NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday March 4, 2008

Republicans' continued support helps Renzi, hurts First District

Even an embattled Republican Rep. Rick Renzi was arraigned today, fellow Republicans continue to defend him to bolster their chances of keeping the seat. This includes presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain, National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Tom Cole, and Arizona Republicans eyeing the seat themselves.

Rep. Bill Konopnicki, the heavily recruited favorite of national Republicans, has continued his silence on Renzi’s resignation. Konopnicki, who announced last year that he wouldn’t run for the seat, is reconsidering, according to news reports.

But a Konopnicki candidacy raises serious questions as to whether he would bring the change the First District needs. Konopnicki’s career has been bankrolled by lobbyists and special interests. He even said that “a good lobbyist is worth his weight in gold,” (Arizona Capitol Times, 2/9/07)

And while Konopnicki considers pleas from national Republicans, voters should consider his record.

Nearly 60 percent of his fundraising has come from special-interest lobbyists. He and his family contributed more than $2,000 to Renzi after news of an FBI investigation into his business practices broke.

“For a district that has been saddled with an indicted Republican who has serious ethics and corruption problems, the last person they need is someone who depends so heavily on lobbyists’ cash,” said Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party.

Furthermore, candidate Sydney Hay told the First District as recently as a week before Renzi’s indictment that she hopes to follow in his footsteps. According to the Eastern Arizona Courier, she said: “I want to demonstrate my commitment to maintaining the same level of availability that Congressman Renzi provided to the citizens of eastern Arizona.”(link)

“The First Congressional District doesn’t need another Rick Renzi,” Bittner said. “They need him to step down immediately. They deserve better than another political stunt – and that’s exactly what this is. It would be very unfortunate if Renzi chose to bail out the NRCC by holding onto his seat until after May 4th to avoid forcing a special election, thus leaving his constituents without adequate representation in Congress. The people of the First District have endured enough during Renzi’s ethically-challenged tenure. They deserve better than another political stunt like this from a troubled politician and his cohorts in Washington.”