Former Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman suddenly has a lot of company in his bid to run for U.S. Sen. John McCain.
Freelance journalist John Dougherty, who uncovered former Arizona governor Fife Symington’s financial shenanigans and hammered Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio while he worked at the Phoenix New Times between 1993 and 2006, tells The Range that he’s “seen this cycle with McCain go on for too long. The run to the right and then back to the left, back and dipsi-doodle and spin around. It’s just been ridiculous.”
Campaign theme: Accountability Now.
“That’s what we do in the media, is hold these guys accountable,” he says. “Otherwise, it’s just going to turn into platitudes and BS and not really talking about the situation that we’re facing. We’ve got the police state. We’ve got a militarized border. We’ve got a War on Drugs. We’ve got all of these things that no one is bringing into the debate, and we will.”
Dougherty, who plans a low-budget campaign that leverages
the Internet, is confident he’ll get the necessary 5,100-plus signatures by May 26 with the help of volunteers and paid petition passers.
“We’re going to be on the ballot,” Dougherty says.
Randy Parraz, a political activist and labor organizer, also recently announced he was joining the race.
Parraz says he’s a candidate who is “really strong on the issues and can push a more progressive voice.”
Parraz spent five years in Arizona off and on since 2002 working with labor organizations, which eventually led to clashes with Arpaio. He made headlines after he was arrested during a Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting on charges that didn’t stick.
“I’m a community organizer,” Parraz says. “I can connect with the workers, I can connect with young people, I can connect with Latinos, I can help drive turnout.”
Glassman, who announced today that he’d raised about a half-million dollars for his campaign (including $250,000 of his own money) says he’s not sweating the last-minute competition.
“I’m energized and looking forward to discussing the issues that are facing Arizona, such as the need for a U.S. senator focused on job creation and supporting our educational system,” says Glassman, who points out that he has been endorsed by labor organizations, as well as Congressman Raul Grijalva and dozens of local elected officials.
The little-known Rudy Garcia is also in the Democratic primary.
This article appears in Apr 29 – May 5, 2010.
Dougherty is scheduled to be at Drinking Liberally on Sunday at The Shanty, to speak at 7 p.m.
Apparently Rudy Garcia has gotten himself into Federal hot water – there’s a discussion on Quatloos about a connection between him and Elite Activity Resurrected, a pyramid scheme with multiple convictions against its’ leaders.
Does this mean that John Dougherty is backing ILLEGAL ALIENS that have ravaged our country to the tune of $338,000,000,000.00 annually with losses in wages , social and educational benefits intended for American citizens and of course incarceration of ILLEGALS ? Hows that going for you John? I hope not well. I miss being able to pay my bills on time and really dislike finding out that people in my industry are short – sighted enough to hire ILLEGALS for 1/ 2 to 2/ 3 less than going wages and pay them straight wages without overtime with absolutely no benefits or workmans comp. and YOU endorse this type of slave labor. Why dont you try giving away 1/2 to 2/3 of your present wages to those of us miseffected by this infestation ? How does that sound to you John.
YOU are not an American Patriot.