Darrell Ankarlo

Talk radio talker Darrell Ankarlo and Republican U.S. House candidate Laura Knaperek are slated as the featured speakers at the inaugural GOPallooza, a Republican networking event Thursday, May 1.

Ankarlo commands a microphone from 8:30 a.m. to noon weekdays on KTAR-FM 92.3.

Knaperek is one of several Republicans trying to unseat Democrat Rep. Harry Mitchell in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, which takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills and west Mesa. While serving in the state Legislature for a decade, Knaperek focused on education reform and children’s issues.

GOPallooza, which is the best-named networking event in recent memory, is set for 6 p.m. at Six Lounge and Restaurant, 7316 E. Stetson Drive, in Scottsdale. The event is hosted by the Republican Professionals club. It’s free and open to the public, though a club executives recommend RSVPs.

“The idea behind GOPallooza is to celebrate the outstanding success of (Republican Club’s) free networking events thus far while setting an exciting new ton for the months ahead,” said club president Charles Jensen in a press release.

The club’s first monthly networking event was in October. For information, contact Jensen at (602) 403-5535 or  charles at republicanprofessions.org. 

Two of the Republican candidates seeking Democrat Harry Mitchell’s seat in the U.S. House are running largely self-funded campaigns.

Former Maricopa County treasurer David Schweikert has raised $681,000, but Schweikert himself contributed $272,000 of that total, according to figures compiled by The Center for Responsive Politics.

Meanwhile, former lobbyist Jim Ogsbury has raised $427,000, but he has chipped in $250,000 of that total.

OK. Now flash back to 2006 when Democratic challenger and shopping mall developer Jim Pederson self-funded most of his unsuccessful campaign against Republican Jon Kyl for the U.S. Senate. The Democrats like to explain that Pederson’s self-funded campaign proved that he couldn’t be bought. Republicans countered that it showed that he couldn’t muster any support.

This year, the opposite is happening – the Republican challengers are self-funding their campaigns. So does that mean Democrats believe Schweikert and Ogsbury are men of such integrity that they can’t be bought? Do Republicans accept the notion that Schweikert and Ogsbury simply can’t find any support?

Don’t bank on it.

In related matters, Mitchell has raised $1.4 million, but hasn’t spent a dime of his own money on the campaign. Republican Laura Knaperek, a former state representative, raised $100,000 without any self-funding. And fellow Republican Mark Anderson, a current state representative, raised $55,000, all from outside sources.

They’re vying for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, which takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills and a slice of west Mesa.

The latest national campaign finance reports underscore one of the benefits of incumbency – access to money.

In seven of the eight U.S. House races across the state, the incumbents, regardless of their parties, are far ahead of their challengers in collecting campaign contributions.

In the eighth race, Republican incumbent Rick Renzi is not running for re-election. He’s scheduled to spend the campaign season in court fighting public corruption charges instead.

Consider what’s happening in the 5^th Congressional District race.

First-term Democrat Harry Mitchell has bagged more than twice as much money as any of his Republican opponents. Mitchell had collected nearly $1.4 million and had more than $1.1 million cash on hand on at the end of the first quarter on March 31, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. And he doesn’t even a primary opponent to be concerned about.

Former Maricopa County treasurer David Schweikert was tops among the GOP field in the 1st District. He had collected $681,000 and had $514,000 cash on hand.

Former lobbyist Jim Ogsbury was next with $427,000 in receipts and $353,000 in cash.

Meanwhile, former state Rep. Laura Knaperek had raised $100,000 and had $44,000 in reserve.

State Rep. Mark Anderson had raised $55,000 and curiously had $70,000 cash on hand, according to both the Center for Responsive Politics and the Federal Election Commission. Anderson told me Friday that those figures are somewhat in error. Actually, he had raised $93,000 and had $70,000 in reserve at the end of the quarter. The $55,000 figure was just the dough he had raised during the first quarter, he said.

The top three industry sectors pumping up Mitchell’s campaign were lawyers and lobbyists with $139,000 in combined contributions; finance, insurance and real estate with $130,000 in total collections; and labor at $122,500.

The 5^th District takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills and west Mesa.

Over in the 6^th District, four-term Republican incumbent Jeff Flake is running practically unopposed. He has raised $891,000 and had $975,000 cash on hand, thanks to spill-over from his previous campaign. His top three industry sectors were finance, insurance and real estate at $149,000 combined; miscellaneous businesses at $110,000; and construction interests at $54,000.

