Konopnicki to test feasibility of running for Congress

Published on Monday, September 10, 2007 10:35 AM MST

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.

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Comments

10 comment(s)

Ian Mccartney wrote on Sep 17, 2008 4:20 PM:

" I went to this camp in the summer of 05 when they were located in concho. I highly doubt that vallentine is telling the truth because when i went they was plenty of food. I remeber that they made us but on spf 50 sunscreen by the gallons. They provided us with gallons of water a day. I think that denton should have stayed in concho because it was a lot better. Big deal the recruits have no ac or water. what to expect bootcamp to be a vaction? And by the way the dirt isnt going to kill you "

H. Craig Bradley wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:29 PM:

" The percentage of Americans who recreate in the wild outdoors of our National Forests is shrinking all the time. Today's America is predominately an urban/suburban America. Increasingly, individuals can not part with their IPods, Cell Phones, Laptop Computers and Navigational Aides (GPS). Roughing it outdoors is an experience that fewer and fewer individuals are getting "

Anonymous wrote on Apr 3, 2008 5:06 PM:

" Why not tell these people and organizations how you feel?

Vice Principal Kerry Wilson
Principal Robert Beeman
Superintendent Mark Tregaskes
Safford, Arizona Middle School

734 11Th Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone Number: (928) 348-7040

http://az.localschooldirectory.com/schools_info.php/school_id/3495 "

THS Alum 2004 wrote on Mar 20, 2008 4:21 PM:

" I graduated with these guys and it's sad to say that I'm really not that surprised. They're meat heads and are a "few fries short of a happy meal". The authorities did nothing wrong, these people made a dumb choice and will have to deal with the consequences.

P.S. Doug did it. "

blah wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:29 AM:

" Whatever "

colton wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:02 PM:

" i think doug grant is innocent an i think you should not charge him for murder "

saline wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:01 PM:

" hello hello hello hello hello hello "

Michael Jackson wrote on Dec 11, 2007 3:02 PM:

" Why doesn't this newspaper admit that the story reported by Pam Crandall, as related by Jesse MacBeth, in the above article, is a flat out lie??? MacBeth has since admitted that he did not go to Iraq and that he made up all of the stories repeated by Pam Crandall. Please tell the truth. The longer that the Courier stands by these lies the sillier it looks. "

Jesu Christ! wrote on Oct 25, 2007 8:53 PM:

" And the authorities wonder why it is that students have so little respect for authority. If I were this kid (or the kid's mother) I would never look at authority the same way again. "

Daniel Connell wrote on Oct 23, 2007 9:35 AM:

" i am writting to say that this was a harmless prank and just a little fun for these two innocent teenagers. they should have not gotten in that much trouble for just a harmless prank. being a friend to them you wouldnt see it in my view. they were just looking to have fun in safford because there is nothing else to do and jose hernandez should have not been sent to ADJC on his first crime he ever commited. "

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