synonymous with the word “toast,” there is a Democratic candidate making noises: Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick from Flagstaff.
Kirkpatrick has already met with various pooh-bahs from both the DCCC and Arizona’s congressional delegation, and people have been supportive (but short of outright endorsement, of course). Some talk even suggests that Karan English, a former Flagstaff legislator who was the last Democrat to represent the area in congress, has been encouraging her to run.
What actually happens if Renzi has to step down before his term is up? Is the early leg work enough for Kirkpatrick to set up a campaign quickly? By the way, resign to run would effect Kirkpatrick should Renzi step down early. Which Republicans would be ready to put together an eight-to-ten week campaign on the fly?
6 Comments
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:30 am
I think, for US House vacancies, the Governor doesn’t appoint a replacement (that’s only for the Senate), and the US Constitution says little about filling vacancies except that states have to provide a means of filling them, which could mean just waiting for the next federal election to be held. That’s what they did in NJ when Corzine resigned the Senate to become Governor– he appointed Menendez from the House, then his seat was left empty to give candidates (meaning those in the Democratic primary) to have a time to run a regular-cycle campaign.
The AZ Constitution says that there must be a primary and general election in the event of a vacancy in Congress, per statute. All I know beyond that is that there are, by law, only four days out of the year in which elections can be run (one in March (primary) and May (general), and one in September (primary) and one in November (general)) but that could be overruled by a federal vacancy.
If a vacancy occurs soon, we’d probably see a campaign over the summer ending in September or November, depending on if a partisan or open primary is held.
Out of all the Republicans who could launch a campaign in a short amount of time, the best bet, like someone else said, would probably be Ken Bennett, with enough name rec and money to run a tough campaign. Hopefully, though, Northern Arizona won’t go from being AKA The Representative from Mantech, Int., to AKA The Representative from Bennett Oil, and Ann Kirkpatrick looks like a really good candidate.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 am
Found the statute– it’s at http://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00222.htm.
Jeez man… I should have just posted this on my blog instead of handing it all over to you. Eh… you’d probably get it more right anyway.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:25 am
Phoenix Guy, I think the proper link is http://azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/16/00222.htm&Title=16&DocType=ARS.
It says that if the vacancy occurs more then 6 months from the next General Election then the Gov needs to call a special election. We have plenty of time before Nov of 08, so could happen.
Other then Ken Bennett, other Republicans that come to mind are Sen. Tom O’Halleran from Sedona, Rep. Bill Konopnicki from Safford, and former State Treasurer and current Yavapai County Board Member Carol Springer.
As for Ann Kirkpatrick, I think she would make a fine member of Congress. I also think that Coconino Supervisor Liz Archuleta might be interested.
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Go nearly 100 years without a woman in Congress and now we have a spate of them running for the office.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
That’s what Renzi gets when he messes with Superior.
April 27th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Ellen Simon is looking at jumping back in this race - she almost won before and ran on Renzi corruption and ending the Iraq occupation so should get good support if she decides to run.
Potential Democratic candidates for Renzi’s seat will have a chance to speak at the Progressive Caucus at the State Committee meeting on Sunday. Please contact me first.
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