Thursday, August 2nd, 2007...3:01 pm
Breaking: I Never Really Wanted to be a Congressman…I Wanted to be a…Wait, I was a Lumberjack, Sort Of…
Roll Call reports that Rick Renzi will anounce this month whether or not he will seek re-election. The article is only available with a too-expensive subscription to the publication, so here are a few paragraphs:
Embattled Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) tapped down speculation Thursday that he is telling his allies that he will not seek re-election – but he appears to be leaning toward the exit door rather than seeking a fourth term.
“To be honest, I was never going to be here a great while,” Renzi told Roll Call on Thursday. “I’m a businessman at heart.”
Renzi said he would make his plans known in the next couple of weeks. “I haven’t announced anything, but I usually make that decision over the break,” he said, noting that he had told his staff that he would make an announcement in August.
A senior leadership source said they expected Renzi to retire, but that he had not formally informed GOP leaders yet of his intentions.
The article points out that since he has come under more scrutiny, he has done hardly any fundraising on his own (and owes lawyers $160,000) and has taken himself off of the list for the Republican fundraising program ROMP (One beltway observer I spoke with also noted that he’s been voting with Democrats more too). He has $20,000 cash on hand, which is barely enough to run in LD 1, much less CD 1 (which is the size of Pennsylvania).
The article mentions Republicans Ken Bennett, Bill Konopnicki, Sydney Hay (haven’t heard that one in a while) and Democrats Ann Kirkpatrick, Mary Kim Titla and Howard Shanker as possible candidates.
5 Comments
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:32 am
OK, now this is real.
I’m sorry, but none of these guys really excite me for this seat. Great folks, but….
I heard about a “Draft Steve” (Owens) campaign. I want to hear about that. Have you heard anything?
I know he lost twice, but that was in the bad ‘ol 90s when the party was like the Republicans are now. Of all these folks, Steve just seems best suited to go to congress. He’s got that gravitas.
August 3rd, 2007 at 12:48 pm
He got that record of losing – twice – to J.D. Hayworth, and the last time he ran unsuccessfully was nearly a decade ago.
There is a lot of important business awaiting his attention at ADEQ. He’s got an important job, and he either needs to focus on improving Arizona’s environment, or he’s got to make a decision regarding CD1.
My guess is that he’ll stay on at DEQ – but I guess we’ll see.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Who else could do it other than Owens? It sure aint Kirkpatrick. She’s “Barney Fife” against the GOP’s “Hulk Hogans” of Bennett and Kopinicki.
Owens is the highest profile member of the Governor’s Cabinet and Al Gore’s former Chief of staff, as well as the former state Dem party chair, activist, fundraiser, etc.
Kirkpatrick has been to “ONE” Dem state committee meeting in her entire career.
As far as depth and credentials are concerned Owens has to run if the Dems think they can take CD1.
August 4th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
What does it matter if Kirkpatrick has only attended one state committee meeting? I really doubt the voters in CD1 are really concerned with who is most loyal to the state party. This is an election, not a rewards system.
Ann is well-liked in Flagstaff and well-liked on the Rez. She has the dedication, background, and warmth that our last candidate sorely lacked. I’m excited for a Kirkpatrick candidacy.
August 5th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Renzi: “I’m a businessman at heart.”
Yeah. Talk to James Sandlin about Renzi and his business deals.
What I like about Kirkpatrick is that for a long time before she became involved in politics she was involved in the community, in a variety of ways that helped individuals and the community as a whole.
Besides which, speaking politically, she does have contact on the rez. What made Renzi so tough to beat was that he was strong on what should be the Democratic stronghold of the district.