October 5, 2010
GOP’s Strain backs Giffords’ re-election bid
By Bill Hess
Sierra Vista Herald
October 5, 2010
SIERRA VISTA — A number of Republicans are supporting Democrat U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in her quest for a third term in
Congress.
Monday, 15 came out for Giffords, including Sierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain.
“Since her election, Gabrielle has been a solid friend to Sierra Vista, supporting Fort Huachuca and its missions, working on behalf of the Upper San Pedro Partnership, sustaining our aquifer and providing the highest quality constituent services in our community,” Strain said of Giffords.
Giffords told the Herald/Review the endorsement of the Republicans is an indication she has bipartisan support because she has always reached across the political aisle to ensure the needs of the electorate are met, and that included her days in the Arizona Legislature and in
Congress.
Her main opponent, Republican Jesse Kelly, said his campaign is getting support from many people of all political stripes as well.
“We are getting broad support from voters of all parties because they are upset with Giffords’ bailout for Wall Street, her $500 billion cuts to Medicare and her opposition to SB (Arizona Senate Bill) 1070,” he said.
Giffords said she believes the reason she is receiving support from Republicans is because she has shown she can bring substantial federal funds to the district for important projects, including the military, protecting the San Pedro River and ensuring assistance is given to a number of agencies involved in health and welfare issues, as well as border security.
However, Kelly says the congresswoman goes after earmarks, which he has promised not to do, and what Giffords claims as supporting funds, falls within the earmark realm and she really hasn’t ensured the border is secured.
But Giffords counters, saying said her GOP opponent’s claims are false because of the support she has from border residents and individuals who have been helped already by national health programs.
ACROSS THE AISLE
Sierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain, a Republican, has endorsed the re-election bid of Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to represent Arizona’s Congressional District 8, which includes all of Cochise County, in the U.S. House of Representatives. Other members of the GOP who did the same thing on Monday, or earlier, in alphabetical order, were:
- Lolly Almquist, a longtime community leader and three-time Giffords for Congress campaign treasurer.
- Jennifer Burns, a former Arizona legislators who represented Legislative District 25, which includes parts of Cochise County.
- Lorraine Drachman, a community volunteer.
- Peter Hershberger, who served eight years in the Arizona Legislature.
- Larry Lopez, president of the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs.
- Lisa Lovallo, a vice president at Cox Communications.
- Don Mackey, a longtime Tucson-area automotive dealer.
- Kris Mayes, chairwoman of the Arizona Corporation Commission.
- John Miller, Tucson-based green building pioneer. He is married to Drachman.
- Joe Reagan, immediate past commander of the Arizona Veterans of Foreign Wars.
- Lynne Skelton, mayor of Sahuarita.
- Priscilla Storm, from Marana.
- Glen Van Dyke, retired Air Force major general and former Adjutant General of Arizona.
- John Wickham, retired Army general and former U.S. Army Chief of Staff.
