In the Democratic Primary when Janet Napolitano ran for governor of Arizona in 2002, there were three other Dem candidates vying for the chance to run against the Republican Party choice. That candidate was Matt Salmon and Napolitano won.

Looking back at that election, it’s hard to understand why the state Democratic Party seems to think running single candidates for important state races is the way to go.

Yes, Fred Duval made some campaign mistakes when he ran against Doug Ducey for governor, but maybe one of the first mistakes wasn’t made by Duval, but the Democrats for giving us one candidate to choose from.

Last week, state Senator Steve Farley let it out that he’s considering a run for governor against the Douchey in 2018. Farley, a Tucson Democrat who seems well-loved in his district, would be a great candidate.

I like Farley. I like his Tucson values. But I hope, please political Jeebuz, make the Democratic Party power elite, encourage other people to run too. Maybe you’ll find out that more than one candidate in crazyland is actually a good idea that gets people excited and interested in a race and out to vote.

If you do this, it will make me and others finally feel that the state Democratic Party actually cares about such things. Let’s see what happens. Jeebus 2018.

— Mari Herreras, mherreras@tucsonweekly.com

This article appears in Dec 22-28, 2016.

10 replies on “Editor’s Note”

  1. Farley will have to find a way to maintain his progressive positions and still be pro small business. It can be done folks, Farley has created bad blood with virtually every small business person he has come into contact with. Let’s give him a chance, now who else?

  2. This is the Steve Farley who said after the street car opened for business that Tucson was now one of the hippest cities in the country. It’s obvious he doesn’t travel very much.

  3. “against the Douchey”

    Really? Pretty crass and in the gutter. Can’t imagine what journalism or editing standards that measures to, 6th grade yearbook editor?

  5. Pretty classy eh? If a conservative said something to that effect about a liberal he’d be banned for a month.

  6. Farley could not win a state wide election. He has a base here in crazy town and that’s all it will be. If AZ is going to move into the 21st century economically, we will need to expand employment opportunities.

    Gender neutral bathrooms, dope for the dopers and $15 an hour to flip hamburgers will turn us into San Francisco without a bay. But what a great artist community.

    It’s time for Democrats to grow up and act like adults.

  7. Ray Parrish For Congress you are kidding yourself. Progressives and Greens can not balance their actions with being pro business. The two are diametrically opposed.

    We can’t all sell windmills. They are killing bald eagles.

  8. We must have 8 year term limits for any elected office or any person taking more than $100,000 yearly including any type of “benefit” from tax payers. After 8 years in private sector they may return to public service for 8 years & cycle begins again.

  10. If only you requested this for City council races Id take your request seruously but you didnt. Why Mari?

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