Southern Arizona’s Legislative District 9 is one of the most competitive in the state. Although it leans slightly Democratic, the district—which includes the Catalina Foothills, north-central Tucson and the Casas Adobes area—is now represented by Republican Ethan Orr and Democrat Victoria Steele in the Arizona House of Representatives.
But Democrats hope to knock Orr out with challenger Randall Friese, a trauma doc best known for his work on saving lives as the victims of the Jan. 8, 2011, mass shooting arrived at University Medical Center.
“Orr ran a good race last time, but folks didn’t really know his positions on anything,” Pima County Democratic Party Chairman Don Jorgensen said at the post-primary party last week. “Now that he’s been exposed as someone who’s essentially pro-gun and anti-women’s rights, folks who voted for him, even Democrats two years ago, realize that’s not representative of that district.”
At a Clean Elections forum last night, Orr and Friese debated the issues of gun safety, Medicaid expansion, improvements to K-12 education and abortion. Democratic incumbent Victoria Steele did not attend the debate.
“We’ve created a very divisive conversation of pro-life, pro-choice,” Orr said, adding that he worked closely with Planned Parenthood and Democratic colleagues on the issue when he took office in 2012. “Every single person in this state wants to see the number of abortions go down. And I think the way that you start is with medically accurate, sex education in the high schools.”
The debate over gun regulation was also a talking point on Wednesday. Friese touted his daily contact with gunshot victims to address the issue.
Friese added that laws like one passed last year that prevents police from destroying a gun turned in by its owner are not representative of the district’s constituency.
“I think that those pieces of legislation were bad for Arizona, bad for our district and bad for our country,” Friese said. “I will stand up to the NRA.”
Several questions also brought up access to public education, an issue at the heart of Friese’s campaign. He criticized the state’s unwillingness to provide funding to teachers.
“The most important thing that we can do in our state is of course fund our schools,” Friese said. “Our teachers need to be funded appropriately and they need to be reimbursed appropriately. Our teachers are leaving our state to other states because we cannot pay them the salaries that they require.”
Orr kept bipartisanship at the center of his narrative throughout the evening, adding after the debate that as a Republican, he would have more influence in the majority caucus in the House of Representatives.
“If two Dems go up for LD9, we lose our seat at the majority table, which is where the budget is set, where the bills are passed, and where the influence is made,” he said. “It is extraordinarily important as a Tucsonan that we have a seat at that table.”
This article appears in Sep 4-10, 2014.
I was at the debate and honestly, if Ethan had spewed so much as one more drop of bullshit we’d never again need for fertilizer in this state. Vote the bum out!
Robert, you are a tough guy. I heard Orr two years ago and he has greatly improved.
Don’t want to be too harsh, but he’s kind of half theirs and half ours. (Half and Half doesn’t qualify as a moderate or a progressive.) Makes some good comments and could even be a Democrat. Depending on the competition he might even be worth voting for if he was a Democrat, but that bunch he votes with most of the time are totally out of this world. Not so worried about him with Victoria Steele and Randy Friese running in November, both great legislative material. Without a doubt Steele deserves reelection, and Randy Friese much better on issues that matter to our District and Tucson!
What Orr needs to remember with a very few changes he could be sitting at the minority caucus table. Then what’s a good reason to vote for Orr?
The voters of LD-9 would show great foresight in electing Dr. Friese now… While a Democratic takeover of the Arizona House isn’t likely this go-around it will happen, and soon. Why not have two representatives with seniority in the new majority rather than just one? Another question- will Orr or Dr. Friese have more influence with Governor DuVal?
I don’t know what Ethan Orr is talking about when he says he “worked” with Planned Parenthood, who has never endorsed him. His votes have shown he doesn’t care about reproductive rights, and if that’s not enough, take a look at the Center for Arizona Policy’s “pro-life proclamation” he signed onto.
With Ethan Orr, we can cross our fingers and hope he’ll do the right thing — as he did with SB 1062 and Medicaid expansion — but with Dr. Friese, we can be confident that our representative will do the right thing! Victoria Steele and Randall Friese should both be representing our district! Bring Ethan Orr home!
Gun destruction is a pointless waste of time. For every one you destroy, ten more will be manufactured. Sell the guns to people who want them. Put the money in the coffers. I know that you think that defeats the purpose of gun buybacks, but better in the hands of someone who wants it and knows how to use it than forgotten in a closet somewhere a kid can get their hands on it!
Those are the only guns that get turned in anyway – the old rusty antique that had been forgotten for decades!