Democrat Rodney Glassman gave up his City Council seat after less than three years serving Ward 2 to jump into the race for U.S. Sen. John McCain’s seat. Given the current national mood and his lack of name ID statewide, we’d rate his chances as low, unless Republican J.D. Hayworth somehow wins the primary or McCain stumbles in some outrageous fashion.

Hey, given the weird way in which politics are playing out these days, neither outcome is completely out of the question.

Glassman says he’s been getting a lot of e-mails and calls since he made his announcement last night.

“We’ve had an outpouring of support from across the state because Arizonans are going to have an opportunity to send a real advocate to Washington, D.C., for our state,” Glassman says.

Meanwhile, Republican Lori Oien, who lost to Glassman in 2007, offers up a weird argument as to why she should be appointed: She got matching funds from the city for her campaign, so taxpayers have made an investment

in her. From her press release:

In 2007, when I ran for this seat, the City invested over $21,000.00 in matching funds, I believe that it is time the City and the residents of Tucson, cash in on that investment and appoint me to the Ward 2 City Council seat.

Given Oien’s relentless criticism of current Democratic council members and her support of the Public Safety First Initiative—which was crushed by voters last year—we have a hard time seeing them appoint her to the office, although we wouldn’t be surprised to see her run for it next year, when the city is likely to move from citywide to ward-only elections.

Other names floating about the political either include Democrats Paul Cunningham (the son of former lawmaker George Cunningham), Clarence Boykins and Judy Clinco.

This article appears in Apr 1-7, 2010.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

7 replies on “Glassman In Senate Race; Who Replaces Him On Tucson City Council?”

  1. Jim,

    I think Senator McCain reversing himself on his every public utterance for the past 10 years to avoid being outflanked on the right, probably qualifies as a stumble.

    In fact, I think he’s fallen and he can’t get up.

    Robert Alexander Dumas

  3. McCain’s fights against earmarks have not changed anything in Washington for his entire career in the Senate. The net result is that money has been steadily flowing into other states including Alaska, and Arizona has been left out in the cold. McCain has been successful in preventing earmark money being spent………on Arizona. At the end of the day, Senator McCain has done nothing for Arizona. He is very comfortable in Washington D.C. – maybe he should just live there.
    David Jones

  4. The LAST thing Arizona or this Nation needs or wants is another democrat in office. We are feeling the effects of a lack of checks and balances that our government owes us. We elect our representatives. We need to elect the proven conservative-McCain. Glassman has the wrong party affiliation and JD is just an immoral joke who lost his seat to Dem Mitchell, we cannot afford either of these guys a shot in Washington. McCain is the best candidate.

  5. McCain is tending aggressively to Arizona these days, reestablishing ties, holding town meetings, mending a few of the many, many fences he’s knocked down in state Republican circles over the years, and IS the best candidate. Washington doesn’t need anymore cooked politicians. He’s earned this seat and it won’t be given up.

  6. Matching Funds…It’s not just a unique reason, I also have the experience,commitment and involvement in the City and City Budget to step in and work for Tucson. I am the only appointment, that has stayed involved in MY Ward 2 and the City.

    Relentless Criticism!!! YES what we have been doing has not been working, HAS IT??? keep doing the same things and expect different results, is the definition of insanity.

  7. Gee, sounding a bit shrill there Lori O.

    But you do sound passionate about it, good on ya for that anyway.

    I could be wrong (even this early in the week it wouldn’t be the first time), but aren’t the Clean elections and matching funds primarily derived from surcharges on criminal fines and civil penalties? So technically it wasn’t so much that the City of Tucson and its tax paying citizenry invested in you, as did a bunch of criminals.

    But what is really the hardest to look past, is that you lost to Rodney. I mean, C’mon.

    Robert Alexander Dumas

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