Some Arizona Republicans plan to get into the presidential preference business long before the state’s election on Feb. 5.

Read Paul Giblin's blog, Checking In

Members of the Republican Professionals club will conduct a presidential preference straw poll at their monthly networking event in Scottsdale on Thursday.

“With all the hype of the presidential primary process under way, and Arizona’s own Feb. 5 presidential preference election just over the horizon, we thought it would be interesting to see how people who come to our events feel about the current crop of Republican candidates,” said club president Charles Jenson.

The club’s events generally attract about 150 mostly young professionals from across the Valley.

The straw poll’s results clearly can be bought.

The professional Republicans will sell ballots for $5 each, with a limit of five ballots per voter.

Proceeds will benefit the club.

The networking event is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at 6 Lounge and Restaurant, 7316 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. Straw poll voting will be conducted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the results announced later that night, Jenson said. Admission is free.

Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer is scheduled to be the featured speaker. Information is available at www.republicanprofessionals.org.

COMPLAINT ON MAILERS

Tucson blogger Tom Dunn sent an official complaint on Dec. 14, alleging that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., abused the House franking privilege with two mailers in the fall.

The full-color pieces in question were headlined, “Gabrielle Giffords: Serving Southern Arizona” and “Honoring our Veterans.”

Giffords represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.

House members are permitted to send informational mail to constituents at taxpayer expense, but not political mail. Giffords spokesman C.J. Karamargin said he is aware of the complaint, though he has not seen it.

“I can tell you that the congresswoman’s office is in full compliance with the franking rules,” he said.

Dunn stated in his complaint that the newsletters were propaganda. Among other points, he objected to a line in the first mailer in which Giffords notes that she is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, which she called “fiscally conservative.” The line solicits political support, he said.

Among the lines Dunn faulted in the second mailer was the phrase, “Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords: Fighting to Support Our Veterans.”

He said the line improperly promotes Giffords.

Both pieces were approved by the House’s bipartisan Commission on Congressional Mailing before Giffords sent them, said Kyle Anderson, spokesman for the House Committee on Administration. Dunn writes the blog ThinkRight Arizona. He has used the forum to support Republican state Sen. Tim Bee, widely expected to launch a campaign against Giffords shortly.

ROVE TO SPEAK

Former Bush administration political adviser Karl Rove is set to speak in Arizona later this month.

He’ll appear at a Pima County Republican Party fundraiser Jan. 23. Other details, such as the exact time and location, have yet to be announced. Information is available at (520) 321-1492.