NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday February 21, 2008

Mayes should resign, make candidacy official

Republican Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes seems to be skirting Arizona’s resign-to-run law as she builds her campaign for the First Congressional District.

Mayes was elected to her seat in 2006, and her term expires in 2010. Arizona’s resign-to-run law requires office holders to give up their seats to run for higher office, unless they are in the last year of a term.

According to the East Valley Tribune, Mayes’ campaign infrastructure is already well in place:

Mayes’ exploratory committee has all the tell-tale signs of a full-fledged campaign. She has the endorsement of former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon, help from the GOP-oriented political consulting firm High Ground, and a fully developed campaign Web site, www.krismayes.com . Prescott businessman Malcolm Barrett is her committee’s finance chairman. (link)

“Kris Mayes needs to do the right thing and give up her seat,” said Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party.

The Republican nominee for the First Congressional District will face stiff competition in the fall.

“We’re confident that after years of being represented by a corrupt Republican, residents in the First Congressional district will reject the GOP’s culture of corruption in favor of a Democrat who will move the district forward,” Bittner said. “All our Democratic candidates want to move this country in a new direction.”