Friday, June 24, 2011

Skinny 2012: Williams Eyes Board of Supes; Kwasman Eyes Williams' House Seat

Posted By on Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 12:00 PM

TW staff writer Mari Herreras rounded up some political gossip while I was out of town last week:

This year’s race for mayor of Tucson is pretty much over, so is it too soon to start focusing on 2012?

Every member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors— Ann Day, District 1; Ramón Valadez, District 2; Sharon Bronson, District 3; Ray Carroll, District 4; and Richard Elías, District 5—will be up for reelection and rumors are already circulating.

Throw in some redistricting of all five district boundary lines and, as one politician told The Range, we should prep ourselves for some fireworks.

Pima County recently put up an informational website on the process of redrawing the district boundary lines. A five-member board, appointed by the supervisors, will determine line changes with the intension of dividing the populations equally.

State law requires the county to adopt those new boundary lines by December 1, 2011. Pima County’s population is estimated at 980,263, and the most populous district is Carroll’s District 4, while Eías’ District 5 is the least populous.

While the Skinny’s heard Republican Day may not run for reelection, her aide Valerie Samoy-Alvarado said Day won’t make an announcement regarding her plans until August.

District 26 Republican State Representative Vic Williams is rumored as interested in Day’s District 1 seat, but Williams told The Range it’s too soon for anyone to confirm or file election papers.

“I’m not trying to be evasive,” Williams said. “Once again, I will take a look at all the possibilities.”

Williams added that he may run for reelection, but don’t count him out of other races, including Pima County Board of Supervisors or state Senate.

As redistricting process moves forward across the state, Williams said anything is possible in Pima County and Sen. Al Melvin’s District 26 seat, which could be split near SaddleBrooke.

“Those who are filing for these campaigns are being premature,” Williams said. “There are a lot of people interested in different offices, but until we know what the districts look like it’s too early.”

One of those early filers is Adam Kwasman, who filed for District 26 house race on May 26 and formally announced his campaign yesterday.

The Range just got off the phone with Kwasman, who managed the unsuccessful campaign of Republican Jesse Kelly against Democrat Gabrielle Giffords last year. We'll have more on that conversation shortly, but in the meantime, you can see what he’s offering at his campaign Web site.

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