Posted on 11/24/2005 5:09:53 AM PST by Borax Queen
Representative has served S. Arizona for more than 20 years. A desire to teach, D.C. 'divisiveness' part of his decision
U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, a Tucson Republican who rose through the ranks of Congress to become one of the country's most influential lawmakers, will not seek re-election in 2006.
Kolbe stunned supporters, delighted rivals and touched off a frenzied wave of anticipation among possible successors Wednesday by announcing he will leave the House of Representatives next year after 22 years.
"At some point you have to say it's time to hang up the spurs," the 63-year-old congressman said. "This is just the right time to do that."
Among the principal reasons behind his decision to retire, Kolbe said, is a longstanding desire to teach and perhaps get involved in consulting. But there were other considerations as well.
House Republican rules require Kolbe next year to relinquish his high-profile chairmanship of the House subcommittee that oversees billions of dollars in foreign aid.
"Certainly not being able to be chairman of the subcommittee is a factor," he said. "I've really enjoyed that. I've really kind of found my niche there."
Then there is what Kolbe termed the "divisiveness" that now exists in Washington.
"The mood on Capitol Hill is not a pleasant one. The mood in our country politically is not good," he said. "I worry about that."
He said President Bush's low poll numbers had "absolutely, positively" no role in his decision.
Elected in 1984 after six years in the state Senate, Kolbe is the senior member of Arizona's eight-man House delegation.
As a long line of Democrats have learned over the years, he has become a formidable political force, typically winning re-election by wide margins. He won an 11th term last year with 60 percent of the vote.
In Washington, Kolbe earned a reputation as a strong proponent of free trade and an advocate of allowing private investment accounts in Social Security. He is known as a social moderate and a fiscal conservative.
But it was his support for a guest-worker program that might have prompted the strongest reaction - and disagreement - from constituents in a district that shares a border with Mexico.
The issue was at the heart of the challenge he faced last year from Randy Graf, a former state lawmaker who has already announced his plans to run in 2006.
Concern for his prospects next year were not a factor in the decision to retire, said Kolbe, the only openly gay Republican in Congress.
"If I had run I'm positive I could have won," he said.
Kolbe said he expects "a lot of good people" will run for the open seat, and that includes both Republicans and Democrats.
"Being a Republican, I would like to see a Republican succeed me but I'd like it to be somebody that's responsible, thoughtful and somebody that can win this race," he said.
As for his former opponent, Kolbe left no doubt where he stands.
"I'll be honest, I think we can do better than Randy Graf," he said. "I don't believe Randy Graf can win a general election."
Kolbe's announcement, coming just hours before government offices and businesses closed for Thanksgiving, prompted a swift reaction.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., praised Kolbe for leading a debate of "ideas and principles" on reforming Social Security.
Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, said it was "a personal honor" to work with a man who "has served Arizona and the country well."
U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva called his retirement "a loss" for Southern Arizona. "One of the most powerful moderate voices is leaving Congress," the Tucson Democrat said.
Auto dealer Jim Click said that after Kolbe's nearly 30 years of public service, "all of us in Southern Arizona owe Jim a great debt of gratitude."
State Sen. Toni Hellon, who ran three of Kolbe's congressional campaigns, predicted the consequences of Kolbe's retirement will be profound. "Politics in Southern Arizona changes forever," she said.
Not everyone, though, is sorry to see Kolbe leave.
"Music to my ears," said Chris Simcox, president of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a citizens border security group.
Simcox called Kolbe "an impediment" to border security because of his opposition to permanent Border Patrol checkpoints and said he believes the retirement immediately boosts the chances of Graf.
Mike Albon, a spokesman for Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council, said Kolbe's departure may be good news for the labor union, which felt Kolbe meddled in the day-to-day operation of the Border Patrol.
Thanks to Kolbe, the Tucson area was the only one in the country that restricted traffic checks, he said.
Some human-rights activists also found little common ground with Kolbe, saying his support for NAFTA has not relieved longstanding border problems.
"Here we find ourselves in a human-rights crisis with 282 deaths last year," said Kat Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Coalición de Derechos Humanos.
"Maybe we'll get someone in there who understands that we definitely need comprehensive reform if we're going to see any change to the situation on the border," she said.
Overall, however, Kolbe's decision to retire was met with kind words for a man who has become a fixture on the state's political landscape.
"He's been one of the chief architects of the present regime of free trade in the world," said UA law professor Boris Kozolchyk, head of the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade.
"Had it not been for his presence in Congress, I don't think I would have started the center here in Tucson. I would have probably done it in New York or Washington," he said.
