Monday, November 9th, 2009...4:11 pm
Another Candidate Jumps In…I Mean…”Explores”
St. Michaels Representative Christopher Deschene pulled papers last week for an exploratory committee to run for Secretary of State. I’ve been told to look for a more official announcement later this week.
Deschene has an incredible story: his family returned to the Navajo reservation when he was young and he dedicated himself to his school work. The work paid off with an appointment to Annapolis. He served as an officer in the Marine Corps. After eight years of active duty, which included command of infantry and reconnaissance units (he was at one point XO of a reconnaissance company), he served two more years as a reserve officer. He ended his career with the rank of Major.
After that, he attended law school at ASU (a blemish on an otherwise stellar biography). After law school, he was a founding partner of the firm Schaff & Clark Deschene, specializing in energy and natural resource law (somewhere along the way, he got a Masters in engineering too). He’s become a national recognized expert on energy and development issues for both tribal and rural communities.
Should Deschene shuck the “exploring” tag and become a full fledged candidate, this would mean a primary with Sam Wercinski. This makes a couple of Democrats wonder about funding in this primary. Deschene’s camp hints at “traditional” funding for the race, and Wercinski is filed as “traditional.” There has been talk about Wercinski switching to “clean” funding, but that may change with a strong opponent. The question on some minds is: do we want to blow all that money in a primary?
Of course, my question is: does Deschene have his own lip balm?
CLARIFICATION: Wouldn’t you freakin’ know it? Not five minutes after I post this, somebody sends me a text to ask if I’m endorsing Deschene and “dismissing” Wercinski. Nothing of the kind. Wercinski has been working very hard on this race already and will give Deschene quite a contest. Either one would be a great candidate in the general election.
15 Comments
November 9th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I think Sam is a strong and qualified candidate; Secretary Napolitano obviously thought so too or she wouldn’t have selected him to be a member of her cabinet.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
I had heard last week that Chris was thinking about running. If he does make the full leap, it would make things interesting, but his status as a relative newcomer to state politics hurts his chances.
I also worry about the ‘Rez’ losing an experienced legislator.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
azw88, I wouldn’t worry about that too much. The Navajo Nation can actually benefit when they are able to elevate someone into a higher position in a different jurisdiction. People in power have known that for a long time and they fought hard to keep Navajos from being able to hold office at the county and state levels. (Here is one example: http://www.navajotimes.com/politics/2009/0909/090309supe.php )
November 9th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
I can’t imagine there being any winners should Chris decide to run. It would be expensive and bruising.
Chris is a rising star in the Arizona Democratic party. He has a real future in Arizona politics or in representing Arizona in DC. I think this would be a bad move for him and I hope he reconsiders.
r.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I agree with the “Pirate”. This is unfortunate. Chris is a rising star with a compelling personal history and a capable legislator. But a freshman, rural legislator with one session under his belt without any significant legislative accomplishment, making such a leap without more experience is foolhardy and could do a lot of collateral damage.
It would be best if he took the open state senate seat and kept his powder dry for when a new congressional seat opens up in two years.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Sam has a very strong hold on the State due to his effective and tireless grassroot campaigning. I’m surprised anyone is tempted to compete in a Primary with him. With his experience gained and relationships built as our past Commissioner for the Arizona Department of Real Estate and Maricopa County Democratic Chair he has a strong support system in place. Sam is my Man with our without the lip balm.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:11 am
It’s exciting to see that there’s another Joaquin who reads this site!
It’d be interesting to see how either candidate plans to generate sufficient interest in the office so that the race can be fought on terms other than straight up party registration.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I’ve known Chris for several years and he’s one of the most exciting young politicians I’ve met.
However I would be happy with either of them, we’ve gotten a very hard lesson over the past year how important the position of Secretary of State is (especially since three of the past six Governors have left office early and the other three were the Secretaries of State who replaced them.) It is important that we elect someone who we can trust and who will do the right thing when/if they become Governor.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
The second-highest elective office in AZ is a great place for someone like Rep. Deschene. I’m glad “Austin” and “Pirate” see his outstanding qualities.
November 10th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Even though I think the spirit of competition sometimes brings out the best in political candidates I must speak for Mr. Wercinski. As the Arizona Real Estate Commissioner, Sam was instrumental in changing the way real estate was conducted here in the valley and it is those proven leadership qualities we need for Arizona Secretary of State.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:47 am
I would think a Concerned Citizen would be “OK” with a primary, unless of course they want to make the choice for all of us.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Please inform me–I do realize that Sam is a nice person, but what legislative experience does he have? I’m sorry but real estate went under the biggest crisis/scam in Arizona history under his watch. And name me a decent appointment Napolitano made. All her appointments were “yes-mam” wimps. I supposed it was because she wanted to run the whole show without interference. Steve Owens at ADEQ eventually rose above the label, I didn’t see anyone else that did.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Well, being from northern Arizona I have this to add:
A contested primary can be a good thing if it brings more people into the party (remember Hillary vs. Obama and how many new Democrats registered in states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.) We’ve been working for years with limited success to boost interest in partisan races on the Navajo reservation (they vote in tribal elections, and for the most part vote for Democrats in partisan races but often do not turn out for those races.) Having Deschenie on the ballot, whether in a primary or a general could be a big help with boosting turnout on the rez.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Yes, SoS would be a great place for Chris. Even with little legislative experience I think he would be great. And voter turnout on the rez would be great too, it would definitely help us with the Gov.’s race. I just think it’ll be an uphill battle, and unless he wins the primary and general, it might hurt Chris in the long run, which is only two years away (think redistricting Chris).
Either way, I’ll support Chris in whatever he decides. I just wish he’d wait one more cycle for a congressional seat.
Happy Veterans day to Chris and all the rest of the vets our there!
R!
November 19th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
He should focus on the job at hand and not worry about moving up until he proves himself first, with the job he has.