This year's election truly accentuated the dichotomy between local and national politics for Yavapai County.
At the county and state levels, Republicans clearly dominate the landscape.
At the national level, Democrats now are in charge of the White House as well as both houses of Congress.
Where the two merge in the 1st Congressional District - where rural Arizona voters choose a national representative - the party moved from Republican to Democrat.
Incumbent Congressman Rick Renzi's indictment on 35 criminal counts might have as much to do with that result as anything, said Yavapai County Supervisor Tom Thurman, a Republican.
During interviews with local leaders and readers, Republicans all said local control was more important while all but one Democrat concluded that national power was more desirable.
Perhaps their answers had something to do with the fact that they supported the current status of their favorite party's power; perhaps not.
"I prefer to tolerate the local Republican perspective and have more of a Democratic national viewpoint, because it's more where the real power presides," said Daily Courier reader Pat Ellsworth, a Democrat.
"I would choose national for Democrats, because so many problems are facing our nation and they affect us at the state and local level," agreed Ben Furlong, Yavapai County Democratic Party chair. A few people such as the Democratic governor are an anomaly because they appeal to voters as a person, he added.
"I've always believed all politics are local," said Arizona Rep. Andy Tobin, R-Paulden.
"As a Republican, I think there ought to be more control at the local level," Prescott attorney Kenton Jones said. "And frankly, as the past chair of the (county) Republican Party, I'm concerned about where we live."
Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson, a Democrat, is the only one who didn't want to pick a side. He is quick to point out that Yavapai County has more Democrats and Independents combined than Republicans, and he thinks the pendulum is swinging toward the former.
"I think a lot of Democrats registered as Independents not to get harassed," Wilson said. "I think a bunch of Democrats are coming out of the closet."
Barack Obama's election as president Tuesday does make Furlong feel a little less like an outsider these days.
Several people noted that party control is much more cyclical at the national level than the local. The local Republican control has been going on for maybe four decades, ever since Barry Goldwater gained prominence in the 1960s.
If anything, the Republican-dominated Legislature became even more conservative this year. Half of the eight Republican senators and representatives who voted in favor of the state budget proposal that the governor supported now are gone, Tobin noted.
But national power in recent decades has swung back and forth about every eight years.
"They put in one thing until they're tired, and then they throw the bums out," Jones said.
Especially when the economy goes sour, Tobin said.
Thurman blamed McCain's loss on that phenomenon.
"Why do we go buy a new car? Well, it's just time for a new ride," Thurman said.
Still, he's not happy that the young and minorities are leaning Democratic nationally. He said he plans to call a meeting of local party leaders to discuss why.
The county Democrats got a lot of help from young people this year, Furlong observed.
"We had a great many young people down here working long hours," he said.
It's not unusual for people to be more liberal in college, then turn more conservative as they start having to pay taxes and see how the economy works, Tobin said.
"I'm too old to be influenced by sweet talk and good looks," former Yavapai Republican chair Mal Barrett added.
The young are driven by passion, idealism and the promise of change that Obama promised, Jones said.
Republican or Democratic, Ellsworth is amazed by the passion of voters that is clear in Daily Courier online reader comments relating to the election.
"People have very strong opinions in this community," Ellsworth observed.
A retired Prescott Valley man who also registered Daily Courier comments online didn't like how some other online readers attacked a college student for speaking out.
A life-long Republican who voted for Obama, the PV man didn't want his name in the paper because he believes that passion got out of control. He watched two older men almost get into a fistfight.
While some Republicans didn't feel Obama's charisma at all, Jones admitted he could feel it just a little.
"If you love this country, you've got to hope he becomes the president we want him to be," Jones said. "I think we're all holding our breath to find out where he takes us."
Contact the reporter at jdodder@prescottaz.com
Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, November 09, 2008
Article comment by:
No name provided
I'm glad to see someone concernced about the reasons why the young and ethnic minorities are leaning Democratic. To be honest it's because the GOP is viewed as a political party of a bunch of ole' white guys. Just being honest here. It should be noted though that these same young minorities usually come out of very tradtional families. Meaning on social issues it's very likely the GOP could win the vote. If I were the GOP I look to the likes of Bobby Jindal and see that being young, educated, or an ethnic minority doesn't mean you automatically lean left.
Posted: Sunday, November 09, 2008
Article comment by:
mirrow image
There are those that just plain refuse to believe that thier way is changing. They hold on to that fantasy with all their might. They come up with all kinds of excuses why something did not go the way they wanted it to. They place blame on anyone and anything because it went the other way. I think the real change will be for all of us to accept responsibility for ourselves and be positive about the changes rather than wallow in misery and hate. Take alook at yourselves before you accuse the other person.
Posted: Sunday, November 09, 2008
Article comment by:
Five Year Resident
Politics and sausage making are not desireable viewing. However, I think I'll take the sausage this time. McCain ran a terrible campaign and Obama's was flawless with a charismatic candidate. With the "rural bunkhouse" mentality of "W" to drag down McCain, the result was predictable. As for local politics, it will take a few more years to change the "R"s as ranchers turned developers run the table for now. Oh well, the more "outsiders" they build homes for the more their power will be diluted. There is both good and bad in that mix.
