Patrick McNamara of Inside Tucson Business looks in at relations between Republican lawmakers and Republican Councilman Steve Kozachik, who is sticking up for Tucson residents in the face of proposed state laws that would cripple the cities:
The councilman said he has asked Pima County GOP chairman Brian Miller to facilitate a meeting between local elected leaders from across the region and state legislators. To date, a meeting has not been called.
He said his efforts at direct diplomacy have fallen on deaf ears.
“In essence, they say ‘drink your milk and eat you cookies.’ It’s very condescending,” Kozachik said.
State Sen. Frank Antenori, R-Tucson, said he hasn’t heard anything from Kozachik other than what he has read in opinion pieces.
“He hasn’t reached out to anybody,” Antenori said, adding that he was unconcerned with Kozachik’s comments. “He doesn’t represent the people I represent. The majority of the people I represent pay taxes, probably the majority of people he represents don’t – or receive some government subsidy.”
Antenori said he thinks Kozachik is trying to curry favor with Democrats, liberals and other people outside the Republican Party. By doing so, Antenori said Kozachik risks alienating the GOP base that helped put him in office.
“I think it’s a flawed strategy, but he’s probably not aware of it because he’s a political novice,” Antenori said.
The senator also questioned Kozachik’s comments regarding the Legislature’s decision to exclude Pima County from Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM) funding. State lawmakers were angered at Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik’s comments last year about SB 1070. The sheriff implied he wouldn’t enforce the law, which now is subject to a federal lawsuit.
“They (Pima County) should have a sheriff that doesn’t run his mouth and enforces the law,” Antenori said. “I’m surprised that Steve would be sticking up for him.”
Despite the apparent rift, Antenori said he wouldn’t engage in a public argument with Kozachik.
“The media would love that,” the senator said. “All the lefties love it when a Republican picks on another Republican.”
Kozachik said his comments and writing have been aimed at protecting the interests of Tucson and the people of his ward. He said he welcomes the chance to sit down and have a real conversation with the Southern Arizona legislative delegation.
“This is about good public policy,” Kozachik said, “not about (political) party.”
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2011.
Antenori’s Raytheon salary, where he gets most of his income, is 100% government-subsidized. Same goes for his legislative pay. Same too for every dollar he ever earned from the military.
Shall we have a conversation, Frank, about what Raytheon pays in taxes? I know they don’t like acknowledging you work there, but since you brought it up…?
Hey, Frank. I’m a Midtowner — for 18 years. Been employed and paying hefty taxes to feds, state, county, city all that time. Where you been, other than eatin’ snakes?
Antenori needs to get out of the echo chamber up in Phoenix once in a while and actually interact with the people he supposedly represents. Actually, don’t bother. I’d rather be certain that he can go back to working for Raytheon full-time in 2013.
What an example of class! Antenori, is not in touch with the people. A crime we see over and over in Arizona. He insults the midtown people by tossing them all into one basket. He speaks badly of officials in office, remarks that another is just a novice. All the while he truly believes when he “goes” he doesn’t stink! The article reads to me that he throws stones and hides in the bushes.
I am so proud of sheriff Dupnik! It’s reasons like him that we still live in the state! We bring home well over 6 figures, pay taxes (happy to do so) donate to good causes and live in midtown. Antenori is an embarrassment to us all.
Until people stop voting for him, he will be empowered to continue this kind of rhetoric. It’s nothing new, unfortunately…
The fact that he refers to Pima County as “they” and not “we” speaks volumes.