Lena Saradnik, Democratic candidate for State Representative, announced today that the AFL-CIO and the Arizona Education Association have endorsed her.
In a brief statement Saradnik said:
“I am indeed honored the two major Arizona unions organizations support our efforts. As your elected State Representative, I will fight for quality public education, honor for our public school teachers, affordable healthcare for families, and well paying jobs and prosperity for all Arizonans.
Together we can win in 2006!”
10 comments:
George...
You mean unlike Latas, who hasn't earned any? Announcements of endorsements must be terrible for you.
Lena is an outstanding candidate in all respects. She is bright, a hard worker and tremendously caring. I hope that Democrats all over Southern Arizona will pound the pavement for her as she has a real chance of winning as the sole Democrat running for one of two seats in LD26.
Lena will also be the beneficiary of the purge right-wingers are tring to mount in LD 26 against Pete Hershberger, a decent and sensible legislator who has angered the conservative GOP leadership by refusing to march in lockstep with them. His opponents in the GOP primary are all to his right...and one of them will be chosen to run with Pete in November. LD26 is known for being a bastion of common sense (if you forgive us for Dan Schottel!), so it is quite likely that Lena and Pete (whose family name will trump attempts to dump him in the primary) can both be elected.
Randy Graf is a mentor to David Jorgenson, one of the GOP representative candidates, and to Al Melvin, who is hoping to beat moderate GOP Senator Toni Hellon. The hard right has also targeted Senator Carolyn Allen in Scottsdale.
Funny how the GOP attack dogs have slipped their leashes and turned on those who once delighted in their tactics back when they were solely usd against Democrats! If the GOP moderates hoped to save their place in their party, they should have spayed or neutered these folks long ago!
phx kid,
The most interesting thing about your comment is that you seem to be literate and able to construct a sentence. I'm just amazed because Fox News and conservative talk radio are not exactly helping you Republicans with your communication skills. You must be a real standout among your friends.
Phoenix Kid, your comments above are indicative of the elitist, intolerant enclave that IS the modern Republican Party. The hatchet job that you did on Hershberger's personal life mirrors what the GOP legislative leadership did to him and Tom O'Halleran when they spoke out against a reactionary agenda that would have screwed Arizona's kids even more than they have been. Revenge is now being practiced on them, Hellon and Allen because they are viewed as heretics and apostates.
Your only hope is that every person with an "R" after their name is a knee-jerk voter, but LD26 residents have shown themselves to be discerning and skeptical. If the GOP puts forth a Graf clone like Jorgenson, that IS a great opportunity for Lena, although I admit that Carol Somers is more reasonable and formidable because she has been in the Legislature when she represented the former LD13.
Your self-righteous blast at fellow Republicans not only exposes the lie of the GOP taking a "big tent" view of its membership; it also strips away the "compassionate conservative" window dressing famously employed by Dubya and others to mask their true intentions. As a former Republican, I read your words with satisfaction as they reaffirmed my choice (made in 2000) to leave the party. Sadly, however, it also sounded much like those in my new party who take it upon themselves to label those they disagree with as "DINOs," or somehow lacking in "progressive" credentials.
Reagan had it right when he once remarked that "someone who agrees with you 80% of the time is your friend and ally, not some 20% traitor." The GOP I joined in the early '80's, which he led, embraced that basic truth and had members espousing many views. The Republican Party of 2006 is one where monotheism rules and dissenters get an ignominious smackdown. I hope the Democrats can avoid their own version of this sad tale.
PhxKid...
You're right about the Republican advantage in LD 26. That is one reason that many LD 26 Democrats, and I am one of them, regularly re-register as Independents.
We are interested in securing the most moderate Republican representative possible.
Since our candidate has no primary opponent we can safely vote in the Republican primary, a strategy I recommend. Better Hershberger and Hellon than a pair of ultra conservative Republicans.
Art
Phoenix Kid, anyone who thinks that you grow a party by excluding anyone who doesn't kowtow to your narrow views is not only bereft of intellect, but also common sense. The jihad against Pete is not limited to him. As I said earlier, it is also being waged against Allen and Hellon. Care to slam them, too?
Moreover, you are dancing right on the edge of true nastiness with your repeated attacks on Pete's masculinity. You've gone there twice in these posts. A little below the belt, don't you think?
My reference to "spay and neuter," by the way, was related to my earlier characterization of people like Graf and Al Melvin as "attack dogs." I made NO reference to anyone's marital status, as you have freely done.
phx kid.
I believe that "attack dog" was used metaphorically in Rex Scott's post.
You, like all other Republicans, seem to believe that abortion and homosexuality are instrinsically related to everything else. All of you seem unable to have a conversation that is devoid of these references. Tell me, do any of you think independently?
It is my understanding that Karl Rove now wants the 2006 GOP election attacks on Democrats to focus on our willingness to "cut and run" in Iraq as well as our other "weaknesses" in national security. So, how are you going to relate abortion, homosexuality, and national security to each and every election issue? I know you can do it, but I think it will a challenge.
By the way, how does illegal immigration fit in? I thought that was going to be the GOP distraction issue for 2006, but now Rove wants it to be national security. Well, talk radio has everyone immigrant bashing, apparently premature in developing their strategy. Can the Republicans change gears in time for the election?
Pete is not with you on social issues and I agree that he is not a strong Second Amendment backer. He has been a steadfast supporter of public education and the interests of children. That used to be admired in Republican circles, but now it causes people to question your partisan loyalty, I guess.
He is a stauch Republican in other areas, especially with regard to tax policy and environmental issues. He backed Huffman when Steve tried to take away the desegregation funds used by TUSD and other districts because the State chose to dodge the issue back when federal court orders came down in the 1970's.
Hershberger is not a conservative, which is apparently all that troubles you, Phoenix Kid. You make my argument for me by proving that liberal to moderate Republicans are no longer welcome in the fold and the campaigns that will be waged against Pete, Allen and Hellon will offend many centrist GOP voters. Enjoy your shrinking base.
By the way, I would assert that those who question the lifelong Democrat credentials of Joe Lieberman because they disagree with him on Iraq are just as wrong. This is not to say that Ned Lamont should not oppose him in the primary, but let's not say the guy is not a true Democrat because we differ with him on this one (admittedly huge!) issue. In a two party system, there must be room for Democrats and Republicans of many ideological stripes.
George Tuttle...
I'm really surprised by your surprise, which suggests a greater lack of political sophistication than I expected of you.
This is a very old political strategy.
I re-register as an Independent so I can vote in the Republican primary. Depending on the slate I can then vote either for the Republican I believe most defeatable...or for the Republican(s)I find least objectionable. (Remember, Lena has no Democratic primary opponent.)
If, when the time comes, I don't think
the Republican candidates in LD 26 are too objectionable I can ask for a Democratic ballot and vote for Giffords.
If my best judgement is that Giffords is a a certain winner, I can vote for whomever I think might be her most easily defeated Republican opponent.
All these options are open to the Independent.
Art
I can't say I've ever heard anyone use the term "liberal Republican" before now. All that seems to be left of the Republican Party are the PNAC neo-conservatives, the religious right, the fabulously wealthy, and the millions of middle and lower class people who have been brainwashed into believing that what is good for Exxon Mobil is good for them. Really, what else is there?
Maybe some Republicans just don't get it yet. Worse yet, maybe they still believe in something the party once stood for. Well, someone should get this message to Pete: "Independent thinking is not an option."
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