Free Republic

TUCSON - The Republican who hopes to be the party's candidate to replace a 10-term fellow Republican outlined what he called "a layered plan" to protect the border. Randy Graf, who faces U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe in the Sept. 7 GOP primary for Congressional District 8, said he wants more military on the border, increased training for non-federal civilian law enforcement, going after employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants and locking the international boundary down before establishing a new guest worker program. He outlined his plan at a Tucson press conference and later explained it to the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee...

Kolbe-Graf race promises to be a real donnybrook By C.J. Karamargin ARIZONA DAILY STAR 29 March 2004 Don't kid yourself. Don't be naive. Don't even think the contest to represent Southern Arizona in Congress is going to resemble anything close to a civil, high-minded debate. The looming primary battle between Jim Kolbe and Randy Graf has all the makings of a knock-down, drag-out free-for-all that could make the President Bush-John Kerry race for the White House seem like a paragon of gentlemanliness. Graf, majority whip in the state House, announced Saturday that he will challenge Kolbe, a 10-term lawmaker from...

<p>SIERRA VISTA - State Rep. Randy Graf will challenge U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe in the upcoming congressional primary.</p> <p>Graf promised that if elected to Congress, he would work on enforcing immigration laws, balancing the federal budget, adding a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex couples from marrying and lowering taxes.</p>

Graf will challenge Kolbe By Nate Searing Sierra Vista Herald/Dispatch Saturday, March 27, 2004 8:52 PM MST SIERRA VISTA - Arizona House Majority Whip Randy Graf formally announced his bid Saturday to unseat, Congressman Jim Kolbe, a fellow Republican. Speaking to a crowd of about 80 people, Graf touted himself as "The Real Republican For Congress," hammering a list of issues such as a constitutional amendment to ban gay[protect traditional] marriage, enforcing immigration laws, balancing the federal budget and lowering taxes, issues that he said of Kolbe, "for too long, this district has had its trust betrayed by the man...

<p>Randy Graf, the third-ranking Republican in the Arizona House, said Tuesday that he plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe in the Sept. 7 Republican primary.</p> <p>"Some folks have asked me not to do this," Graf said, acknowledging wonderment that he would give up his majority whip post in the Legislature. "Voters in the district deserve a choice."</p>

PRESS RELEASE RANDY GRAF FOR CONGRESS EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE CONTACT: Jim Behnke at (520)803-6810 March 22, 2004 Release: IMMEDIATE RANDY GRAF TO ANNOUNCE CONGRESSIONAL BID VERSUS KOLBE Randy Graf, Arizona State Representative for District 30, plans to announce his congressional bid against incumbent Congressman Jim Kolbe Saturday, March 27. The Arizona House Majority Whip will make his announcement at 4 PM at Cochise County Republican Headquarters located at 432 West Fry Blvd., Sierra Vista. The Cochise County Republican Headquarters is adjacent to the Landmark Café near the Fort Huachuca Main Gate. The public is welcomed to attend this inaugural event for...

Graf talks like he's ready to face Kolbe BY BILL HESS Friday, March 19, 2004 10:47 AM MST Sierra Vista Herald/Review SIERRA VISTA, ARIZONA - Although it's not official, state Rep. Randy Graf talks like he will be a Republican primary opponent against U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe. "I've spent a lot of time making a decision. It's something I don't relish doing," Graf said about running against Kolbe. Graf said he will officially announce his decision on March 27 at a series of meetings in Green Valley, Tucson and Sierra Vista. His almost announcement brought loud applause from nearly...

Rep. Graf Forms Exploratory Committee for Possible Run at Cong. Kolbe 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...

<p>A House bill requiring photo ID at the polls is a Republican effort to keep minorities and the poor from voting, say critics. A GOP sponsor say it guards against fraud.</p> <p>A bill before the Arizona Legislature that would require people to show additional identification in order to vote is a Republican ploy to keep minorities and the poor from voting, Pima County Democrats said.</p>

<p>Breaking away from the usual etiquette of international diplomacy, the Mexican consul general of Phoenix yesterday condemned proposed state laws aimed at clamping down on undocumented immigrants.</p> <p>Expressing doubts the anti-immigration bills will pass, Ruben Beltran said the proposals are dividing a state where the Latino population is booming.</p>

Bills targeting ID cards draw cries of racism PHOENIX -- Amid claims of racism, state lawmakers moved on two fronts Thursday to determine what identification Arizonans must produce to get government services or exercise their right to vote. The House Committee on Federal Mandates and Property Rights approved HB 2316, which precludes any government agency from accepting any form of identification other than one issued by a state or federal agencies that is independently verifiable. Rep. Randy Graf, R-Green Valley, is pushing that measure to block the decision by some cities to recognize ID cards issued by the Mexican consul...