Tucson, AZ – Today, following this morning’s ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper on the final result of the election in Arizona’s Second Congressional District, Congressman Ron Barber made the following statement:
“Today I congratulated Martha McSally on her victory, and wished her well in serving Southern Arizonans. This result is not the one we hoped for, but we take solace in having spoken out loud and clear for the principle that every legal vote should be counted. As in every election system, there are imperfections in ours, and we must work to correct them. When an election is as close as this one has been, we do our best to arrive at the correct result, and then accept it with respect for the voters.
“I love Southern Arizona and serving the people who live here was an unexpected honor. In 1967, I graduated from the U of A and married Nancy—I figured it couldn’t get much better than that. Never in my life did I expect to serve in Congress. For me, the work was a joy to do every day, helping veterans get access to the benefits they earned, keeping middle class families from having their homes foreclosed, pushing the EPA into not closing the power plant in Cochise County that provides a good income to nearly 250 families. I still believe that we can be successful when people from both parties work together—that’s how we stopped the Pentagon from mothballing the A-10 and increased funding for mental health services.
“There’s a lot more work to do to solve the real challenges facing our country, and I will have plenty to say about them in the weeks to come.
“Today, I extend my gratitude to Southern Arizonans, and promise to carry out a smooth transition to my successor.“
Ron Barber grew up in Tucson. He married his high school sweetheart Nancy and raised two daughters here. Ron has dedicated his life to working for Southern Arizona, helping people with disabilities for over 30 years and running a small business with his wife. After serving as the District Director for former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, Ron ran for office to continue to fight in Congress for Southern Arizona families. Ron was named the 4th most independent-minded member of Congress and has worked across the aisle to stand up for middle class families, including strengthening border security, protecting Medicare, and fixing the healthcare law.
TUCSON – Retired Air Force Colonel Martha McSally today was named the official winner of the race for AZ CD-2, after results from a state-mandated recount gave her a 167 victory over incumbent Ron Barber. The court announcement is the last step in the recount process and makes McSally’s victory final in CD-2.
“We’re grateful to everyone who devoted their time and resources, especially during the extended vote and recount processes, to get us over the finish line,” said McSally. “With the results of the recount now official, we can move forward as one community to bring Southern Arizonans the strong representation they deserve.”
“There’s no getting around that this was an incredibly close and hard-fought race. After what’s been a long campaign season, it’s time to come together and heal our community. That’s why my focus will be on what unites us, not what divides us, such as providing better economic opportunity for our families and ensuring our country and community are kept safe.”
“I sincerely thank Congressman Barber for his service over many years to Southern Arizona. I’ll be seeking his input to continue strong constituent services and help ensure a smooth transition. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I know that we’re a community dedicated and united in our love for Southern Arizona – And, together, we can make a positive difference.”
Last week, McSally was appointed to serve on the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, two committees that play key roles in the policy decisions affecting Southern Arizona. The new Congress and its members will be sworn in on January 6, 2015.
Colonel Martha McSally (ret.) is an independent voice who is committed to fighting for equal treatment of women and more opportunity for the middle class. She has been active in defending Southern Arizona’s critical job-creators like Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca. A 26-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, McSally was the first woman to fly in combat and command a fighter squadron in U.S. history.
This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2014.
Congratulations, Col. McSally. Good luck in Washington.
Ron promised to finish the term and did more than voters wanted. Congratulations Ms McSally.
Keep DM alive.
It’s a sad day in Baja Arizona. We now have NO representation in Washington.
The new Congress and its members will be sworn in on January 6, 2015.
But you are correct. Right now we have NO representation in Washington.
One of the last votes, if not the last vote, Barber cast was in favor of the budget deal (Cromnibus). In doing so, when he had a chance to stand as a true progressive, he voted yes on a bill that benefited the same Wall Street slime who nearly bankrupted the nation, further damaged the EPA, gave Navajo land to yet another foreign mining corporation and sold elected officials to the highest bidders. Even Jeff Flake voted against this legislative nightmare.
Nice work Ron.
Martha by a nose ;-}
Rick – Yes, I would have been surprised to NOT see Barber’s name supporting the Cromnibus bill with the giveaways to Citibank and the land to a foreign mine co., he’s made some really horrible votes in Congress. It’s why he’s the only Democrat I didn’t vote for, I voted write-in “Someone Better”. While I’m not looking forward to a Congresswoman McSally, I’m not shedding any tears over her 167 vote win.
CD02 is a very competitive district – after 2 easy wins Gabby almost lost to the likes of Jesse Kelly in 2010, and has been very closes races since. McSally shouldn’t get too comfortable in her new DC digs, and hopefully we get a real Democratic nominee in 2016.
90,000 votes each. next election we may have 50,000 illegals voting.
I wonder how many illegals are conservative. It can’t be all of them.
A great day for DM, and southern AZ…Who better to lobby for our needs than an A-10 driver! Next to the Apache, the A-10 is a ground troops best friend!
Not only do we have representation in Washington, we have positive representation. Given that the HOR will have the highest number of seats held by the GOP since 1928 (86 years), AND the GOP will have control of the Senate next month, the message is pretty clear. The Obama agenda, peddled by Harry Reid (removed as majority leader by the voters), Nancy Pelosi (also removed) and Ron Barber (fired!), is not what the American voters want! As soon as southern Arizonans wise up, and fire Raul Grijalva ( boycott Arizona??) and Ann Kirkpatrick, we’ll really be moving in a positive direction!
D~M will not really change when the A~10 retires because there is more to the base than A~10s. Snce the A~10 only performs roughly 20% of the Close air support it’s time may have passed. Shame on Ron Barber for using OUR tax dollars to extend this airplane simply because WE are too selfish to accept the need to spend our defense dollars wisely.
RatT, illegals aren’t allowed to vote ;-}
We had a representative who voted like a Republican, so why not have a Republican? And I agree with Dave. Congress is only on rental to the Republicans for the next two years.
Lots of new conservatives were voted into office by the oppression of the voters in November. It will be worst in 2016. I suspect most that vote will be Republicans. We just seen in the funding bill what there agenda is for the next 2 years. Destroy the middle class. Already Walmart and Koch brothers have declared a war of the workers, Keeping their wages as low as possible.
In order for the Republicans to win, voters at the community level are being targeted now. It starts with the councils, mayors and goes up to the state level.
Ron Barber was a good middle of the road Democrat that worked for the whole District. McSally, like too many repubs, tries to pander to extremist teabagger types. I hope the closeness of the vote and the actual job will enable her to see and represent all of us.
What’s one more knuckledragger in the tea party cesspool we call Congress?
Substitute one pro-war-machine corporate tool for another…
No change there!
(And gawd, that rat-t — if it didn’t already exist here already we’d have to invent it)
Well, Sammy boy there was NO oppression here in Az and this recount process is evidence you just don’t know what you’re talking about. Thankfully, even idiotic speech has 1st Amendment rights.
HR,
http://shariaunveiled.wordpress.com/2014/1…
KT,, name one thing that Ron Barber did while in ofc. You can’t.