A source in Washington just emailed me to say that the rumor on The Hill is that the Renzi resignation is imminent. Meanwhile, Mike Sunnucks of the Business journal has a good overview of the candidates in the race to replace him. Mike and I each thought of Bennett and O'halleran, but his list includes Konopnick while excluding Mayes.
His Democratic list is more complete than mine.
Possible Democratic contenders include former Casa Grande Mayor Bob Mitchell, real estate developer and former state Democratic Party Chairman Jim Pederson, Sedona attorney Ellen Simon, Pinal County Attorney Carter Olson and former Phoenix TV news reporter Mary Kim Titla. Simon ran against Renzi in 2006 and Bob Mitchell is the brother of Tempe/Scottsdale Congressman Harry Mitchell.
Problem I have with Simon is she is more of a carpetbagger than Renzi was and no offense to the legal profession, but she's also a lawyer and as someone who lives in the district I will not vote for any more lawyers in Congress we already have too many there.
I wasn't impressed by Pederson during the last election, I emailed some questions for my blog and never got a response, so much for he wanting to be "our senator", while I didn't agree with everything Kyl responded with he actually took the time to reply and I respected that.
Posted by: Thomas | April 27, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Greg, my source in Washington just told me the opposite... see my blog for details.
Posted by: JaneAZ | April 27, 2007 at 01:26 PM
Just received this press release in my inbox:
CONGRESSMAN RICK RENZI (AZ-1)
Rural Arizona's Voice in the House of Representatives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
April 27, 2007 Vartan Djihanian - 202-226-8273
Statement from Congressman Rick Renzi
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (AZ-01) today released the following statement:
“For several weeks, I have been the subject of leaked stories, conjecture, and false attacks about a land exchange. None of them bear any resemblance to the truth, including the rumor that I am planning on resigning.”
# # #
Posted by: The Guard | April 27, 2007 at 01:44 PM
Carter Olson was just named to the Pinal County Superior Court by Gov. Napolitano. I don't think he'll be leaving this new position.
Posted by: Jim | May 03, 2007 at 02:50 PM