One of the trauma surgeons who saved Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ life is considering a career in politics.
Dr. Randall Friese is preparing to launch a campaign for the House of Representatives as a Democrat in Legislative District 9, which includes central Tucson and the Catalina Foothills.
Friese, an associate professor of surgery who works in the UA trauma center, was among the doctors who attended to the victims of the Jan. 8, 2011, shooting rampage at Giffords’ Congress On Your Corner event.
“He’d be a great legislator and he’s a great guy,” says Cheryl Cage, who is “very excited” to be managing Friese’s campaign.
LD 9 is an anomaly in Arizona politics: It’s a competitive district where 37 percent of the voters are Democrats and 32 percent are Republicans. The House seats are currently held by Republican Ethan Orr and Democrat Victoria Steele, who are both in their freshman terms.
Orr is something of an anomaly among Republicans: He was one of the few GOP lawmakers who backed Gov. Jan Brewer’s push to expand Medicaid in the last legislative session. As a result, he has a vocal group of conservatives who want to see him driven out of office, although we have yet to see if that crowd can recruit two GOP candidates who can beat Orr in a primary.
While he has a conservative voting record on some issues, Orr has emerged as one of the most moderate Republicans at the Legislature. He worked alongside Steele to push for funding for a Mental Health First Aid program this year. And a few months ago, he helped head off a hike in the Van Tran rates for disabled Tucsonans by suggesting that the city pursue some state funding to make up for transit shortfalls.
This article appears in Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2013.
Is he a Republican or Democrat?
Electing another Democrat from Pima County would only spell disaster for our region due to the reality that it inevitably WILL BE a republican controlled State House. The Democrats in their singular focus of winning blindly sacrifice all of us along the way! ALL reasonable people who have business with the State have experienced the importance of Ethan Orr. Normal citizens who are not party ideologues will see through this and the good intentioned Doctor will lose. Tucson is already marginalized State wide because of our one party nature let’s not make it worse. IF I were a State Republican strategist, and I am not, I would do everything I could to diminish Tucson’s influence (economic viability) as it only breeds more of the enemy, losing Ethan would mean we are more of a target. All independents, moderates and Tucsonans should/will support having Ethan’s voice working on our behalf, a voice that is relevant, common sense and in the majority caucus. Ethan represents a balanced approach to governance, he is a native of Tucson and a fellow Amphi Panther. Furthermore, he is courageous, fiscally accountable and takes a heartfelt approach to governance. Ethan, it seems like one party has a target on your back and one on your chest! LOVE IT! Keep up the good work, focus on right and wrong, and let the petty party people be party people.
I would take what Demitri says about electing Democrats from Pima County with a huge grain of salt. Ethan’s a good guy, but it would not “spell disaster” for Pima County or anywhere else in Arizona to elect a Democrat to replace him. Laurie Roberts tried that tack last year, blaming Tempe Democrats for all sorts of doom because we defeated good guy Republican Jerry Lewis. Lewis would not have been able to accomplish what having a united Senate Democratic caucus accomplished last June with the Medicaid restoration bill.
Good point, Steve. Setback or unfortunate result would be more correct literally. I used the word disaster (probably inappropriately) because outrageous extreme rhetoric rather than reasonable/rationale thought and dialogue is what the party people/activists tend to understand.Tempe is different situation though because the other 9 reps and 5 senators who represent Tucson are dems, except a dozen or so precincts that David Gowan represents. Tempe is not sitting out there with a bulls eye in the legislature. The question remains why would anyone not support a moderate who is relevant, third generation Tucsonan, can protect us, and as you have said, a good guy? When I have my rep call a department head at the State level I want them to give a damn who he is and not brush his concerns aside. YES, in a perfect world it would be 50 /50 or maybe even a Dem/Ind/third party gov and Republican legislature, but I am a realist.
I wish he picked a different district…
How can the expansion of Medicare be considered a fiscally conservative move? On what planet? This is exactly why the conservatives in Pima Cty are in arms about Orr. It was not a conservative move at all. They feel betrayed because they thought they were helping elect a conservative.
His first vote in the last session was his worst.
Think about the extreme politicos he put in charge of funding our schools, our children’s health care, on and on. He may be a nice person, he may have even voted less with some of the bunch bent to ruin public facilities, close state parks, underfund children services among other state duties and micro-manage Tucson city affairs, but he voted to put that group in charge. The Governor had to fight to expand federal funding for health care in Arizona and who provided the votes, it was the Democrats. Time to change course in the Legislature and elect more responsible and reasonable people, another Democrat from LD 9 would be better than half and half.
Logical Thinker- I agree with you. The Dems would be better off running him against Terri Proud, who is been labeled as extreme by the mainstream media. Nice person, if you get to know her, but I can see where some don’t like her positions, understandable. IF Doc wins, which in LD 9 district is 50/50 possibility, more than likely he is an irrelevant vote and he will soon realize that he was doing much more good helping people at UMC rather than sitting on a stool.
