Campaigns & Elections - August 2007 - (Page 26)

inside politics Across State Lines 50 States, 50 Stories: News from across the country ALABAMA Alabama voters will know by the end of the month who will replace state Sen. Bradley Byrne, the Baldwin County Republican who resigned in May to become chancellor of the state’s two-year colleges. A special election is being held Aug. 7. There has been a lot of interest in the seat, and at least two other Republicans have filed to fill the post. ALASKA Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens and the state’s only congressman, Rep. Don Young, both Republicans, likely will face a serious Alaska challenge for the first time in decades. The two legislators are facing backlash from news reports linking them to the Veco Corporation, an Alaskabased oil services company embroiled in bribery investigations involving state legislators. Democrats have been courting Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich for the Senate and former state House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz for the House. ARIZONA Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) recently made multiple trips to Mexico to talk with business leaders and government officials about ways to attract additional investment. Arizona exported about $4 billion in goods to Mexico last year, while Mexican shoppers spend $1.6 billion in Arizona each year. An adviser to the governor said that investment in Mexico would generate higher paying jobs, thus reducing the incentive for Mexicans to cross the border illegally. ARKANSAS Residents in the northwest counties of Arkansas should see some major political battles starting in the next few months, as term limits open up numerous holes in the state delegation. In Benton County, for example, six of the seven House seats will be up for grabs. The Northwest Arkansas Council, the nonprofit organization that has tackled some of the region’s largest development projects, is trying to get more people to run for the soon-to-be-open seats. CALIFORNIA Democratic Assemblyman Gene Mullin has authored a bill that would allow voting in local government elections to be ranked-choice. The new system would allow voters to pick candidates in order of preference, instead of just their first choice. Supporters of the bill argue that it could increase voter turnout and encourage civil campaigns. Opponents fear that the change would only confuse voters. The bill would allow 370 general law cities and 44 general law counties to use ranked-choice voting. COLORADO Colorado has turned from dark red to solidly blue since 2004, and perhaps in a sign of Democrats’ growing strength in the state, two congressional seats will see hotly-contested primaries in 2008. Three Democrats, state Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, millionaire Jared Polis and environmentalist Will Shafroth are fighting it out to replace Rep. Mark Udall (who is leaving to run for the U.S. Senate). In District 4, Democrats Angie Paccione and Betsy Markey will battle it out for the right to take on Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who won re-election in 2006 with the lowest overall vote percentage of any incumbent in the country. While Udall’s seat will almost surely go to the Democratic winner, Musgrave has been working hard to soften her hardcore conservative image and will enter 2008 as the favorite. —Jason Bane, ColoradoPols.com CONNECTICUT State Rep. Jim Shapiro (D) decided against challenging Greenwich Town Committee Chairman Jim Himes (D) for the right to challenge U.S. Rep. Chris Shays. Shays, the lone New England Republican in the House, is expected to run again. In the 2nd District, challenger Sean Sullivan’s meager fund-raising take, less than $30,000, has cast doubt on his bid to replace freshman Rep. Joe Courtney (D). Two members of the legislature will face each other in September’s Democratic mayoral primary in Bridgeport. State Rep. Chris Caruso and state Sen. Bill Finch are both contenders for the job of mayor John Fabrizi. Fabrizi, who had admitted to cocaine use while in office and had recently offered public support to a known sex offender, decided against running for re-election. —Chris Bigelow, www.ctlocalpolitics.net WWW.FIREDOGLAKE.COM 26 CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS 08.07 http://www.coloradopols.com http://connecticut-localpolitics.blogspot.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Campaigns & Elections - August 2007

Cover Contents Editor’s Note Ames Straw Poll Cavalcade; Last Candidate Standing; The New Dollar-A-Year Guy; Web Videos That Can Change the Election Across State Lines: Campaign News from Around the Country People and Organizations Movers and Shakers: Ten Questions for Matthew Taylor and Philip de Vellis Campaign Consultant Sign-Ups Reel Time Cover Story: Building Blocks From Madison Avenue to K Street Money Can’t Buy Votes Dick Cheney: Roll Model for Millions Ames: Still Weird, Still Important How to Do Tougher, Quicker Crisis Management Online Cause-Based SocNets Lure Issue Voters The Great Exaggeration Why Primetime TV is Alive and Well, Politically Speaking Buyer’s Guide Tips for Toeing the Fine Line Between Employment, Friendship Managing Your Friend’s Campaign? Think ‘Consigliore’ Off The Record

Campaigns & Elections - August 2007

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