The Pro-Amensty Granola Gang:
VOTE: U.S. SENATOR: U.S. CONGRESS - District 6: U.S. CONGRESS - District 8: 
A Fruit................... a Flake.................. and a Nut
Todd Fahey (R)
Stan Barnes (R)
Randy Graf (R)
Posted on 03/03/2004 1:47:04 PM PST by Spiff
The Arizona Conservative
By Dennis Durband, Editor
March 2, 2004
GREEN VALLEY, AZ -- Citing the need for representation in Congressional District 8 that reflects mainstream Republican values, House Majority Whip Randy Graf announced Tuesday the formation of an exploratory committee to allow him to test the waters for a primary challenge to embattled Rep. Jim Kolbe.
“After many discussions with Republicans in the district and a long contemplation with my family, I have come to the conclusion that opening up an exploratory committee is the right thing to do,” said Rep. Graf (R-LD30). “This is a Republican district made up of good people with solid Republican values. Unfortunately, Jim Kolbe has continued to move further away from the mainstream values of the Republican Party with each passing year. His positions on immigration, spending, partial-birth abortion and traditional family values are out of line with a large majority of Republican voters.”
Graf said he was initially reluctant to challenge an incumbent in a Republican primary.
“However, it has became very clear that there is a real frustration among mainstream Republicans with Jim Kolbe’s policy positions," Rep. Graf said. "As I traveled the district to meet with voters, I was overwhelmed by the level of frustration people have with Jim’s liberal agenda. Time and again I received the same message from Republicans: If Congressman Kolbe is going to abandon our mainstream Republican values, then it is time for a change. As a common-sense Republican and a strong supporter of Republican ideals, I think it is necessary to at least explore the opportunity to give Republican voters a clear choice in this September’s primary.”
A Graf-Kolbe contest would present a classic conservative vs. liberal confrontation with sharp contrasts in values. Just last week, Cong. Kolbe voted against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. He has recently been protested at a Sierra Vista town meeting by conservatives disgusted with Kolbe's co-sponsorship, with Cong. Jeff Flake and Sen. John McCain, of a controversial guest worker program. Graf is a classic, pro-life advocate of traditional and time-honored American values.
Graf won election to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2000. He has since been re-elected by a large margin. In 2002, his colleagues elected him the House Majority Whip, the third-ranking Republican in the House. He has lived in Green Valley for the past 20 years with his wife Cathy. and his son Jeremy.
Graf is expected to make formal decision on running within the next 30 days.
Kan Kolbe -- Go Graf-04!
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get Walter Kolbe to do a video of him speaking out against his own brother's re-election and for Randy Graf?
The Pro-Amensty Granola Gang:
VOTE: U.S. SENATOR: U.S. CONGRESS - District 6: U.S. CONGRESS - District 8:
A Fruit................... a Flake.................. and a Nut
Todd Fahey (R)
Stan Barnes (R)
Randy Graf (R)
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