7/26/2010 10:19:00 PM Republican trio squares off in Legislative District 1 race
Who are they?
Name: Noel Campbell
Age: 68
Party, for how long: Republican all adult life.
Birthplace: Moline, Ill.
Residence, for how long: Prescott since 1998, Arizona since age 6 (except when U.S. government assigned to other countries)
Occupation: Part-time air attack pilot on wildfires and operator of boutique hotel. Retired U.S. Customs Service agent after 27 years of service in Arizona and several countries. Also served five years in U.S. Navy including Vietnam helicopter pilot, and 17 years in Navy Reserves.
Political experience: Ran for Legislative District One representative four years ago.
Other experience: Worked in Pentagon as U.S. Customs Service liaison to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1988.
Top 3 LD1 issues: Economy/lack of jobs, illegal immigration and water issues.
Name: Karen Fann
Age: 55
Party, for how long: Republican all adult life.
Birthplace: St. Louis, Mo.
Residence, for how long: Moved to Prescott at age 4, grew up in Prescott and El Cajon, Calif., returned to Prescott in 1982, lived seven years in Chino Valley before returning to Prescott last year.
Occupation: Owner of Arizona Highway Safety Specialists, a high construction company specializing in the installation of guardrails and signs.
Political experience: Chino Valley Town Council 2002-09 including six years as mayor; Prescott City Council 1992-95; chair of Governors' Commission on Non-Traditional Employment for Women 1994-96.
Other experience: As a business owner, dealt with government issues relating to legal contracts and health insurance. Served on numerous committees.
Education: Some college.
Top 3 LD1 issues: State budget and illegal immigration costs, economic development and water.
Name: Andy Tobin
Age: 52
Party, for how long: Republican all adult life.
Birthplace: New York City
Residence, for how long: Legislative District One since 1993 (Prescott, Prescott Valley, Dewey and now Paulden), Arizona since 1979.
Occupation: Insurance and business consulting, majority whip Arizona House of Representatives.
Political experience: Arizona House of Representatives 3.5 years, campaign manager for several local political campaigns.
Other experience: Former national president of U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce; served on numerous service organizations including Muscular Dystrophy Association, Sharlot Hall Museum and United Way.
Education: Some college, later Arizona insurance and financial licenses.
Top 3 LD1 issues: Jobs creation/training, tax reform and states rights issues.
The Daily Courier is publishing biographical information about all the candidates for the 1st Congressional District and Legislative District One who are facing competition in the primary election.
The newspaper also is running candidates' answers to several questions.
Only Republicans are facing primary election competition in the LD1 (House) and CD1 races. Two seats are available in the LD1 House race.
Early voting starts July 29 and the primary election day is Aug. 24.
***
Noel Campbell said he's running for a Legislative District One seat in the Arizona House of Representatives because Republican voters need choices.
Without him in the race, there would be no primary competition for the two seats.
And with a primary race, all the candidates work harder to get votes, he said.
Campbell also said he ran this year and four years ago because he has dedicated his life to public service and he's always been interested in politics.
Campbell is the only Clean Elections candidate in the LD1 Republican House primary. Clean Elections candidates cannot take campaign contributions outside their original $5 qualifying contributions.
"One thing I think ruins politicians is money," he said. He doesn't believe in taking money from special interests and he plans to donate his legislative salary to local charities. He noted he already gets pensions from his federal government jobs, and he's not looking for another career.
"I was asked not to run," he said, noting he's not active in the Republican Party.
Campbell said he has a unique perspective from decades of work along the U.S.-Mexico border, and that can help with the immigration issues in the forefront of Arizona politics right now. He speaks Spanish fluently.
***
Karen Fann says she's an accidental politician who never really planned to run for office.
Each time she ended up in political jobs in Prescott and Chino Valley, others urged her to do so.
It all started with the Prescott City Council, which needed someone to fill out a term being vacated. Her employees sent her resume and the council picked her.
When she moved to Chino Valley, council members there asked her to fill a vacancy, too. Then they picked her as mayor and convinced her to stay after CV politics became less controversial and repeated recall elections came to an end.
She also wanted to provide continuity during negotiations for water supplies and a new water system.
When she and her husband sold their horse farm they were going to live next to Prescott's golf course only temporarily while they looked for a CV building site, but then her husband ended up enjoying the golf course home so much they decided to stay.
Once again, people asked her to run for office, this time for the state Legislature, she said. They believed she would help get the budget back on track.
"I never planned on a career in politics," she said. But people keep asking her to run, "so I guess it means I'm doing a good job."
***
Arizona House Majority Whip Andy Tobin was seriously considering running for Congress this year instead of a third term in the state House, but he felt he could do the most public good by pushing through his jobs bill.
The Legislature wrapped up its 2010 session three months ago, but Tobin still spends most days in Phoenix working on his jobs bill and other legislative issues.
"There's so much going on this year at the capitol," Tobin said. "I couldn't bring myself to leave the state Legislature when the biggest issues of the day are being debated."
He's working 10-15 hours a week on the bill to create new Arizona jobs. "People working helps solve a lot of problems in a hurry," he said.
The majority whip also spends a lot of time tracking and strategizing about the state budget, as well as helping members with committee meetings and upcoming bills, he said. And he's campaigning for rural legislators.
The poor economy has forced legislators to make major cuts in the state budget the last few years, and they expect to do it again next year.
But voters will have a lot more to do with next year's budget, noted Tobin, because the shape of the budget will depend a lot on several referendums the Legislature put on the ballot this fall.
Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Article comment by:
Funny one
Hey honker, what's it going to take to see the light? How 'bout the genuine birth certificate?!!
Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Article comment by:
Definitely A. Fann
I am in full support of Karen Fann! Over the last several months I've read several blogs that lay the Chino Valley problems at the feet of Karen Fann. This is absolutely NOT true! Karen was (and is) a wonderful leader. She is team builder and strives to always seek common ground where none is within view. She will make an amazing representative and she has my full support.
She has more experience with roads and water issues than all other candidates. These two issues are the key to Arizona's economic recovery. Karen is the one who can bring practical real world experience to a legislature that is lacking it.
Karen, I hope that you don't let these nay sayers effect your enthusiasm and willingness to continue your public service. You are greatly appreciated!!
Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Article comment by:
honky brujo
Did Tobin finally get a look at President Obama's birth certificate? If he is still a birther what's it going to take for him to see the light?
Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Article comment by:
Rep. Tobin... we can't loose him!
Andy is a blessing to this community. He serves District 1 and the state well. His track record is admirable and he is one of the hardest workers in the legislature. He means business, something we desperately need in this state of turmoil.
Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Article comment by:
Chino Rez
Let's see. Karen Fann claims, "I never planned on a career in politics,". Yeah right. Since when. You have made it clear to all those who know you that this is what you have wanted for the past several years. That's why she moves around from Prescott to Chino Valley seeking council seats. Then she has the nerve to say, "so I guess it means I'm doing a good job." Really Karen. Ask the people of Chino Valley what kind of job you did. The town is on the verge of bankruptcy because of your spending habits. Is this why you do not see but only a couple of Karen Fann signs in Chino Valley. Why waste you money? Right.
And then you have Mr. "I don't care what the voters voted for, I am still pushing for the payday lenders" Tobin. But I do have to say it for these two, they have some b$#%s.
Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Article comment by:
Independent Voter
None of the above.
Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Article comment by:
Knot A. Fan
If tradition holds, Karen Fann is the candidate of the good ole boys. However, if you listen and ask questions of the candidates, only Noel Campbell as firm conviction on changing the corruption in Phoenix.