His Democratic opponent, author Richard Grayson hasn’t filed campaign finance reports.

The 6th District takes in parts of Mesa and Chandler, plus all of Gilbert, Queen Creek, and Apache Junction.

Meanwhile, in the 3^rd District, seven-term Republican incumbent John Shadegg had collected more than $1.2 million and had $938,000 in reserve.

Democrat challenger and attorney Bob Lord had raised $833,000 and had $632,000 in cash.

And independent e-magazine publisher Annie Loyd was way back with $34,000 in collections and $7,000 in reserve.

Shadegg’s top industry sectors for contributions were finance, insurance and real estate at $136,000 combined; miscellaneous businesses at $121,000; and lawyers and lobbyists at $77,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Interestingly, two of Shadegg’s top three industry sectors also were among Mitchell’s top three. Shadegg’s a Republican; Mitchell’s a Democrat. Go figure.

Shadegg’s 3rd District covers central and northern Phoenix, plus Paradise Valley, Carefree and Cave Creek.

While over in the wide-open 1^st District, which is Renzi’s district, former state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick led the Democratic field with $661,000 in collections and $465,0000 in cash.

Next was new candidate and former U.S. House aide Jiff Riley, with $221,000 in collections and $216,000 in cash.

He was followed by former TV reporter Mary Kim Titla with $169,000 in receipts and $48,000 in cash.

Then came attorney Howard Shanker with $138,000 collected and $34,000 in reserve.

On the GOP side, Arizona Mining Association president and former talk radio host Sydney Hay led with $268,000 in collections and $222,000 in cash.

New GOP challenger and Internet businessman Preston Korn entered the fray with $19,000 raised and $10,000 in reserve.

The 1^st District is the 10^th largest district in the country. The district take in vast areas of northern, central and eastern Arizona, including the far East Valley. It stretches from the Utah state line to Casa Grande. The cost of road-side signs alone will be staggering.

Kris Mayes

It’s hard to imagine, but the Republicans are all but abandoning Arizona’s 1st Congressional District to the Democrats this year.

Arizona Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes became at least the eighth Republican to consider and reject the idea of running to succeed Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi. She backed out last week.

Of course, Renzi’s pending public corruption trial isn’t doing much to bolster the Republicans’ chances.

Equally important, probable Republican candidates are finding a lack of financial support from federal sources. That’s particularly significant in the sprawling 1^st District, which is larger geographically than the state of Pennsylvania.

At the moment, Arizona Mining Association president and former talk radio host Sydney Hay is the lone Republican candidate. Former state Sen. Ken Bennett, who rejected the idea of running once before, is considering the matter anew.

A potential Mayes-Bennett-Hey primary would split whatever base the Republicans could muster. Both Mayes and Bennett are from Prescott, the epicenter of the district’s GOP network.

“We’ve seen a lot of names of prominent Republicans considering jumping in this race. They’ll float the idea for a few weeks, and then bow out,” said state Democratic Party spokeswoman Emily Bittner.

In contrast, five Democratic candidates are energized about the prospect of winning the seat, Bittner said. “They’ve felt burdened for quite some time with the service, such as it was, of Rick Renzi. I think that’s an incredibly frustrating position to be in, to see a congressman, who at this point, has been indicted on 35 counts related to corruption,” she said.

At the national level, the Democrats are sure to first spend to keep first-term U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell and Gabrielle Giffords in office. The next on the list for federal campaign funding will be the party’s nominee in the 1^st District.

Mayes said she hopes other Republicans will enter the congressional race. “I still think this seat can be won by a Republican; that Republican isn’t going to be me this year, but I still think it’s one that leans right of center. So far, I haven’t seen any Democrats who match the profile of the district,” she said.

U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell has gotten a fair amount of publicity for giving away his congressional pay raise. Well, OK, I personally have given him a fair amount of pub for the gesture.

The Democrat introduced legislation last year intended to block an automatic pay raise that members of Congress get every year. Alas, his House colleagues refused to hear the bill, so Mitchell and every other member of the House got a $4,100 pay bump. Mitchell donated his pay increase to 10 local charities in $410 bundles, and co-sponsored new legislation with Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, to block next year’s pay increase.

