NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday January 15, 2008

Pima Democrats Select Cage, Jorgensen, and Wright as candidates for Rep. Saradnik vacancy

Democrats in Tucson’s Legislative District 26 gathered today at Pima Community College to select three nominees to fill the seat left by former Rep. Lena Saradnik.

Ballot-elected precinct committee members who reside in Legislative District 26 selected the following:

• Cheryl Cage, 52, campaign manager for Saradnik and owner of an aviation business;
• Don Jorgensen, 51, owner of a health care business dealing in employee assistance programs, and member of boards and commissions on health care and youth issues;
• Nancy Young Wright, 48, three-time member of the Amphitheater School Board and longtime activist in the district.

The beginning of the meeting saw a crowd of about 150 people welcome Saradnik with a standing ovation.

Saradnik thanked her many friends and supporters for their work on her behalf in the 2006 election. She emphasized the importance of retaining the seat, and said that her replacement must continue to move Arizona forward.

‘’I am overwhelmed by the quality of people who stepped forward,’’ Saradnik said. ‘’We have to start changing Arizona today.’’

Arizona Democratic Party Chair Don Bivens thanked Saradnik.

‘’You have served us with honor, and you have resigned with honor,’’ Bivens said. ‘’We hope you do us the honor of returning to serve when you’re ready.’’

The names of the three nominees will be sent Wednesday morning to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, which will appoint one of the three nominees to fill the remainder of Rep. Saradnik’s term.

The process for choosing a successor to Rep. Saradnik is outlined in Arizona Revised Statutes § 41-1202.