PHOENIX (AP) - Four Democrats and four Republicans competed Tuesday for their parties' nominations to replace a GOP congressman charged in a land swap that authorities say helped him collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in payoffs.
Several months before he was indicted, Rep. Rick Renzi decided not to seek re-election in his largely rural district, setting the stage for one of the nation's most competitive congressional races.
Renzi, who was elected in 2002, is accused of engineering a swap of federally owned mining land to benefit himself and a former business partner.
He allegedly told groups seeking the rights to a copper deposit that they would have to buy land owned by his business partner to win required congressional approval for an exchange of federal land.
Authorities also contend that he stole from clients of his family owned insurance company to help finance his first congressional campaign.
Renzi, 50, has pleaded not guilty to charges of extortion, fraud, and money laundering. He is scheduled to be tried in federal court in Tucson next spring.
His district is mostly north and east of Phoenix. At more than 58,000 square miles, it is larger than Pennsylvania.
Political analysts say whichever Democratic candidate emerges from the primary will have a slight edge because of the suspicion surrounding Renzi and a surge of enthusiasm for Democrats. None of the Republicans in the race attracted significant money, had widespread name recognition or ever held elected office.
Among Democrats, the front runner was Ann Kirkpatrick, a former state legislator and Flagstaff lawyer who had the party's financial backing and a key endorsement from Gov. Janet Napolitano.
On the GOP ballot, the top candidates were Sydney Hay, a mining industry lobbyist, and Sandra Livingstone, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Human Dignity International.
In other Arizona races, six Republicans were running for the right to challenge Democratic Rep. Harry Mitchell, who took a suburban Phoenix seat from the GOP in 2006 as the nation soured on the Iraq war and incumbent J.D. Hayworth was linked to disgraced fundraiser Jack Abramoff.
The Republican candidates were led in fundraising by David Schweikert, a former Maricopa County treasurer; James Ogsbury, an attorney; and Susan Bitter Smith, who serves on the board of directors for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District.
State Rep. Mark Anderson of Phoenix, former state Rep. Laura Knaperek of Tempe and businessman Lee Gentry of Scottsdale were also seeking the GOP nomination. |