Ward 6 Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik has announced that he’s jumping from the GOP to the Democratic Party.
Here’s Kozachik’s statement:
In 2009, when I was first approached by the local Republican Party leadership to consider running for the Tucson City Council, there was a clear mutual understanding that my political inclinations are to the center. I committed to looking at each issue on a one-by-one basis, studying the merits of all sides and voting based on the set of facts, not on the basis of a rigid ideology. From the standpoint of being able to win cross-over votes, and drawing out the center of the Republican Party, leadership felt my candidacy would be attractive to the voters. From a personal perspective, I entered the race comfortable believing that if elected, my role would be to demonstrate that bi-partisanship could work. My hope was to be a standard bearer for what I believed to be a large, centrist component of the party.
During the past three years, I have maintained my commitment to study issues individually, invite to the table the diverse set of voices that make up our community, and participate in crafting public policy that attempts to reflect the varying points of view I have heard. Simply applying hard work and common sense, and not starting from a preconceived notion of the ‘right answer,’ I’ve dug into the complex issues we face and have tried to vote in ways that reflect the greater good of the community. I have heard supportive comments from members of both the Republican and Democratic party, and from registered Independents as well. I thank each person who has acknowledged the work ethic I have tried to demonstrate.
And yet, over the past two election cycles it has become clear that the local and Arizona State Republican Party is being driven by a small, but vocal faction that has taken it far to the political right. That faction has effectively taken over the Party leadership and is driving an ideological agenda that I do not believe reflects the common will of the community. I continue to believe that there is a healthy contingent of registered Republicans who gravitate to the center and are willing to listen to all sides of an issue before forming a position. I hear from them, and they voice both a frustration and an embarrassment over the image the Party has brought upon itself in this State.
In the past two years I have made an effort to resist the lurch to the right that the Party leadership has embraced. I have written, spoken out and voted in ways that I believe reflect not only the centrist approach the voters supported in 2009, but I have also openly attempted to prevent the erosion of the Party label that has now occurred throughout the State. In that time, the local Republican party leadership has disengaged from its involvement in local issues. The Pima County GOP was completely silent throughout our 9 month Ward Redistricting process, has played no role what so ever in our budget prioritizing discussions, and has not engaged at even a minimal level when we have addressed other significant issues such as our water policy, public safety or transit. Instead, what is heard from Party leadership is extreme partisan rhetoric that serves no productive role in crafting good public policy on the bread and butter issues with which the Mayor and Council deal.
With that approach, the leadership does not reflect those who wear the Party label but who are not inclined to embrace a far right wing ideology. There is a centrist element in the Party, but it is not allowed a seat at the table at which the Party agenda is set. Party leadership cannot expect that group to continue to wear a label that does not reflects its central values.
The Arizona Republican Party is an ideological outlier. I am not, and I see nothing that indicates that leadership is inclined to move in any direction but further away from what I believe are the values of this community. I appreciate the support I have been given by those in the Party who share these feelings. I also appreciate the support I have been given by both Independents and Democrats who have openly recognized my efforts to craft common sense public policy, untethered from an extreme ideological position. But the Republican Party leadership cannot expect those of us whose purpose it is to reach common ground across varying political interests to continue to wear a label that rejects that core principle.
I will therefore be changing my party registration to Democrat. In doing so, I will not change the manner in which I have approached the study of each issue, and I will not abandon the common sense, hard work I have shown that I have committed to this seat on the Council. My colleagues and I will continue to agree on many issues, and we will disagree on some as well. What is most important though is that as we craft public policy, we each respect the fact that every person at the table brings a unique perspective, and each deserves a voice in the discussion. That dynamic does not exist within the leadership of the Arizona Republican Party.
This article appears in Jan 10-16, 2013.
First a new tailor, then a new barber, now this. Koz wants to be governor. I hope this doesn’t mean he is off Arizona Illustrated.
As a life long democrat I would vote for him for Gov. in a minute. He has shown leadership and integrity, values sorely needed in the big house.
Makes sense, he was always one of the few Arizona republicans that you could point to who act with thoughtfulness and integrity. Turns out it’s because he isn’t one.