The former Tempe mayor has argued that it’s unsightly for members of Congress to accept pay increases when taxpayers face difficult economic times. Rank-and-file members of the Senate and House currently are paid $169,300 annually. The Senate president pro tempore and the Senate and House majority and minority leaders get $188,100 each, while the speaker of the House is paid $217,400. 
 

Overlooked in all that though, has been the give-backs by potential future GOP challenger and current Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman.

Hallman, a Republican, briefly considered running against Mitchell for Congress this year, but then opted to seek a second term as mayor. Hallman cited his school-aged children and unfinished business at the city for seeking re-election in Tempe. Presumably, both of those matters will be somewhat mitigated in four years. His kids will be older and if he’s successful as mayor, the city will be improved.

Hallman has turned down automatic pay raises every year he’s been mayor. He came in during the 2004-05 fiscal year when the job paid $45,653 annually. Automatic pay increases have pushed it to $53,620, but Hallman still takes $45,653.

Hallman’s thinking was that the mayor and members of the City Council were the only employees in the city who received automatic cost of living increases, while every other employee in the city receive pay based on market conditions. Hallman said that was unfair, and turned down the pay increases.

Hallman also refuses to accept a city car, which otherwise has been provided to Tempe’s mayor since Mitchell’s tenure. Furthermore, he declines to accept mileage re-imbursements, declined a designated reserved parking space at City Hall, and pays for his own meals and banquet tickets while attending city-related events.

So, if Mitchell remains in office in 2012 and plans to seek yet another term, and if Hallman decides to run for Congress in 2012, all of that could come into pay – er, play.

Arizona Corporation Commissioner Jeff Hatch-Miller formally ended his campaign for the Republican nomination in Arizona’s 5^th Congressional District on Monday. My initial post in this blog and an expanded story in the Tribune about his plans appeared last week. 

In a letter to friends and supporters that Hatch-Miller posted on his Web site, he expanded on the theme that his campaign lost a key staffer with the unexpected death of his friend Betsey Rodiles, a marathon runner who suffered a brain aneurism. Her death occurred just as Hatch-Miller planned to ramp up his campaign in the crowded Republican field.

“This unexpected loss is a stark reminder of how short, fragile and precious life can be. Anita and I will miss her greatly. Our hearts are broken for her husband and beautiful daughter,” Hatch-Miller wrote in the letter.

Furthermore, Dean Miller, his chief of staff at the ACC resigned in order to take a higher-paying position in the private sector. To make matters more difficult on that front, the ACC has a hiring freeze in place.

Hatch-Miller will be termed out of the ACC in January 2009, but he intends to remain involved in GOP politics. In the short term, he plans to take an active role in John McCain’s presidential campaign in Arizona and other states.

In future election cycles, he’ll consider running again for Congress, or perhaps for governor or secretary of state, a job that’s just a heartbeat, political appointment or indictment away from the governorship. “I’m pretty much addicted to running for office. Once I’m out of the commission, I’ll have tremendous freedom,” he told me.

The remaining GOP candidates in the 5th District race are state Rep. Mark Anderson, former state Rep. Laura Knaperek, former congressional aide Jim Ogsbury, and former Maricopa County treasurer Dave Schweikert. Former Scottsdale City Councilwoman Susan Bitter Smith also is considering a run.

The seat is held by first-term Democrat Harry Mitchell, who is seeking re-election. The district takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills and west Mesa.

Jeff Hatch-Miller

Arizona Corporation Commission member Jeff Hatch-Miller is dropping out of the crowded Republican primary race for the GOP nomination in Arizona’s 5^th Congressional District.

Hatch-Miller told the Tribune he expects to issue a formal statement late today or Friday.

He made the decision after losing two key campaign staff members just as he was preparing to ramp up the campaign. His campaign coordinator died unexpectedly Friday, a day after his speech writer told him she had to cut back her work because of other commitments.

Further complicating his efforts, Hatch-Miller’s chief of staff at the ACC informed him Wednesday that he was leaving his post to take a higher-paying position in the private sector.

“It just wasn’t working out, so I did decide along with Anita this morning that we would pull the plug on the campaign and wait for another day,” Hatch-Miller said.

“It’s unfortunate. I think I brought a lot to the table, but there’s only so much I can respond to without making just too hard a job to stay in the race and do a good job in a very, very tough race,” he said.

