A message from AWLA President Pamela Donison
Friends and Colleagues ~
If you have lived in Arizona for more than 12 months, you know we’re on the brink of a long, hot summer. Not only is our weather hitting its seasonal inferno, but our political landscape is heating up as well, as this is an election year.
As of mid-June, 15 candidates had declared for the position of Governor and six for Attorney General. So far, 10 people have declared themselves for the U.S. Senate race against incumbent John McCain. Unbeknownst to me (and likely some of you) there are seven active political parties in Arizona – the two usual suspects (Democrats and Republicans), along with some well-known but smaller parties (Green Party and Libertarians), as well as some that I confess I was not aware of (Constitution Party, Independent American Party, and the Socialist Party).
No matter which way you lean politically, it’s important that we – women, lawyers, business leaders, citizens, and mothers – educate ourselves. We have a duty to learn about the candidates, the process, and how we can help our community progress by electing smart, honest, and responsible leaders. Hopefully a healthy percentage of those candidates we choose will be women and some of them may even be women lawyers.
One way to keep up to date on election laws and news is Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission.
The Secretary of State’s website includes Voter Information, Candidates and Committees, Upcoming Elections, Laws and Legislation, and Initiatives, Referendums and Recalls.
Voter Registration and Early Ballot information is available on the County Recorder’s site for Maricopa County and Pima County. A full list of Arizona county election information is here http://www.azsos.gov/election/county.htm.
All of this political hoopla can be very confusing, so get some non-partisan voting information at SmartVoter.org, sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
As always, please support AWLA through your membership and sponsor dollars. We rely on dues and sponsorship to create the events and programs that make our organization such a vital sister bar. As we approach our 31st annual convention, I hope that you will do just three little things for us:
1. Renew your membership and recruit one new member.
2. Encourage your firm and business contacts to grant a sponsorship at any level.
3. Attend the annual convention (November 5, 2010) at the beautiful Sheraton Wild Horse Pass
Resort and enjoy an afternoon of CLE, camaraderie, and networking.
Until then ~
Pamela