Aguirre takes steps to challenge Grijalva

PHOENIX — A former state senator from Yuma has taken the first tentative steps to challenge incumbent Congressman Raul Grijalva in the Democratic primary.

Amanda Aguirre, who formed an exploratory committee, told Capitol Media Services she is more of a moderate than the five-term Tucsonan. She also said her experience as a Democrat in a Republican-controlled Legislature showed her what it takes to build the kind of bipartisan consensus that is lacking in Washington.

“We see this gridlock over and over again and extreme position of both sides,'' she said.

But Aguirre also said that Grijalva's position on border issues does not match what district voters want. She said they are particularly unhappy with the congressman's call for a boycott of Arizona after the Legislature adopted SB 1070 last year aimed at illegal immigrants.

That call created a backlash even within his own party. And it nearly resulted in Grijalva losing his seat in the heavily Democratic district to Republican political unknown Ruth McClung.

Grijalva said he found Aguirre's interest in the seat surprising. But he made it clear he intends to run again — and that he intends to fight.

He dismissed questions about what effect that call for the boycott might have on the race.

“The boycott, to a great degree, is a dead issue. It was a mistake in the sense that it didn't have any impact and all it did was create an issue that diverted attention from the real issue, which was 1070. If she thinks that's going to be the central point of our campaign, she's sorely mistaken.''

Aguirre, however, said other issues remain. “I don't believe in open borders.”

Grijalva, however, said that issue — and label — won't play. The congressman said he has backed “comprehensive reform'' in immigration policy. Part of that, he said, includes border security and enforcement.

“But we have pushed for family legalization and a path to legalization. I'm not going to run away from that issue,'' he said, saying he has never backed “full-blown amnesty'' for those in this country legally.

And Grijalva went on the offensive. “She has to explain her anti-union vote.”

That refers to Aguirre being one of only two Democratic legislators who voted with Republicans last year to put a measure on the ballot guaranteeing secret ballots in union elections. The measure, pushed by business interests, is designed to pre-empt any effort by Congress to approve a “card check'' law which would allow unions to be formed solely by getting the signatures of at least half the union-eligible employees in a company.

Aguirre explained at the time that, as a business owner, she believes in secret ballots.

One thing that may decide whether Aguirre gets into the race is how the district is revamped.

The current congressional district includes a large portion of Tucson, which is Grijalva's base. Draft maps being considered include less of Tucson.

Aguirre said she would pay more attention to rural areas, in particular her home county where unemployment rate normally runs higher than 20 percent.

She acknowledged that figure is due in great part to the high percentage of seasonal workers but said that does not make the number any less valid.

“You tell that person that has had a seasonal job ... that is unemployed for the rest of the year that it's not unemployment.”