Tuesday, January 8th, 2008...9:05 am
Replacing Lena
Over the next few weeks, there will be a process to replace Rep. Lena Saradnik. Names are already being floated.
One of my pet peeves is that whenever a vacancy like this opens up, you end up with one or two folks who say, “I’ll take the appointment, but I’d never run.” This is one case where someone who is willing to run, and run hard, is necessary. Whoever gets appointed here will also immediately be a candidate for re-election, in a district that is often inimical to Democrats.
One name being floated is Don Jorgenson. Jorgenson is already a candidate for the other house seat anyway, so he has demonstrated a willingness to defend the seat. The only minus he has in this is that when a woman held the seat, the desire is usually to replace her with a woman.
The other name being floated is Salette Latas. Latas has demonstrated she’s got the fire to do something like this since she is already a candidate for Oro Valley Town Council (a race that she would have to abandon to do this). She’s seen the inside of a campaign already when she worked on her husband Jeff’s congressional race. She’s got a hell of a resume. She’s also cuts a bit more of a conservative profile than Jeff, which makes her look a lot more like the sort of Democrat that could get elected on the Northwest side.
Also, from what I’ve seen of the District 26 Democratic committee, ambos Latas are very well liked there. She would have a relatively easy path to get on the list of three candidates the committee sends to the Board of Supervisors.
I don’t know how apt you Northwest Siders are to take advice from those of us in Midtown, but encourage this woman to take the plunge.
3 Comments
January 8th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I know Salette is currently on track to run for the Oro Valley Council, but I agree with Tedski that she would be a solid legislative candidate.
It may be a much tougher commute, and I know that all things considered she’d rather be in Tucson, but the Legislature can be fun.
Go for it, Salette!
January 8th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Either Don or Ms. Latas (if she’s interested) would be good.
January 8th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I can’t see Salette giving up her campaign for Oro Valley City Council to vie for the LD 26 seat (though she would be WONDERFUL as our rep).
Don had already planned to run, and also has a great resume–why is it necessary that the LD 26 rep replacement be of the same sex as the predecessor? Why support sexism?
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