Schweikert leads 6-way race in GOP bid for House 5th District

Beth Duckett

August 25, 2010

The Arizona Republic

Voters in the Northeast Valley appeared to favor familiar faces in Tuesday's primary election for two legislative districts and a congressional district.

Unofficial election results Wednesday showed David Schweikert leading a six-way race for the Republican nomination in Arizona's 5th Congressional District, which includes Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, along with Tempe, Chandler and west Mesa.

Schweikert, a small-business man and former Maricopa County treasurer and state legislator, hosted an election-night party at his campaign headquarters in downtown Scottsdale.

"It's exciting, but you also feel an incredible weight on your shoulders because your country is in really tough shape," Schweikert said the next morning.

Trailing Schweikert was Scottsdale businessman Jim Ward, who came from behind to surpass small-business owner and former Scottsdale Councilwoman Susan Bitter Smith in Wednesday's early results.

Other candidates were Chris Salvino, Lee Gentry and Mark Spinks, who suspended his campaign but was still on the ballot.
Tuesday's election appeared to mimic the 2008 primary, setting up a rematch in November. Two years ago, Schweikert won the GOP nomination but was defeated by Democrat U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell in the general election. Mitchell was unopposed in the Democratic primary Tuesday in his bid for re-election.

Schweikert said his focuses include job creation and economic growth. Campaign manager Oliver Schwab said the Republican will ask Mitchell to debate "at every opportunity we can."

"Look at what's going on in our community right now, with foreclosures (and) with so many of our friends not being able to find work," Schweikert said.

The hotly contested race is on the radar screen of Republicans who hope to win back control of the U.S. House of Representatives. District 5 traditionally has favored Republican candidates, where the party holds a registration advantage, but Mitchell was a popular Tempe mayor who later was elected to the state Legislature from that area.

Democrats cite Mitchell's work as a veterans affairs advocate and former teacher who defeated incumbent J.D. Hayworth in a 2006 upset.