Konopnicki to test feasibility of running for Congress

Will file for exploratory committee

By Jon Johnson, Assistant Editor

When it comes time to vote next year in November, Graham County residents may have one of their own to consider for Congress.

State Representative Bill Konopnicki (R) is considering becoming Arizona’s next member of the United States House of Representatives.

He said he will file for an exploratory committee in a couple of weeks to test the feasibility of replacing U.S. District 1 Rep. Rick Renzi when his term expires in 2008.

Renzi recently stated he would not seek re-election.

Konopnicki said he would not declare his candidacy yet because it would mean having to step down from his current position, and he has too many things to work on before he does that.

According to the law, legislators must step down from their current positions after declaring candidacy for a-nother position unless they are in their last year.

“There’s a lot of decisions to make,” he said. “I have a lot of things to work on in my current legislative district.”

Konopnicki said he has been highly recruited by members of the Republican Party and others from District 1 as well, but says there is a lot to consider with a district that stretches from Utah through Graham and Pinal counties.

Arizona’s First District covers 58,000 square miles and is geographically the state’s largest. It covers all or part of eight of Arizona’s 15 counties.

“It’s such a wide variety of people and issues,” Konopnicki said. “What’s good for the people in Flagstaff might not be so good for people in Casa Grande. I have to ask myself if I will be able to effectively represent all who live in the district.”

Konopnicki also said whoever is elected will have a tough job filling the shoes of departing Rep. Renzi.

“In my opinion, he has done an outstanding job,” he said.

Despite the Herculean task in store for the state’s next District 1 Representative, Konopnicki said it would be an honor to represent his state in Washington.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to serve as a Congressman,” he said. “To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a representative from Graham County. It would be quite an achievement.”

Three Democrats have already announced their candidacy for Renzi’s seat - former TV reporter and Fort Thomas native Mary Kim Titla, Tempe lawyer Howard Shanker and former state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick.