Giffords earns Sierra Vista Herald endorsement

October 19, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Eric Swedlund
Communications Director
Giffords for Congress
520-512-0012

 

GIFFORDS EARNS SIERRA VISTA HERALD ENDORSEMENT

Third major print endorsement goes for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords; Herald calls her a ‘stalwart worker’ on behalf of District 8 constituents

 

TUCSON—Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ service to her constituents on a variety of issues earned the praise of the Sierra Vista Herald, which Sunday endorsed Giffords for a second term in Congress.

The newspaper specifically cited Giffords’ work on behalf of Fort Huachuca, the San Pedro River, ranchers and veterans as evidence of the close attention she gives to her constituents. With another term, she can only improve her service to the district, according to The Herald. 

“Giffords should be re-elected to Congress. She has been a stalwart worker, coming back to her district and our area many times to be educated, to educate and to serve our interests,” The Herald wrote. “We think she has done a great job for Cochise County in her first term, and we believe seniority in the House of Representatives and the experience of the past two years will only continue to allow her to improve how she serves this county.” 

The Herald’s October 19 endorsement follows endorsements from the Tucson Citizen on October 13 and the Tucson Weekly on October 2. 

The Sierra Vista Herald’s full endorsement is below:

For Cochise County, one of the most important political races to be considered by voters this fall will be the election of a congressional representative for Arizona’s Eighth District.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat, and state Senate President Tim Bee, a Republican, both have shown they can serve Southern Arizona’s interests. They understand the issues the people in this portion of the state, as well as the nation, face.

And on some issues, Giffords and Bee either have similar ideas or are not significantly different from each other. 

Giffords, who prides herself in being a member of the Blue Dog Democrats in Congress, has shown herself to be a fast learner on military matters. She’s a member of the House Armed Services Committee and has made sure to visit Iraq and Afghanistan. She’s made sure to learn about and show others what Fort Huachuca has to offer. She’s created a military panel to help her review issues.

She also has shown she’s willing to work for constituents when the time arises. Remember the West Gate issue? Canelo residents remember it. She was instrumental in helping to convince the military the shortcut to Sierra Vista needed to stay open, and she made sure town halls on the issue took place.

She’s also made sure to visit Cochise County and listen to the people here. She’s visited with ranchers on the border to learn how they would approach border issues. She’s listened to veterans from here about a variety of issues. And she’s kept an office open in Sierra Vista. 

And she’s not forgotten the San Pedro River and the need to protect it, requesting money for the Upper San Pedro Partnership, a group of government and non-governmental agencies working to keep the river flowing. 

Bee, too, has worked on San Pedro River issues. He led the charge toward the possible creation of the Upper San Pedro Water District, giving area residents a chance to vote on a new political body that would work toward protecting the river.

He’s also listened to local residents, such as on the need for protecting Fort Huachuca from encroachment, a bill that was recently signed into law by Gov. Janet Napolitano on the post.

Bee has shown he’s willing to work with Democrats on issues. We point to his efforts to get the state budget passed earlier this year. While some in his party didn’t like it, Bee worked to avoid a stalemate and sat down with the Democratic governor and others to develop a budget that would pass.

There are some major ideological differences between the candidates.

Bee says he wouldn’t use earmarks, saying that’s the best way to reform a system and get a handle on federal spending. And he says funding requests should be considered on their own, not attached to another bill. Giffords says that while she believes reform is needed, she’s going to use earmarks if that’s the system because she wants to make sure Southern Arizona gets its fair share of federal funding.

Bee says a border fence should be built and urges that not only more resources be put to the border, but that more effective virtual technology be looked into and used. Giffords doesn’t believe the fence is the solution, but does believe in permanent checkpoints and the need to pursue a guest-worker program that allows people to come into the country to work.

And in regards to energy, Bee believes all options should be on the table. He believes in lifting a ban on domestic oil production and backs the push to find more resources, all in an effort for the United States to become less dependent on foreign oil. He would urge conservation, too. And he believes in investing in new technologies, such as solar, wind and even getting oil out of shale. Giffords has been a vocal proponent of solar energy, eagerly talking about the need to invest in it almost any chance she could get. She wants the United States to reach a goal of 20 percent renewable energy by 2020, and she wants, like Bee, to work toward a reduction in dependence on foreign oil.

In the end, we believe county residents have two people who would represent them well in Congress. We don’t think it will be an easy decision. Both candidates have skills that can benefit Cochise County.

In our view, however, Giffords should be re-elected to Congress. She has been a stalwart worker, coming back to her district and our area many times to be educated, to educate and to serve our interests.

We think she has done a great job for Cochise County in her first term, and we believe seniority in the House of Representatives and the experience of the past two years will only continue to allow her to improve how she serves this county.

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