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[St Sen Gabrielle] Giffords leaves state Senate in pursuit of Kolbe's [AZ-8] House seat
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| Contributor | ArmyDem |
| Last Edited | ArmyDem Dec 02, 2005 01:10am |
| Category | News |
| News Date | Dec 02, 2005 01:00am |
| Description | By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.01.2005
PHOENIX - Gabrielle Giffords quit the state Senate Thursday to run for Congress, setting off what could be a political chain reaction of sorts.
Giffords, a Democrat, wants the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives being vacated when incumbent Rep. Jim Kolbe retires at the end of next year. While the district is predominantly Republican, Giffords said voters will support a Democrat if the Republican nominee is more conservative than Kolbe.
Thursday's announcement provides the Pima County Board of Supervisors enough time to choose a replacement before the legislative session begins on July 9. Both David Bradley and Ted Downing, the two state representatives from the district that encompasses much of Tucson's north and northeast sides, are expected to seek the appointment.
But if the board names one of them, that, in turn, creates a new vacancy in the House of Representatives - one which the board then would have to fill.
Giffords would not endorse a successor, saying she believes the Democratic precinct committeemen in the district, who have to nominate three contenders, should forward the names of both representatives to the supervisors. But Giffords also said she would like to see at least one woman representing the district, if not in her seat, then replacing either Bradley or Downing.
"I certainly understand Gabrielle Giffords' enthusiasm to appoint a woman," said Sharon Bronson. She chairs the Pima County Board of Supervisors and, like Giffords, is a Democrat.
But Bronson said while there are qualified women in the district, she knows of none at this point who would be interested in a legislative seat.
Giffords did not have to resign to run for Congress. State law requires sitting elected officials to quit only if they formally announce their interest in another office before the last year of their term. |
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