Sydney Hay

1st Congressional District Republican candidate Sydney Hay today unveiled her "plan for energy independence," a five-point policy that calls for increased domestic oil exploration, expansion of refineries, new nuclear power plants, investment in clean coal technology and an alternative energy tax credit.

At the same time, the Arizona Democratic Party is stepping up attacks against the leading Republican in the field, saying her stance that the U.S. may need to keep troops in Iraq "past 2010."

"Congress has failed us in the area of energy and has tied America's hands when it comes to providing for our energy needs," wrote Hay in the statement announcing the plan.

The Arizona Democratic Party is hitting a trio of Republican candidates over their tax policies, echoing an assault against 5th Congressional District Republican candidate David Schweikert by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last week. Schweikert is joined in the Democrats' crosshairs by 1st Congressional District Republican front-runner Sydney Hay and incumbent U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix), as the Democrats attempt to paint the three as advocating higher food prices through new taxes.

However, the Schweikert campaign is attempting to turn the attack back around on the Arizona Democrats by taking issue with their characterization of his stance, and leveling a similar charge against U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe).

The Democrats argue that Hay, Schweikert and Shadegg support a national sales tax of 23 percent, which they say would have the effect of raising food prices commensurately. Hay and Schweikert have espoused support for the so-called "FairTax," which proponents claim is a more equitable alternative to the federal income tax, and Shadegg cosponsored H.R. 25, which put the FairTax theory into legislative form. 

Sean McCaffrey deserves a lot of credit for trying to bring the Republican Party together.  Find out who joins him as a winner and find out why the state senate as a whole is a loser this week.

CAMP VERDE -- The Congressional Candidate Forum on the Future of Arizona's Natural Resources brought out most of the AZ-1 field, where the candidates who showed up navigated their way through a proving ground of environmental questions. The whole panel was in agreement on the need for renewable energy investment, even if not all saw a consensus on the fact of global climate change. The biggest question of the afternoon wasn't asked by the moderator, however - it was "where is Sydney Hay?"

The seven participants included Democrats Jeffrey Brown, Ann Kirkpatrick, Howard Shanker and Mary Kim Titla, Republicans Tom Hansen and Preston Korn, and independent Brent Maupin. Two other Republicans who filed, Sandra Livingstone and Barry Hall, declined to participate.

However, Sydney Hay, who has been embraced by the Republican establishment, including the state party and numerous Republican state legislators and members of Congress, did not show up. Audience members and press instead received a letter from Hay that apologized for her absence but gave no explanation.

Most pundits and observers believe the CD1 Congressional race is going to be Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick vs Republican candidate Sydney Hay. While the two do appear to be on a collision course to meet in November unless there is a major upset, there may be another player who has a say in the outcome.

Brent Maupin, a Sedona businessman, is also running for the seat being vacated by Congressman Rick Renzi. Maupin, a lifelong Republican, is running as an independent for the office. Maupin calls himself a “centrist” and thinks both parties are out of touch.

Maupin has retained outside professional help with the addition of Steve Kush and Kush and Associates out of New Jersey to handle his media.

If you visit Maupin’s website, make sure you check out his song “Stand Up America.”

John McCain had President George W. Bush into Phoenix for a fundraiser this week and raked in a boat load of money. Ann Kirkpatrick joins McCain as a winner this week while her opponents are losers. Find out who else is a winner or a loser this week.

With Gov. Janet Napolitano's endorsement of CD1 Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has all but endorsed the former state legislator as well. Today, DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen announced that Kirkpatrick has been added to the Red to Blue program, which helps Democratic challengers raise money to capture Republican-held congressional seats.

"Ann's experience in city, county and state government and her commitment to promoting economic development, while protecting Arizona’s environment, will make her an effective voice for clean government and change," said Van Hollen, a Maryland congressman.

In addition to financial support, the program also helps "structure" campaigns to become more effective. Kirkpatrick is one of 11 Democrats in the program vying for an open seat.

"The DCCC's decision shows confidence in Ann's ability to win the primary and be successful in the general election," said Kirkpatrick campaign spokeswoman Mary Bradley.

Capping a day when CD1 candidate Sydney Hay picked up the support of ten state legislators in the district she hopes to represent, Hay also gained a backer in higher office: U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-3).

Shadegg is the second member of Congress to lend his support to Hay, who looks increasingly likely to become the Republican nominee to face off against the eventual Democratic nominee for the open seat. U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake endorsed Hay on May 20, and U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-2), for whom Hay was a spokeswoman during his 2006 re-election campaign, endorsed her as soon as she entered the race last August.

"We need you in the halls of Congress," the release from the Hay campaign quoted Shadegg as saying.