• Jim Nintzel

Today, Southern Arizonan and former Gabrielle Giffords District Director Ron Barber announced his candidacy for Congress in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. Barber pledged to continue Gabrielle Giffords’ legacy of working across the aisle to solve problems for the people of Southern Arizona such as protecting veterans and seniors, investing in clean energy to create jobs and securing the border.

“Our community needs someone who will put politics aside and solve problems for the people of Southern Arizona,” Ron Barber said. “My commitment is to be honest with the people of this district and help restore civility to our public life. My first priority won’t be the next election — but the next generation. That means balancing the budget the right way by protecting Social Security and Medicare, creating jobs, and securing our border.”

Ron Barber served as District Director for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords from 2007 until she retired. At Giffords’ direction and under Barber’s leadership, the district offices focused on solving problems for veterans, military families, seniors, and any resident who experienced difficulty with the federal government. In January 2011, Barber was wounded alongside Giffords. After the shooting, he and his family created the Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding to help the community heal by supporting survivors of the tragedy, aiding first responders, reducing bullying in schools, and increasing awareness of mental health symptoms.

Before working for Giffords, he ran the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities, where he built one of the top five programs in the nation that helped people with disabilities to get jobs and live successfully in their community.

Barber and his wife, Nancy, owned and ran a small business for 22 years. He understands the challenges faced by small businesses and will be an advocate for the changes that will make it easier for them to grow and thrive.

“My commitment is to work across the aisle, find common ground and restore civility to our politics so we can strengthen middle-class families of Southern Arizona,” Barber said. “My life’s work hasn’t been politics, it’s been about getting results and solving problems for people. I’ve been honored by the outpouring of support for our campaign. While there will never be anyone who can fill Congresswoman Giffords’ shoes, I look forward to continuing her legacy of putting problem-solving before politics.”

In announcing his campaign, Barber pledged to focus on balancing the budget the right way, by protecting Social Security and Medicare, creating jobs, keeping our promises to veterans and securing the border.

The new beach-themed bar Fini's Landing is shaping up nicely at 5689 N. Swan Road. It even has a cool boat-shaped bar with decent views of the nearby mountains. You can check that out on Facebook, if you're into that sort of thing.

This place is a project by two guys who left the Hut at 305 N. Fourth Ave. last September. So far we have precious little information about what will be going down at said location, but according to the Fini's Landing website hiring is underway, so an opening can't be that far off.

The LGBT&S Alliance Fund, a special project from the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, hit a half-million in cumulative giving this year to Tucson-area LGBT projects.

A total of $42,000 went to projects in Southern Arizona last month. The grants were given at a ceremony mid-January and the the recipients were chosen as part of a competitive process to identify programs that are ground-breaking and help "underserved youth and the community to promote the integration of LGBT issues within the straight world," according to a press release.

The grants were given in two rounds. The first is the Queer Youth Initiative to organizations "designing new services to reach unserved LGBT young eople and to address nagging, unaddressed problems in the community. Funds went to:

Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault for its Safe Streets Arizona program "providing safety and prevention resources to LGBTQ youth encountering public harassment."

Ron Barber, the longtime district director for Gabrielle Giffords' Congressional District 8 office, is expected to announce plans to enter the race to complete her term today. Details to follow, but for background, see this week's Skinny column:

As our print deadline closes in, it appears likely that Ron Barber, who has served as the district director for Giffords' congressional office since her election in 2006, will enter the race to finish out her term in Congressional District 8.

"I would be shocked if we didn't hear an announcement soon that Barber is running for the interim position," Pima County Democratic Party chairman Jeff Rogers told us earlier this week, adding that a Giffords endorsement would probably come along with the announcement.

Barber, 66, who was nearly killed after being shot twice on Jan. 8, is thought to be offering himself up as a caretaker for the remainder of Giffords' term, but multiple sources tell us he will not run for the new Congressional District 2 later this year.

The popular electro house DJ, Benny Benassi is heading to the Tucson Arena Feb. 17 at 8 p.m.

Tickets for Benassi's concert went on sale on the University of Arizona mall yesterday, and if you're around those parts, someone will gladly take your money from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets are also available at www.BBTUCSON.com

Benassi's website says:

Hailing from Reggio Emilia, Italy, Benny Benassi rose to worldwide fame with the 2002 release of his enormous chart-topping hit single “Satisfaction.” It was with that tune that he initiated a new genre of music dubbed as Electro, which earned him the crown “Godfather of Electro.” The demand for Benassi as a DJ is incredible and he headlines major festivals and venues around the world, including performances at this year’s Coachella and Electric Daisy Carnival festivals and major North American clubs including Pacha in New York and Government in Toronto.