Four other Republicans remain: state Rep. Mark Anderson, former state Rep. Laura Knaperek, former congressional staffer Jim Ogsbury ,and former Maricopa County treasurer Dave Schweikert. Also, former Scottsdale City Councilwoman Susan Bitter Smith launched a congressional exploratory committee last week.

The office currently is held by first-term Democrat U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, who is seeking re-election. The district takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills and west Mesa.

A report in Tuesday’s edition of Roll Call could be sobering for the Republican challengers seeking to oust Democratic U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell’s and Gabrielle Giffords in the fall.

Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Congress, reported that Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has a huge financial advantage against the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The committees direct political expertise, and more importantly funding, toward selected races nationwide. At least they do that most years.

Roll Call writer Nathan L. Gonzales reported that through 2007, the DCCC had collections of $35.1 million, while the NRCC had $5.4 million.

Gonzales wrote, “Both committees generally give first priority and focus to incumbents, followed by open seats and then challenger races. With a number of vulnerable incumbents and more than two dozen open seats to defend, GOP challengers shouldn’t expect much more than a pat on the back from their campaign committees.”

Using that formula, Arizona’s Republican incumbents Reps. Jeff Flake and Trent Franks will get first-priority funding, though in reality, they won’t need it because they’ll only face token opposition.

The second-priority funding will go to whichever candidates emerge from the GOP primaries for the open seats currently held by outgoing Republican Reps. John Shadegg and Rick Renzi.

The third-priority funding will go to the Republican challengers for Mitchell’s and Giffords seats, which could be competitive. That is, if there’s any funding left.

Mark Anderson

State Rep. Mark Anderson today announced a press conference for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at the State Capitol regarding his political future. Specifically, on Wednesday he will formally announce that he is entering the race for the Republican nomination to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, a Democrat, in the fall.

“I am nearing a final decision,” said Anderson, who represents west Mesa. “By Wednesday, I should have all the information I need to inform the public.”

Also by Wednesday, he won’t have that pesky resign-to-run law to deal with, but I digress…

Anderson is in his seventh term in the state Legislature, where he has concerned himself largely with education issues. He currently serves as chairman of the House K-12 Education Committee.

Among legislation he has sponsored or co-sponsored: Creation of tuition tax credits; establishment of a transition program for offenders released from prison; protection against children accessing pornography in schools and libraries; jettisoning junk food from elementary and middle schools; creation of a marriage skills course; and development of an abstinence program for teens.

Four other Republicans already are in the race: Arizona Corporation Commissioner Jeff Hatch-Miller, former state Rep. Laura Knaperek, former lobbyist Jim Ogsbury, and former county treasurer David Schweikert.Former Scottsdale City Councilwoman Susan Bitter Smith is waiting in the wings.Arizona’s 5^th Congressional District includes Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills, plus Anderson’s turf, west Mesa. Mitchell, a Tempe resident, is mid-way through his first two-year term in the U.S. House.

No. 6, Susan Bitter Smith

There’s been plenty of action this week in Arizona’s 5^th Congressional District.

The stars are aligning for a six-person race for the Republican nomination featuring former state Rep. Laura Knaperek, former lobbyist Jim Ogsbury, former Maricopa County treasurer David Schweikert, state Rep. Mark Anderson, former Scottsdale City Councilwoman Susan Bitter Smith and Arizona Corporation Commissioner Jeff Hatch-Miller.

Knaperek, Ogsbury and Schweikert already are in.

The others will join the fray shortly. Hatch-Miller told me he will enter the race Friday, Jan. 11. Anderson will go on Wednesday, Jan. 16. Bitter Smith said she will make a decision as early as the beginning of February, but she is leaning toward entering.

I have the latest details in a story in the Tribune today, Thursday, Jan. 10.

Anderson told me he expects a big, positive and clean campaign. “I think there’s going to be six people and they’re all good people,” he said.

However, the race has extremely limited appeal at the moment, according to Bitter Smith.

“Voters are not paying any attention to congressional politics at this point. I mean, all the people in the race are talking to each other. It doesn’t make sense, and frankly it’s not fiscally responsible, to be spending money at this point,” she said.

A candidate, such as, oh say Bitter Smith herself, could hold off another month or two before jumping in and no one would notice, she said.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell is the Democratic incumbent. The district takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills and west Mesa.