Kirkpatrick posts $240K in 1st quarter

I have met Ann K, Howard Shanker, Jeff Reily and Jeff Brown. I tried to meet Mary Kim Titla, but she brushed by me not wanted to be bothered to meet a potential voter. I like both Jeff's, but would not give them my vote. I have listened to Ann and Howard on a number of occasions and came away feeling more and more positive about Howard and less and less impressed with Ann. Listening to Ann is like listening to any Republican candidate I have ever heard. Tough on Crime. Build more prisons. Create more service jobs. ??? This is a Democratic candidate?

For the last three elections, we have been either stuck with the party choice and lost or the party pulled the backing for a good candidate to focus elsewhere. So, once again, we are expected by the DCCC and the AZ Democratic Party to back THEIR choice because they are helping Ann raise a bunch of money? What happened to the voters voting for the candidate of THEIR choice? Shouldn't our votes count? If the player with most money is considered the winner we are in deep crap.

So what if Ann is a great fund raiser. Howard is the better person to represent US the voters. Howard is the better person to protect our interest. Howard is the better person to fight our battles for us.

Thinking back to the times I have heard Ann speak, I could not drum up enough interest to even think about voting for her. She has been rude, interrupting the other candidate after she had her time to speak, has avoided paying her entry fees to different events acting like she is the anointed one above paying her way, has made excuses that APPEAR to be a lie for not being at certain events, and has acted like a spoiled celebrity at other times. She will smile, shake your fingertips, and hurry away before she has to answer tough questions. She has been quoted as saying Howard does not have a chance because he has made enemies. Gee, what attorney has not made enemies by winning. Personally, I would give my vote to an attorney who has won environmental victories over an attorney who tells me she will be tough on crime while never addressing the causes of crime.

The one thing that irritates me about Ann and her staff is the constant reminder that she is a Native Arizona candidate. That is the good-ole-boy mindset that no matter how long you live here you are not one of us. So what if she was born here. Does this mean that most of us who are transports, who choose to live in Arizona because we happen to love this State is not as good as she is? Just because she was born here does not mean she is more qualified to represent us. On the other hand, actually living in Arizona, unlike Rick the Rat Renzi does give you a better insight into the issues we face as a state and as part of Planet Earth. There is a difference between a carpetbagger who shows up to make a bundle, to make connections, or to build an empire and someone who is running for office because they care about making a difference.

My vote goes to Howard Shanker. He is intelligent, honest, ethical, passionate, a loving family man. He cares. He understands. He is our choice. Give him a chance.

When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion. -Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the U.S. (1809-1865)

Ann Kirkpatrick certainly seems to be the front runner in this race. I heard her speak at the Democrats of the Verde Valley meeting, and she made it clear that she's leading in the fundraising race. I didn't get the impression, though, that she stood for a whole lot. She didn't offer a great deal of conviction on any issues. Still, she may be the most likely Democrat to take CD1. I'd like to hear a little more about Mary Kim Titla and Howard Shanker.