So Tucson...are you ready to get your techno on?

Republican Jesse Kelly picks up the key endorsement—and $10,000—from Citizens United in the special election to complete the term of Gabrielle Giffords, who resigned from Congress on Jan. 25.

The release from Citizens United:

Citizens United Political Victory Fund (CUPVF), the affiliated PAC of Citizens United, issued the following statement endorsing combat veteran Jesse Kelly for the special election in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. CUPVF has also contributed $10,000 total — $5,000 respectively for Kelly’s primary and general elections.

“Citizens United Political Victory Fund was an early supporter for Jesse Kelly in 2010, and it is an honor to be one of his first supporters in this race.” said David N. Bossie, President of Citizens United. “Jesse Kelly has shown that he can run a very strong campaign in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. Jesse is a Marine Corps veteran and true hero of the conservative movement. I urge all Republican primary voters in Arizona’s 8th District to rally around Jesse Kelly because he will work hard for lower taxes, a strong economy, and more jobs when he is in Congress.”

Kelly is facing state Sen. Frank Antenori, business/sports broadcaster Dave Sitton and John Lervold in the April 17 GOP primary. A fifth Republican, Martha McSally, is expected to join the race tomorrow.

In light of tonight's controversial meeting of the Pima Community College's governing board to vote on naming Suzanne Miles chancellor of the college (replacing Roy Flores), this press release from the college doesn't come as much of a surprise:

Tucson, AZ — Pima Community College Chancellor Dr. Roy Flores is taking medical leave, effective Feb. 9.

“For the past nine years, I have given heart and soul to do what’s best for Pima Community College. My soul’s still strong, but my heart of late has been less than completely dependable, and I need to listen to my cardiologists and take the necessary time to heal,” said Dr. Flores, who last month told the PCC Board of Governors he would retire as of Dec. 31, 2012 or sooner, depending on his health.

Dr. Flores, who turns 70 in April, underwent an emergency angioplasty at Tucson Medical Center on Friday after experiencing severe chest pains while working at PCC’s District Office. In October, Dr. Flores underwent quadruple-bypass heart surgery, returning to work part-time on Nov. 28 and gradually increasing his workload.

Local author and freelance writer John Clausen debuts his first novel, a witty mystery called Big Hungry. Released last fall, the book is published by Hukilau. (139 pages, $2.99 e-book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble).

Book summary from the author:

“A dead body…Gunshots…A bewildered ghost mentored by a cowboy angel… Big Hungry is the story of a small-town murder mystery as it unfolds through the eyes of the many colorful characters of rural Tulleyville, North Dakota. From the nosy news reporter to the town drunk, to the spooky loner who lives on the outskirts of town, each quirky Tulleyville resident’s perspective unravels another thread revealing their collective fate. Will the town be flooded to benefit a millionaire’s pet project? Who are the River Rats, and are they dangerous? Will the greasy politician get away with bribery, kidnapping, or worse? And, will the backwoods, one-man police investigation be able to reveal the shooter’s identity?”

This weekend, enjoy a photography and video showcase created by the Youth Farm Project. The event will be a fun mix of art, food and "youth power."

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona's Youth Farm Project said in a press release:

The Youth Farm Project works to engage youth in the food they eat and to foster the consideration of how what they eat affects their health, community, and the planet. The Youth Farm Project works year round with youth from elementary age through high school to address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity through hands on agriculture and farm work, nutrition education, and community involvement.

Event details:

Saturday, Feb. 11 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Dragonfly Gallery
146 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85701

For more information, visit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona website or call 520-622-0525

Former Tucson City Councilman Steve Leal takes a different look at what is currently happening at Pima Community College and the agenda being presented to the governing board at tonight's meeting to place Suzanne Miles in that position:

Very good story in the morning daily regarding the sweetheart deal that Pima Community College Chancellor Roy Flores and the Pima Community College Board of Governors gave Flores' high school buddy, Mr. Crnokrak.

Interesting, the paper did a freedom of information request on a Thursday regarding the contract, and on Friday, Flores said he was resigning. Pure coincidence?