He is a liar, a traitor and stuck all the people who voted for him in the back. Of coarse he is a Democrat. Steve K can no more say he jumped ship, than a man who was forced to walk the plank. He has been a stool pigeon for Karen U and the Dems this whole election. He has covered up the corruption of the City Council and aided in screwing Tucson out of much needed money for Police and rebuilding our roads. After seeing him throw everyone who voted for him under the bus, how can this man’s wife trust him. Obviously he has no morals, ethics, or principles, he is 100% for himself. So happy to see him finally do his first honest thing in the last 4 years by getting out of the Repulican Party. Now the failure of the City of Tucson is 100% Democrat. Enjoy no Police, high crime, no jobs, lost business and busted roads.
Your right Roger, its the first honest thing he has done in the last four years and the best thing he’s done. Good bye.
Roger, why do you live in Tucson if it’s such a hellhole? Vote with your feet, man!
I’m conflicted. I have enjoyed having a Republican on the Council who has worked hard, thought clearly and cooperated ‘across the aisle’ with his fellow members and, during his term, Mayors of both parties. Having been misrepresented in the Legislature’s old District 30 by a trio of unreconstructed reactionaries, it has been a pleasure to be able to observe a responsible Republican at work in the public interest. On the other hand, with arms spread wide I welcome Council Member Kozachik to the people’s party.
Tucson happens to be in Arizona, the #1 State in the nation for new business. Tucson fell from 60th to 85th in the nation, for new business, go figure. Oro Valley, Marana and Vail continue to attract new business. Crime rate in Tucson skyrocketted putting Tucson at the top of the undesirable cities to live in. Our council wasted State HURF money on other than road construction and repairs, this violating State HURF laws. In fact, out of the 39 Million the City received, they only used 9 Million to repair roads and the other 30 Million went to the trolley, Sun Tran and other pet projects for Unions. Steve will fit right in. Luckily we have a State Legislature that outlaws a lot of the corruption our City is involved in.
My dad was a Republican until the day he died in 2005, god rest his soul. He lamented the demise of the Republican Party, and until Mr. Kozachik came on the scene I had yet to find a Republican in pubic office of my father’s character, values, and integrity. I am both happy and sad that Mr. Kozachik is no longer a Republican. I’m happy that the extremist Republican Party in this state can not primary Mr. Kozachik and knock him out of office. I am happy that he will continue his work on the council now as a Democrat. But I’m sad that this appears, at least in my mind, to be the final nail in the coffin for any hope for a reasonable Republican Party that can be reasonably be expected to counterbalance the Democrats.
This only confirms what he has always been. It also makes it possible for a Tucson politician to get elected to higher office.
Mr. K is (currently was?) the only current reasonable Republican serving in Arizona that immediately comes to mind. He’s a person who always seems to put the issue at hand before the petty politics & crossing party lines for the benefit of what is best for the people, not for his wallet. The change of party affiliation is not a big surprise, but it is a welcome one. Welcome to the party where common sense is more common Steve!
If being a responsible Republican means also being a rubber stamp for democrat follies, then Steve K has found a home. Why would you want to join a party that has dragged Tucson and Pima County into the status of the LEAST BUSINESS FRIENDLY location in Arizona, not to mention the West. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Funding foolishness like SunTran and the Trolley AND RIO NUEVO is the definition of insanity.
Good luck to Steve Lemming K. You’ll need it
I must admit I know very little about Tucson politics, living as I do here down here in backward Rio Rico.
But is there anyway for The Dispatch to offer a spell-check before posters tap that final “send” button?
I ask, because my favorite misspelling I’ve read this morning, was the “coarse” one posted by Roger D.
With a spell-check, maybe Roger D might have chosen “course,” rather than “coarse?”
But I really do doubt that.
Because Roger D’s rantings are among the most “coarsest” I’ve read here, lately.
Darn, there goes the only elected Republican in the state that this Green Party member could respect and admire…!
But, keep up the great work Steve!
The labels really don’t mean all that much, it’s the heart, mind and the conscientious good work that’s important…
Hola, Mark Farkas.
Can you post any documentation, whatsoever, that supports your claim that Tucson and Pima County “are the least business friendly location in Arizona, not to mention the West?”
First time here on the Web I’ve ever read such a thing!
Kozachik is a prime example of what a politician with integrity SHOULD be through and through. Its too bad they all (politicians) have to be labeled with bi-parasitism flags. If there were more people in office worried about the actual issues at hand rather than the letter after their name, we would be in a lot better shape both in Tucson and nationally.
They need to force all elected officials to resign first before they can change parties and then run for reelection in their new party, because it was not democrap that voters voted for.
Anyway with his ridiculous democrap like gun buy back program, this is just more like he came out of the closet.