After a somewhat-controversial redistricting process Ahwatukee Foothills has been included in a newly formed Congressional District, and now the race is on to see who will represent it in 2013.
Already, three Democrats and four Republicans have decided to run for the office. Among the Democrats are State Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, State Senate Minority Leader David Schapira, and former Democratic Party Chair Andrei Cherny.
Republicans running for the office include Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley, Arizona National Guardsman Travis Grantham, and in the past two weeks former Chandler City Councilman Martin Sepulveda and retired Air Force pilot Wendy Rogers have also kicked off their campaigns.
Sepulveda, an Arizona native, owns a real estate consulting company called Sepulveda Group.
“We simply do not want and cannot afford left-wing, socialist policies that are unconstitutional,” Sepulveda said. “President Obama’s administration is characterized by excessive spending, ballooning deficits and Obamacare. Our message is clear and stands in stark contrast to Obama’s current big government tyranny: Arizonans want Congress to cut spending, balance the budget and enact free market solutions, which is exactly what I’ll work to do.”
Rogers was one of the first 100 women pilots in the Air Force. She has lived in the East Valley since retiring from the military in 1996. She and her husband have owned their own home inspection business for the past 15 years. Rogers is currently a substitute teacher in the Tempe Union High School District.
“I am running because as a retired officer I see our national defense in peril with a porous border to our south and a president who ignores the problem,” Rogers said. “As a business owner, my employees and I suffer from over-regulation and taxation, destroying my ability to create more jobs. As a mother and grandmother, I’m afraid for how we have mortgaged my grandchild’s future.”
Along with Ahwatukee Foothills, District 9 includes parts of Tempe, west Mesa, west Chandler, south Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley.
The final congressional map was submitted to the Justice Department for review on Feb. 10. The Justice Department has 60 calendar days to respond. The commission is seeking “preclearance” from Washington for the map to be used in this fall’s elections.
The new congressional map includes four Republican districts, two Democratic districts, and three competitive districts.
• Contact writer: (480) 898-7914 or ahurtado@ahwatukee.com
jchasewilliams posted at 10:00 am on Fri, Mar 9, 2012.
David Schapira is the education candidate in CD-9, fighting to ensure that every individual has access to a quality education and the opportunity to achieve the American Dream!
To learn more about Senator Schapira and his campaign for Congress please visit his website: DavidforAZ.com.