Dist. 8 incumbents face no primary opponents

The three District 8 state legislators are seeking re-election this fall, with only one challenger taking on the incumbents.

In the state Senate race, Republican Sen. Carolyn Allen faces no competition in the race for her final term.

The state House of Representatives race will feature the two Republican incumbents, Michele Reagan and John Kavanagh, along with Democratic challenger Stephanie Rimmer, whocame up short in the raceagainst Reagan and Kavanagh in 2006.

There is no competitive primary election this year.

Every candidate will advance from the Sept. 2 primary election to the Nov. 4 general election.

District 8 includes much of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and Rio Verde.

Allen served eight years in the state House, and the past six years in the state Senate.

Term limits will prevent Allen from running for another term in the Senate in two years.

Allen has been a longtime Scottsdale fixture, not only in the Legislature, but previously as development directors for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, as well as serving on city commissions.

During the 2006 election, Allen faced a primary opponent in former Republican Rep. Colette Rosati before beating Democrat Dan Oseran in the general election.

"This is the first time I have not had someone challenging me," Allen said. "It sure makes this summer a lot easier."

The House race features Reagan, who is hoping to be elected to her fourth and final term in the House, andKavanagh, who won the open seat in 2006 and is seeking his second term.

Reagan's family was the former owner of FastSigns on Central.

Kavanagh is a former Fountain Hills town councilman, a retired police detective sergeant from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and is professor and director of Scottsdale Community College's criminal justice program.

Rimmer is running for the second time. She is a public relations consultant whose family owns a lighting company.

In the 2006 race, Reagan was the top vote-getter with 40,118 votes, followed by Kavanagh with 35,260 votes and Rimmer with 26,684 votes.

Carolyn Allen

State Senate incumbent

Age: 70

Political party: Republican

Marital status: Married

Occupation: State senator; last paying job before state Legislature was Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Development director

Prior community service and/or offices held: state House; Scottsdale Training and Rehabilitation Services Board of Directors, Greater Southwest Arthritis Foundation

Funding: Traditional

Campaign Web site: carolyn08.com

John Kavanagh

State House incumbent

Age: 58

Political party: Republican

Marital status: Married

Occupation: State representative (2006-present)

Prior community service and/or offices held: Fountain Hills Town Council (1998-2006), Fountain Hills Parks and Recreation Commission, town councilman, Lafayette, N.J.; retired police detective sergeant, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; professor and director of criminal justice program, Scottsdale Community College

Funding: Clean Elections

Campaign Web site: votekavanagh.com

Michele Reagan

State House incumbent

Age: 38

Political party: Republican

Marital status: Married

Occupation: State representative (2002-present), family formerly owned FastSigns on Central

Prior community service and/or offices held: Scottsdale Training and Rehabilitation Services Board of Directors

Funding: Traditional

Campaign Web site: votereagan.com

Stephanie Rimmer

State House challenger

Age: 35

Political party: Democrat

Marital status: Married

Occupation: Public relations consultant, family owns lighting company

Prior community service and/or offices held: Scottsdale Pride Commission

Funding: Clean Elections

Campaign Web site: stephanierimmer.com