Tucson News NowKoskiniemi joins crowded Republican field

Koskiniemi joins crowded Republican field

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Posted by James Bennett - email

By Angelina Bravo / Tucson News Now Intern

ORO VALLEY, AZ (Tucson News Now) - A Pima County contract officer Saturday became the sixth Republican to announce a candidacy in the special election to replace U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona Congressional District 8.

Mark Koskiniemi, 48, said he was running for the GOP nomination to "get on with fixing our problems" through example and action.

"I want to run because I've got small children, and I want them to have the same kind of opportunities that I had growing up and working through a career; a country that was safe, strong, and stable, and I think we just need to make a lot of effort to get us back on the stable footing economically and security wise," the married father of two said.

Five others have announced they'll seek the Republican nomination: State Sen. Frank Antenori, 2010 GOP nominee Jesse Kelly, military trainer John Lervold, former Air Force pilot Martha McSally and University of Arizona sportscaster Dave Sitton.

Democrat Ron Barber, Giffords' former district director, said he's running in the special election, which is scheduled for April 17. The general election is June 12. Barber has said he's unsure if he'll run in the fall for a full term.

Democratic state Rep. Matt Heinz said he will not run in the special election but will in the fall.

CD8 will become CD2 in the fall regular election after redistricting.

Giffords resigned from Congress in January to continue her recovery from gunshot wounds suffered in the Jan. 8, 2011 Safeway shootings.

Copyright 2012 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.

 

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