Oct. 24, 2004
Tribune Election 2004 Special Section
Sen. Mark Anderson and Rep. Russell Pearce completed the first phase of their bid to keep an experienced team of lawmakers representing west Mesa by easily winning the Republican primary.
But Democrat Kevin Jackson is seeking to bump one of the incumbents in District 18 by promising to push harder for education and health care if elected.
Anderson, 49, has served one term in the state Senate but agreed to run for the House seat he held from 1995 to 2002 so Rep. Karen Johnson could move to the other chamber. Pearce, 57, is seeking his third term and is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He is a retired deputy sheriff and former director of the state Motor Vehicle Division.
Jackson, 26, is a stay-athome father who also mentors students in after-school programs. All three candidates are privately funded.
