Republicans in Disarray in Arizona’s First Congressional District

It has been nearly a year since the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided Representative Rick Renzi’s family business and eight months since Renzi officially announced he would not run for re-election.  For nearly a year, Republicans have repeatedly failed to recruit a candidate capable of competing with Democrats in November.  This might explain why Arizona Republicans still have not called for Renzi to resign following his 35-count indictment, which included bribery conspiracy, money laundering, and wire fraud.

Days after Renzi announced he wasn’t running, State Mining Association President Sydney Hay declared she would run – much to the dismay of Arizona Republicans.  Desperate not to nominate another Randy Graf, Republicans have tried and failed to recruit eight candidates.

Desperate, Republicans are currently re-recruiting two of their deeply flawed candidates with ethics issues.  Republicans are re-recruiting former state Senate President Ken Bennett and state Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes.  Both potential candidates have yet to answer important questions about how they and their family benefited from their positions in the Senate and Corporation Commission.

• In the legislature, Bennett supported a bill from which his family’s oil firm would have profited at the expense of Arizona’s taxpayers [Bennett Paid $336,000 by state for gas cleanup, Arizona Republic, 02/13/04].

• Bennett was also accused of using his influence to secure a lenient sentence for his adult son’s sexual assault plea deal. [Families outraged at legislator's son's plea deal, Arizona Republic, 04/02/06].

• While working at the Arizona Republic, Mayes profited from possible insider trading. Mayes purchased stock in a company shortly before the Republic reported the company was up for sale and its stock skyrocketed. [Some Republicans want regulator to discuss 2000 stock purchase, The Associated Press, 10/16/03].

 Republicans in Disarray 

April 2007                                            FBI raids Representative Rick Renzi’s family business. [FBI raids Renzi business, Arizona Daily Sun, 04/20/07].

April 2007                                            Republicans begin to recruit former state Senate President Ken Bennett. “Bennett, however, might be a political liability because of his then-18-year-old son being prosecuted last year for assaulting 11- to 14-year-old boys at a summer camp.” [Both Parties Prepare for Renzi Vacancy, Roll Call, 05/01/07].

 The Republicans also begin to recruit state Representative Bill Konopnicki, former state Senator President Ken Bennett, state Sen. Tom O'Halleran, businessman Lewis Tenney and former Yavapai County Republican Chairman Steve Pierce [Both Parties Prepare for Renzi Vacancy, Roll Call, 05/01/07]. 

August 2007                                         Renzi announces he will not run for re-election [Renzi Says He Will Not Seek Re-election, Roll Call, 08/23/07]. 

August 2007                                         State Mining Association President Sydney Hay declares her candidacy [Mining association president joins race for Renzi seat, Phoenix Business Journal, 08/30/07]. “Republicans… do not think a conservative such as [Sydney] Hay can win this seat.  One prominent Arizona Republican told us if Hay is the nominee the NRCC is committed to placing their limited financial resources in other seats.” [Rumors persist around Konopnicki, PolitickerAZ, 03/03/08]. 

September 2007                                   Former state Senate President Ken Bennett declines to run [Bennett says he's not running for Congress, The Associated Press, 09/06/07].

 Businessman Lewis "Tenney would be the best candidate we would have in the general," said one GOP insider in Arizona. [Both Parties Prepare for Renzi Vacancy, Roll Call, 05/01/07]. Tenney declines to run. 

October 2007                                      State Representative Bill Konopnicki forms exploratory committee [Northern Arizona McDonald's franchisee explores run for Renzi seat, Phoenix Business Journal, 10/02/07]. 

October 2007                                      Former Yavapai County Republican Chairman Steve Pierce declines to run [1st Congressional District: Who's in, who's not sure, who's out, Arizona Capitol Times, 11/02/07]. 

November 2007                                   State Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes declines to run [Mayes Decides Not to Run for Congress, The Associated Press, 11/03/07].  January 2008                                       

State Representative Bill Konopnicki changes mind, declines to run [Konopnicki abandons plans to seek congressional seat, Arizona Republic, 01/10/08].  

January 2008                                        State Senator Tom O'Halleran declines to run. “One of the major factors in his decision, O'Halleran said, was his supposition the Republican National Committee would not be able to inject much money into the race. Fundraising efforts for the RNC, which has historically infused congressional campaigns with cash, sagged in 2006. And O'Halleran said he didn't think this race would be a priority for the organization.” [Jockeying for congressional seats picks up in Arizona, Arizona Capitol Times, 01/11/08].  

January 2008                                        At Republicans’ request, State Representative Andy Tobin forms exploratory committee. [Andy Tobin considers entering CD1 race, East Valley Tribune, 01/17/08].

February 2008                                     At Republicans’ request, state Senator Jake Flake considers a campaign. “Flake has visited with Arizona's three Republican congressmen. One of them, Representative Jeff Flake, told him that he would have the best chance of winning the seat, Jake Flake said. The congressman from the 6th Congressional District is Sen. Flake's nephew.” [Arizona state Sen. Jake Flake weighs congressional bid, Arizona Capitol Times, 02/08/08]

 February 2008                                     State Senator Jake Flake declines to run [Arizona Senator Flake changes mind, bypasses run for Congress, Arizona Capitol Times, 02/12/08].  

February 2008                                     State Representative Bill Konopnicki is asked to change his mind again. "I have had a number of people ask me to reconsider running for the CD 1 seat," Konopnicki said. [Konopnicki Reconsiders Bid for 1st District Seat, Roll Call, 02/14/08].

February 2008                                     State Representative Andy Tobin changes mind, declines to run [One in, one out, Arizona Republic, 02/19/08].

February 2008                                     At Republicans’ request, State Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes changes mind, forms exploratory committee [Arizona Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes considers run for Congress, Phoenix Business Journal, 02/19/08].

February 2008                                     Renzi is indicted on 35 counts, including conspiracy, extortion, money laundering and wire fraud [Rep. Renzi indicted on 35 counts, The Hill, 02/22/08].

February 2008                                     Former Representative Matt Salmon endorses Kris Mayes. [Mayes looks into CD-1 run, Prescott Daily Courier, 02/20/08].

March 2008                                         Republicans continue to recruit Konopnicki. “[W]ith [Kris] Mayes entering the race, why would the NRCC or any other Republican organization look for Konopnicki to get back into the mix? … In a crowded primary Mayes may have an advantage, but in a one-on-one match up against [Sdney] Hay the road becomes much tougher.  CD1 leaders are concerned that this will be a race for Hay to paint as a conservative vs. a moderate Republican.” [Rumors persist around Konopnicki, PolitickerAZ, 03/03/08].

March 2008                                         State Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes nears a decision. “The simple fact is, Kris is the only candidate who can run for the seat and hold it for Republicans,” said Mayes spokesman Robert Johnson [Mayes nears decision on CD1 run, PolitickerAZ, 03/14/08].

 April 2008                                            As Mayes is about to announce her candidacy, Republicans re-recruit Ken Bennett and he considers changing his mind. “Nearly seven months after announcing that he wouldn't run in the 1st Congressional District, former state Senate President Ken Bennett is reconsidering that decision. The news comes following a face-to-face meeting earlier this week between Bennett, senior GOP donors and members of the Arizona congressional delegation and staff.” [Bennett reconsidering decision not to run, Arizona Republic, 04/04/08].