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National Conservative Leader Endorses Anderson for Congress

February 20, 2008

David Keene, Chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU), announced his endorsement today for State Rep. Mark Anderson who is running for the GOP nomination to challenge Harry Mitchell, the Democrat incumbent in Arizona’s 5th District.

“I am proud to give Mark my full support,” Keene said. “He is a man who has a track record of putting principle above politics and being a proven leader who will fight to restore fiscal sanity to our government and those values that strengthen our families, economy and nation,” Keene stated.

“I have had the pleasure to get to know Mark personally,” Keene added, “and I have been deeply impressed by his decency, integrity and deep desire to help reform Congress and end the corruption, waste and abuse that has become so commonplace in our nation’s capital. I am convinced Mark will be a Congressman in the mold of his neighbor, Jeff Flake, and will help to rejuvenate the Republican Party by restoring principled leadership in Congress,” Keene said.

“I am deeply honored and delighted to have David Keene’s endorsement,” Anderson stated. “David Keene is one of the most highly respected, conservative leaders in our nation and his support underscores my deep, personal commitment to produce results conservatives can be proud of: tax reduction, increased choice in education, improved schools and infrastructure, concrete steps to stop illegal immigration, better laws to strengthen our nations families and much more.” Anderson said.

Founded in 1964, the American Conservative Union is the preeminent, leading national organization of conservatives in America. The ACU also hosts the annual Conservative Political Action Conference that was recently attended by 6,000 conservative activists that also featured President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Sen. John McCain, Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, and many other prominent members of Congress as conference speakers.

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Arizona Speaker of the House Jim Weiers announces his support for Mark Anderson.

Weiers will co-chair Anderson's campaign committee.

Anderson running for Congress, staying in Legislature

Arizona Capitol Times, Jim Small, January 16, 2008

A crowded Republican field in an East Valley Congressional district just got a little more crowded, as a veteran state lawmaker announced today he is entering the race.

Rep. Mark Anderson, R-18, said he hopes to change what he sees as an ineffective and dysfunctional Congress. The legislator said his idea may be “idealistic and impossible” to some, but Anderson believes he can prevail.

“The timing is right. Voters are looking for change,” he said.

Anderson, who chairs the House's Education K-12 Committee, said Congress needs to be held accountable for what he called irresponsible spending, scandals and extreme partisanship, all of which have lessened the voting public’s confidence in the nation’s lawmakers.

“When Congress doesn’t work, serious problems that affect people’s lives don’t get addressed,” he said. “Once we have Congress working again, we’ll be able to address many of these other issues.”

He said he will not resign his legislative seat.

House Speaker Jim Weiers will co-chair Anderson’s campaign committee and praised the 14-year Capitol veteran for his ability to work with all sides of an issue.

“Mark’s a person who knows how to get a solution to some very difficult problems,” he said.

And Rep. Andy Tobin, R-1, said Anderson would be an ideal representation for the district, which includes Scottsdale and parts of Tempe, Phoenix, Chandler and Mesa.

“He’s committed so many years to Arizona’s children,” Tobin said. “Now he wants to go to Washington, D.C. to commit to America’s children.”

Anderson joins former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert, former lobbyist Jim Ogsbury and Corporation Commissioner Jeff Hatch-Miller as candidates for the Republican nomination in Congressional District 5. Former legislator Laura Knaperek has also expressed an interest in running, as has former Scottsdale city council woman Susan Bitter Smith.

Democrat Harry Mitchell currently represents the district and faces his first re-election campaign later this year. .

Mark Anderson likely to rely on legislative experience in bid for Congress

East Valley Tribune blog, Le Templar, August 29, 2007

Excerpt: “The possible bid by Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Mesa, for the congressional seat currently held by Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Tempe, opens a new dimension for this race. I have been told that some Republican Party regulars (include a few potential competitors) are trying to talk him out of running to reduce the bloodletting in a combative primary. But his announcement about creating an exploratory committee, as reported Wednesday by Tribune writer Paul Giblin, demonstrates an independent streak that characterizes Anderson's general relationship with other Republican politicians.

Anderson is a reliably pro-life, pro-family values conservative with a track record of quietly winning elections in west Mesa. He's considered less ideological... He sees a limited role for government beyond basic public safety and transportation issues. (He believes in the effectiveness of drug addiction treatment, for example, and has supported government funding for faith-based approaches).

… Anderson has shown he can work face-to-face with Democrats to shape policy. That certainly could help Anderson in a general election match up. But a reputation for reaching across the party aisle might hurt him in a Republican primary where at least some party voters will be looking for a highly partisan candidate to clash with Mitchell.”

Anderson explores candidacy for Mitchell's seat

The Arizona Republic, August 28, 2007

Excerpt: "Veteran state legislator Mark Anderson is exploring a possible candidacy for the 5th Congressional District seat now held by first-term Democrat Harry Mitchell. A legislator since 1995, Anderson is a Mesa Republican who served two years in the Senate between his first and current stints in the House."

Arizona Rep. Anderson weighs run for Mitchell's congressional seat

The Business Journal of Phoenix, August 29, 2007

Excerpt: "State Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Mesa, is considering a challenge of freshman Democratic Congressman Harry Mitchell in next year's elections. Anderson, who is in his seventh term in the Arizona Legislature, has formed an exploratory committee for a possible run against Mitchell."

Mesa Republican mulls a run against Mitchell

East Valley Tribune, August 29, 2007

Excerpt: "Republican State Rep. Mark Anderson of Mesa has formed an exploratory committee to weigh a challenge against Democrat U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell of Tempe in 2008.

Anderson became the second Republican to step forward in a Congressional race that is sure to attract national interest and campaign funding from both parties. Scottsdale lobbyist Jim Ogsbury announced his intent to run on Aug. 17.

Anderson told the Tribune on Tuesday he plans to make a final decision on whether to run in January. By delaying a formal announcement, he will be able to retain his state House seat through the 2008 session without triggering the state’s resign-to-run law.

He’s serving his seventh term in the state Legislature, for which he’s chairman of the House K-12 Education Committee.

The GOP primary is shaping up to be crowded race. Three or four other state-level office-holders are considering joining the GOP field against Mitchell, who is in his first term in federal office.

The district is attracting ample interest partly because the GOP holds a 15-percentage point advantage in voter registration, according to a July 1 report by the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office."

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