ARIZONA CORNER

Research: Admin Staff

Party politics shows in races

Phoenix vote is nonpartisan

by Lynh Bui - Jul. 3, 2011 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

When voters cast their ballots for Phoenix mayor and council in August, they won't see an (R) or a (D) next to candidates' names on the ballot.

Phoenix elections officially are nonpartisan races, and traditional party politics are mostly played behind the scenes.

But as more voters nationwide question the role and size of government or worry about fiscal openness and transparency, the battle between liberal and conservative philosophies has been making a more prominent appearance in the city election this year.

A City Council candidate is advertising that he is a Republican on campaign signs and mailers. GOP candidates for mayor have been courting the "tea party" for support. And the lone Democrat running for mayor has been labeled the "enemy" by tea-party groups for winning union endorsements.

City Council District 2 candidate Jim Waring has turned heads with campaign signs that boast a

However, at least one mayoral candidate thinks advertising ideology will play.

·       Jennifer Wright has been touting herself as the "conservative choice" for mayor, plastering the phrase on campaign signs.

She said she labeled herself a conservative to distinguish herself from Republican candidates.

Wright, who has done policy work for Libertarian organizations such as the Goldwater Institute and the Institute for Justice, said it's important to broadcast her views on limited government.

"Knowing what someone's philosophy is lets you know how they're going to govern," said Wright, backed by several tea-party groups. "But I don't believe in partisanship for the sake of partisanship and just voting along party lines. You need to make decisions based on what is best for the city."

Representatives for both the Arizona Republican Party and Arizona Democratic Party said the groups don't get involved in city races like they do in state and national elections.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2011/07/03/20110703phoenix-elections-party-politics-shows-races.html#ixzz1R3mWK59q

How does AZ rank nationally in terms of business?

In a CNBC ranking of America's best states for business, Arizona barely made the top 25. But the Grand Canyon state did manage to make the top ten in a few subcategories including workforce and infrastructure and transportation. http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/SmallBusinessInsider/133208

Wood industry can help ramp up forest restoration

by Pascal Berlioux - Jul. 4, 2011 12:00 AM
The Wallow Fire, the biggest wildfire in Arizona history, is one more reminder that our ponderosa forests are in desperate need of restoration. Without thinning, they will continue to fuel massive infernos.

The White Mountain Stewardship Contract, a collaborative effort between agencies, communities, scientists, conservation groups and industry, put us on the right track. The project thinned 35,000 acres, creating buffers that are credited with saving White Mountain communities.

But this pioneering work is not enough.

Restoration, to be fully effective, must ramp up to the scale of the fires.

The Four Forest Restoration Initiative, the largest such collaborative effort in the nation, calls for thinning a million acres in northern Arizona. But it will cost $1 billion. The Forest Service simply does not have the budget for this kind of landscape-scale effort.

Economically, the only way to do the job is in partnership with a wood-products industry that can profitably use large volumes of small-diameter trees. It can act as an economic engine, paying for the thinning.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2011/07/03/20110703berlioux04-wood-industry.html#ixzz1R9epI3oe

Devastating Wallow Fire 95 percent contained,

Monument Fire nearly contained

azfamily.com

Posted on July 4, 2011 at 11:33 AM

Related:

• Arizona Wildfires: Updates & Info

SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. (AP) -- The devastating Wallow Fire in eastern Arizona and a small portion of western New Mexico is 95 percent contained after burning 538,049 acres or 840 square miles.

Nearly 600 fire personnel fought the blaze for more than a month. The human-caused fire remains under investigation after destroying 32 residences and damaging five.

Sixteen firefighters were also injured.

The Forest Service says restoration crews continue to remove woody debris from the east and west forks of the Little Colorado River. Hazardous tree removal continues on Forest Road 81 in Auger Canyon. http://www.azfamily.com/news/Devastating-Wallow-Fire-95-percent-contained-Monument-Fire-nearly-contained-124973439.html

Rep. Franks blasts administration for engaging terrorist group
Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks, a member of the House Committee on Armed Service, had strong words Friday following the admission from Secretary of State Hilary Clinton that the Obama administration is engaging with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood with a policy of “limited contact.”“It is unfathomable that this Administration is reaching out to an extremely violent Islamic fundamentalist group, the Muslim Brotherhood: a group whose “Supreme Leader,” Mohammed Badei, declared holy war or “jihad” on the U.S. and Israel just last October,” Trent blasted the administration. http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/01/rep-franks-blasts-administration-for-engaging-terrorist-group/

NAU cuts tuition for active military personnel

by The Associated Press

azfamily.com

Posted on July 2, 2011 at 4:34 PM

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) -- Northern Arizona University is expanding on a Department of Defense program to give active-duty military men and women a deeply discounted college education.

The tuition assistance program also applies to those in the National Guard and reserves and covers up to $250 per credit hour.

But starting this fall, NAU will waive whatever the federal program doesn't pick up -- making a currently serving military member's undergraduate or graduate education tuition-free.

http://www.azfamily.com/news/NAU-cuts-tuition-for-active-military-personnel-124922789.html

U.S. Rep Ed Pastor endorses Stanton for Phoenix mayor

Greg Stanton won the backing of U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor for Phoenix mayor this week.

Pastor announced his endorsement Wednesday from familiar territory at Stanton's campaign headquarters, which used to serve as Pastor's campaign office. Pastor, a Democrat, serves Arizona's 4th legislative district covering most of central Phoenix. http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PHXBeat/132930