Political notebook: Arizona hasn’t seen this many explorations since J.W. Powell

There hasn’t been this much exploration going on in Arizona since one-armed Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell led a couple of wooden boats through the rapids at the bottom of the Grand Canyon in 1869.

Read Paul Giblin's political blog

Rep. Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, announced last week he is forming an exploratory committee to consider whether to run for the U.S. House representing Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.

The seat is open, after incumbent Republican Rick Renzi announced he is going to explore retirement while FBI agents explore possible public corruption charges against him.

Tobin’s news came days after Rep. Bill Konopnick, R-Safford, ended his official exploration of running for the same House seat with a pass.

Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Bee, R-Tucson, was expected this weekend to end his long exploration of whether to run for the U.S. House in Arizona’s 8th District where he would challenge Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Tucson, a freshman.

Also, last week, Rep. Mark Anderson. R-Mesa, concluded his exploration of whether to run for the U.S. House in the 5th District. He’s running.

The week before, Republican Arizona Corporation Commission chairman Jeff Hatch-Miller wrapped up his exploration of whether to run for the seat. He’s running, too.

However, he pointed out, he never formed an official exploratory committee.

The 5th District seat is held by Rep. Harry Mitchell, another Democratic freshman.

The district takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills and west Mesa.

CLEAN CAMPAIGN PLEDGE

Radio talker J.D. Hayworth’s presence still is being felt in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, more than a year after Rep. Harry Mitchell ousted him from federal office.

The aforementioned Anderson made a point during his election kickoff speech Wednesday to emphasize he plans to conduct a civilized campaign in both the Republican primary election and in the general election — if he advances.

Anderson drafted and signed a “Respect for Voters Pledge,” and asked four other Republicans and Mitchell to sign it as well.

The pledge promises good conduct. Among its five points: “I will focus my campaign on my policies and my proposals, rather than disparaging the character or background of other candidates.”

The pledge is needed because voters are disgusted with politics, Anderson said.

“They’re disgusted with negative campaigning. They get stuff in the mail that says, ‘This candidate kicks his dog. This candidate has bad breath.’ It turns people off,” he said.

Anderson drafted the pledge, in large part, in response to Hayworth’s conduct during his failed re-election against Mitchell in 2006, he said.

“I do think that was probably the major mistake of the Hayworth campaign,” Anderson said. “I don’t know who advised him, but the campaign was overly negative in tone.”

Republican challenger Jeff Hatch-Miller said late last week that he hadn’t seen Anderson’s pledge, but he was unlikely to sign it. Not that it matters much, because Hatch-Miller plans to run a positive, issues-oriented campaign anyway, he said.

The Valley’s talk radio hosts aren’t signing the pledge either, but clearly for different reasons.

GIFFORDS' MAILINGS OK'D

The U.S. House dismissed a complaint that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Tucson, abused the House franking privilege with two mailers she sent in the fall.

Tucson blogger Tom Dunn sent an official complaint on Dec. 14, alleging Giffords improperly used taxpayer funds to produce and send full-color pieces headlined, “Gabrielle Giffords: Serving Southern Arizona” and “Honoring our Veterans.”

The House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards differed with Dunn’s assessment of the mailers.

“The Commission finds that there is no substantial reason to believe that a violation of the franking law and/or the associated regulations has occurred, and therefore orders the complaint dismissed,” commission executives wrote to Dunn on Friday.

Giffords, a first-term Democrat, represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, covering part of Tucson and the southeast corner of the state.

Dunn writes the Republican-leaning blog ThinkRight Arizona.

HELD OVER FROM SUPER BOWL

Fox Broadcasting Co. will follow its coverage of Super Sunday with Super Tuesday in Arizona next month.

Reporter Jared Hartung of the Daily News-Sun in Sun City reported Fox plans to extend its Arizona visit after the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 to cover the presidential preference election Feb. 5.

Fox will broadcast the Super Bowl from Glendale’s University of Phoenix Stadium and will turn around to broadcast news and election programming through Feb. 5 from the Glendale Media Center.

“It’s physically impossible for them to leave,” Glendale spokeswoman Julie Frisoni told Hartung. “It’s really an incredible opportunity to have them broadcasting the game and then staying to broadcast the next biggest event — the election.”

Arizona is one of 22 states that will conduct caucuses or primary elections for one or both parties Feb. 5. “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace, Shepard Smith and morning show tandem Mike and Juliet will broadcast live from Glendale. Fox is expected to have more than 75 staff members on site.

FLAKE RAPS GAS TAX HIKE

U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake criticized a report released by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Review Study Commission last week.

The report calls for an increase in the gas tax by as much as 40 cents per gallon.

“There’s no doubt that we have transportation needs that are not currently being met — the tragedy in Minnesota was unfortunate proof of that,” Flake said in a statement released by his office. “However, Congress’ mismanagement of transportation priorities, rather than a lack of recourses, is the real problem.”

Flake, a Republican who represents Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, noted more than 6,000 earmarks in the most recent transportation bill were not directly related to roads and bridges, but instead were directed toward bike paths, transportation museums, parking lots and road beautification projects.

Flake’s district includes parts of Mesa and Chandler, plus all of Gilbert, Queen Creek and Apache Junction.