Arizona: Don Bivens

by David Safier
Let me try to sort this out. Dem legislators don't like the R budget. Guv doesn't like the R budget. R legislators don't like Guv's sales tax increase, and they won't even dignify the Dem budget with a comment. Dem legislators don't like Guv's sales tax increase, because it's the wrong tax increase.

Have I left anyone out?

Who's on first?

The latest scuffle is around Brewer's 5 hour budget hearing, where she asked for "public input." R legislators say she stacked the deck, only inviting people who want to raise the sales tax. "A trough-feeding event," Burns called it. (Good phrase, Bob.

by David Safier

A group of Young Dems formed a group, A Stronger ADP (Arizona Democratic Party), in the weeks before the recent State Democratic Meeting where Don Bivens was elected Chair, after Paul Eckerstrom had been elected,then resigned . . . If you don't know the whole tangled tale, you can catch up on it elsewhere.

Anyway, Stronger ADP, whose members decided to cloak themselves in anonymity, created a detailed, thoughtful document about changes they hoped to see in the state party. Then, days before the meeting, they revealed their identities.

They attended the meeting filled with trepidation. To their surprise, they were greeted with support from rank and file Dems, elected officials and party officials.

The Arizona Democratic Party will hold a State Committee Meeting to elect yet another State Chair at the Wyndham Phoenix tomorrow.  The Wyndham is located at 50 E. Adams in Phoenix.  Registration begins at 8am and the meeting will start at 10am.  Only those on the Democratic State Committee can vote, but others are encouraged to come and watch democracy in action.

At this point, the only announced candidate is previous State Chair Don Bivens.  It had previously been speculated that Bob Lord might throw his hat in the ring, but Lord has decided not to do so.

Bivens was defeated in a previous election by Paul Eckerstrom of Tucson, but Eckerstrom resigned after only two short weeks after concluding he could not handle the duties of State Chair from Tucson.

Argh. No Comment.

Dear State Committeeperson,

Throughout my career, as a School Board Member, a County Supervisor, and as a Congressman I have come to appreciate what a difference an effective State Party Chair can make to our election outcomes. Even more importantly, as an activist who is in politics to fight for people, to fight for fairness and justice, and to make the differences with the other party as clear as I know how, I have come to value leaders who bring passion and commitment to our politics. These are the reasons I am supporting Don Bivens as our Democratic State Party Chair.