Titla campaign stresses Native American heritage

By Alex Isenstadt, Politicker.com Reporter

Talk to Randy Camacho, the campaign manager for Democrat Mary Kim Titla, a former television news anchor who is running in the First Congressional District, and one of the first things he will mention about Titla is her Native American heritage.

A Titla victory would be “historic,” Camacho says, noting that she would be the first Native American female elected to the U.S. Congress.

Tying Titla’s candidacy to her heritage is a strategy that is anchored in the demographics of the District: 22% of the residents are Native American, according to the Almanac of American Politics. The Navajo Nation, Fort Apache, Zuni, and San Carlios tribes all call the District home.

The Titla campaign has been reaching out aggressively to the tribes for their support. And they’ve had some success. The San Carlos Apache Tribe, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Tonto Apache Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation and the Western Navajo Agency have all awarded Titla with endorsements. And tribes have filled the campaign’s coffers with more than $50,000.

The race to fill retiring Republican Congressman Rick Renzi’s seat is crowded. On the Democratic side, Titla will be facing off with attorney Howard Shanker and former State Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick. On the Republican side, Trade Association Executive Director Sydney Hay and State Rep. Andy Tobin have jumped in.

One of Titla’s greatest assets, her campaign believes, is her high name recognition - she has spent 20 years working in Phoenix and Tucson news. It is something that the campaign has found useful as it tries to build an infrastructure that extends across the Disrict.

But Titla will face a challenge in Kirkpatrick, a former Flagstaff Representative who, some insiders believe, is building the ties necessary to unite Democrats in the District behind her.

The Titla campaign is taking form. Stacy Holmstedt, who has blogged on Arizona politics, has been hired to handle internet duties. Robin Everding-Brown, who has worked in Arizona Democratic politics, has been brought on as Finance Director. Campaign manager Camacho is a former chair of the state Democratic Party.

Moving forward, Titla advisers intend to hire a Field Director and pound home fundraising. They are reaching out to labor groups – some of which are struggling with whom to support. Advisers have put in place what it calls “four week plans” – benchmarks for accomplishing campaign goals.

Camacho waves off talk that his campaign faces an uphill battle. “Everyone is making their case and we are making our case,” he says.

“We are very pleased with how things are going.”

Alex Isenstadt is a Politicker.com Reporter and can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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