Mary- it is called governing and that involves compromise in a pluralistic society. Conservatives and Liberals need to learn that most prefer a moderate business oriented focus.
Hakeson-Look, if you could guarantee me a Democratic governor with a Republican House I would take that, I am not irrational. Not likely, especially with a party loyalist Democrat running for the seat. Lots could happen though in the Republican race. Ducey is my guess, his story is unique and captures the imagination.
The real issue is the redistricting process which cheats us moderate business oriented people our influence, instead we get agenda driven extremists who see the world through their PRIMARY tinted lenses.
I have known Ethan since High School, even BAJA Arizona is a better idea than attacking a voice of reason. However, you will find though that Ethan is a popular dude. He has forged relationships with many many groups over decades of service here in Tucson.
I wonder if Victoria Steele ends up the odd person out?
I guess you are suggesting the good doctor carpetbag to find an acceptable district to run from. A lot of us dislike the folks who move at a whim or a political opportunity rather than trying to represent their neighbors and own area.
News to me. What District did he move from? Most Tucson area Districts are Democrat, so why move? Being an off-year election and the usual voter turnout wouldn’t he be better off in a heavy Democrat district?
It would be ridiculous to encourage anyone to carpetbag, that is not what I was saying here, but on a side note, moving around our Valley is not quite carpetbagging. Unless, your last name is Garcia, you were raised in the Sabino area and move to Midvale park just to run! lol, yes that would be carpetbagging. The term was born in reference to a much larger distance. On a side note, Ethan has lived, worked, run a not-for-profit, raised children and was raised himself in LD 9. (Amphitheater Schools!) Looks like the Doc has been in Tucson since 2002? Does he even know the name of the local high schools? This kind of regional knowledge is important to some of us. It is not about party, for example, I would support Jason Ground (democrat) if he ran. I worked for Paul Cunningham, these guys love Tucson just about more than ANYONE I know.
With Ethan, you know you are dealing with someone who has been around our neighborhoods, does his homework, has regional experience, and listens to others. Check out his website or just run into him at the hundreds of events he attends while out of session. It scares me that we, we meaning Tucsonans, would even consider trading his energy and attendance at thousands of meetings, for the Dems just to pick up a meaningless seat? What arrogance! Is the Doc going to be retiring? Check out Ethan’s activities and resume at http://www.ethanforhouse.com/
Another side note, as for health care professionals and their issues, last month, I was at an event in support of Ethan, attended by a good portion of the TMC senior level staff. They seemed to get that they have a legislator who is relevant! I think even Matt Smith, from SIMG was there! SIMG is a premier consulting and PR group that usually supports winners, candidates who matter and thus locally, mostly Dems!
DOWNING, If you are not, you should be Orr’s campaign manager. I truly appreciate your thoughts and respect much of what you say. As it seems an Independent you certainly have a candidate that fits the bill. Sometimes a loyal Republican, sometimes a vote trader working with Democrats. What is his future in the Republican party? Will he be a strong voice for Tucson or just take up a seat without trust and respect from his Republican Legislative Leaders? His accomplishments, knowledge of the district will do us no good if he is just sitting on the back bench waiting for another opportunity to make one good vote. We need a full-time respected working Representative, Tucson is already kicked around enough by the GOP in the Legislature.
Hakeson, Good points!
Just to let you know, I have known Ethan since we were in High School together at Amphi. I was senior class president, he was quite active back then as well, we both were! George Miller was teaching civic activism back then to students while he was on Council. I like to think he learned from me, though! LOL I am not his campaign manager, just an angry and opinionated pundit. Also, I was considering a run in that district a while back, but don’t think I will ever run again until they elect independents, or primary politics call for moderates. Ethan and I have taken different paths but was thrilled he ran and even more thrilled that he was elected! Knew form day one how important his presence would be, trust me plenty of voters, electeds, lobbyists, activists, local government officials, agencies etc. do as well!
YOU ARE CORRECT, I have expressed the concern to him about whether the Republican leadership might be too extreme, he might become marginalized and hence he might lose influence as our voice of reason. I do not know what happens inside the Republican corridors of power, but I can tell you these are issues both parties have, they just never come to the forefront in Arizona with the Dems, except when Greens run or will once the Democrats take the legislature! (not likely in our lifetime) From what I “hear” though there is enough common ground for all under the old BIG TENT caucus! lol
Clearly his Medicaid vote in his freshman year tells you what kind of guy we have up there! The thing about Ethan is he does not seek fame, fortune, power or any other form of self validation, he works on behalf of people because he cares. Andy Nichols taught me to judge my legislators by that measure.