The Nature Conservancy credited Kolbe with helping to create the San Pedro National Riparian Area in the 1980s, when it was a tough decision to protect natural resources near a growing, thirsty city like Sierra Vista.
"He recognized early on that healthy communities and healthy environment are not incompatible," said Pat Graham, the conservancy's state director for Arizona. "In fact, they're essential to each other. That's the leadership that I think we're going to miss."
Kolbe used his chairmanship of a House Appropriations subcommittee to fund aid to millions of AIDS sufferers in Africa and elsewhere, said Scott Blades, executive director of the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network.
"He's done a lot and that will be part of his legacy, but with 40 million people infected with this disease there's still much more to be done. It will be a sad day to lose such a key expert and proponent," Blades said.
In Douglas, BorderMart owner Raul Montaño said it's good to change members of Congress. "I just hope somebody younger and well-educated gets the job," he said. "And aggressive and full of energy."
Kolbe said he'll definitely "keep my foot in Arizona. I have no intentions of getting rid of my (Tucson) house or my little weekend cabin down at Sonoita. This is home for me and this is where I'm going to ultimately end up."
Kolbe at the polls
● Kolbe lost his first race for Congress, in 1982. But after that, he won 11 terms by these percentages:
● 2004 - 60 percent
● 2002 - 63 percent
● 2000 - 60 percent
● 1998 - 52 percent
● 1996 - 69 percent
● 1994 - 68 percent
● 1992 - 67 percent
● 1990 - 65 percent
● 1988 - 68 percent
● 1986 - 65 percent
● 1984 - 51 percent
His district
● Congressional District 8
● Area size: 9,057 sq. mi.
● Covers: Cochise County, portions of Pima County and small parts of Santa Cruz and Pinal counties.
● Population 2000: 641,829; 87 percent urban and 13 percent rural.
● Residents' median income: $40,656
● Poverty status: 10.5 percent
● Military veterans: 19.1 percent
● Race/ethnic origin: white, 74 percent; Hispanic origin (can also be counted as white), 18 percent; black, 9 percent; American Indian, 0.8 percent.
● Voter registration: 151,548 Republicans, 132,723 Democrats, nearly 100,000 independents and minor party members.
● 2004 presidential vote: Bush 53 percent, Kerry 46 percent, other 1 percent.
Source: Almanac of American Politics
How he voted
● Kolbe's votes on key issues of the current (108th) Congress:
● Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - Y
● Approve Bush tax cuts - Y
● Medicare/Rx Bill - Y
● Bar overtime pay regulations - N
● D.C. school vouchers - Y
● Ban human cloning - N
● Restrict gun liability - Y
● Ban partial-birth abortion - N
● Ban same-sex marriage - N
● Fund Iraq war - Y
● Intelligence reorganization - Y
Source: Almanac of American Politics, 2006
Who might run now?
● Randy Graf, a Green Valley Republican, is the only announced candidate for the seat in 2006. Graf, who lost to Kolbe in the 2004 primary by about 10,000 votes out of 62,000 cast, has been counting on increased voter interest in illegal immigration to give him the edge next time.
● State Sen. Gabrielle Giffords, a Tucson Democrat, plans to form an exploratory committee to consider running for Kolbe's seat.
● Ray Carroll, a Republican on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, said Wednesday that he'll review the situation over the weekend.
● State Rep. Steve Huffman, a Tucson Republican, said the open seat in Congress could tempt him.
● Tim Sultan, a former aide to Gov. Janet Napolitano and a Democrat, ran for Kolbe's seat last year. He has said he's ready to run again.
● Eva Bacal, a Democrat, ran against Kolbe last year and said she might run again.● Mike Jenkins, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for Tucson City Council in 2003, said he may announce soon.
● Jeff Latas, a Democrat, Air Force veteran and commercial airline pilot who lives in Oro Valley, recently formed an exploratory committee.
FYI (another article) Ping.
Kolbe left because he faced a very difficult race with Randy Graf in the Republican primary. Graf was even money to beat Kolbe.
I'm sure you're right. Kolbe greatly outspent Graf (almost $1 million to about $100,000) in 2004, and Graf still received 43 percent of the vote.
Happy Thanksgiving to you also :)
Good riddance RINO ping.
I also notice in this article that Graf is the ONLY person who Kolbe didn't have very kind words for (even without naming names he as much said he'd rather have a Democrat win over Graf).....methinks he protesteth too much for one who allegedly claims his decision to retire was not because of Graf.
Good riddance...good hopes for Tucson bump. : )
If Graf gets the nomination, I wouldn't be surprised to see Kolbe campaign for the Democrat.
Ping.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.