“Giffords Leader in Race for Signatures”

Deadline is Today for Submitting Nominations

By Blake Morlock
The Tucson Citizen
Published June 14, 2006

Former state Sen. Gabrielle Giffords remains the champion in contests of cash and organization in the campaign to replace retiring congressman Jim Kolbe.

Petitions are due today at the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office to get candidates’ names on the ballots and, perhaps, send a message.

Giffords’ platoon of volunteers, dispatched throughout southeastern Arizona, gathered nearly 7,000 signatures petitioning to put her on the ballot.

Giffords’ numbers are more than triple what her closest Democratic challenger could muster. Retired news anchor Patty Weiss collected 2,051.

Former state Rep. Randy Graf led all Republicans by gathering 2,100 signatures.

What does it mean?

Literally, nothing. Signature requirements are based on party representation within a congressional district. As long as a Democrat gathers 665 signatures and a Republican collects 765, they are assured spots on the ballot.

Special Forces veteran Frank Antenori is no less on the ballot with 868 signatures than Giffords.

Jay Quick, a political novice and independent candidate, won the silver and turned in more than 6,000 signatures.

But collecting more signatures can be a show of strength, said Graf campaign manager Steve Aiken.

“To any campaign, it means you are generating excitement,” Aiken said. “It shows you have a volunteer base of boots on the ground.”

The race also gets people to unofficially vote with their pen after hearing a sales pitch for a particular candidate.

“The best way to reach voters is door to door and in their neighborhoods,” said Rodd McLeod, Giffords’ campaign manager.

Quick’s signature effort is in part necessary because of Arizona law. Democrats and Republicans have “ballot status,” meaning they can have primaries and need fewer signatures to qualify.

An independent candidate, who won’t face a primary election, must collect 2,900 signatures to qualify.

Bill Katzel, running as an independent, failed to qualify for the ballot because he collected “only” 1,300 signatures. Katzel said he’ll run as a write-in candidate.

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