I read in the
Tucson Weekly last week that former state representative
Randy Graf would have an
"exciting announcement" last Thursday. Of course, I found nothing about it in either the
Arizona Daily Star or the
Tucson Citizen about it. So I had to actually call a reporter friend of mine about it.
It seems that Mr. Graf is running for Congress. Of course, I could only find this out by reading the website of the South East Arizona Republican Club. Their site is quite entertaining; check it out.
Some of you may remember Mr. Graf from a story on the Daily Show called "Round of Shots". He's still knocking around.
Graf did especially well in the last primary, winning almost
43 % of the vote against long time incumbent
Jim Kolbe. He has become the leader of the anti-immigrant zealots that are arranging for "citizen partols" on our border. If this guy got elected to congress, he would be best pals with
Tom Tancredo. This man is exceedingly dangerous.
Kolbe had arranged for Graham County, which had voted for anti-semetic bonehead Joe Sweeney in a previous primary, to be excised from the district (oh I'm sorry...it was the "independent" redistricting commission, headed up by his former finance chair that did that...he had nothing to do with it). Now, previously loyal Cochise County is Graf's base. It is interesting to see that the day after Graf's anouncement, Kolbe anounced more money for Cochise County's Airport.
Adding to Kolbe's problem with the base is that he has finally taken a stand for gays in the military. It may seem unusual for him to have been quiet so long on this, since he is gay and an honrably discharged Navy vet. I know a few Republican activists who say they like Kolbe because he's gay and "doesn't talk about it." Well, now he talks about it, how will that make them feel?
There was a thought in the last election that Graf could have won the primary, this led to a rather active Democratic primary. Jeff Chimene, who came in third in the last primary, may run again. Another name being mentioned is my State Senator, Gabrielle Giffords, who I've known for about a century or two. This would probably only happen if it looks like Graf would be the Republican nominee. If Kolbe starts to look weaker, or if he decides to not run again, then Graf would almost definitely be the nominee.
Of course, people have been talking about Kolbe's last term since 1996, when he came out of the closet. Hasn't happened yet. He's been in public office here for nearly thirty years, and had a couple of appointed posts before that. Not the model of a person who has a life outside to retire to. There was talk of his being appointed trade representative, but the rumor is that the silliness involving Jeff Gannon put the kibosh on that.
If Kolbe does step down, which I doubt, there are three or four names, all moderates, who could step up. This would split the moderate vote, ensuring Graf a victory. If only one runs, does a state representative or county supervisor have the juice to beat a guy who has already run once and has the strong support of the right? The talk is that Kolbe only won because he had the advantage of incumbency. I don't think that Ray Carroll or Toni Hellon has that sort of stature.
I hope that if Graf wins the primary, which he could do, that we have a strong candidate.