Marana voters went to the polls yesterday to decide which of four candidates will fill two open spaces on the Marana Town Council.

A number of people have asked if The Explorer plans to "endorse" candidates for Oro Valley Town Council and mayor.

Paul Babeu’s lies never quit — they just get more outrageous. His latest target is Pinal County Attorney James Walsh, and why is he going after Mr. Walsh? Because he can’t control him, that’s why.  Attorney Walsh has stood up to Babeu’s bullying and has refused to cave in to his ridiculous demands. Because there’s nothing in Walsh’s record or performance to criticize, Babeu has been flat out making stuff up. He throws out crazy numbers that have already been discredited by the experts about how Walsh never puts anyone in jail. It’s nonsense of course — and frankly, if the sheriff is that worried about criminals in the county, he should go out and find them, which is his job, rather than spend his time and taxpayer money campaigning for himself and his friends. He’s so busy promoting Voyles, (who is his designated flunky), Cheryl Chase (his hand-picked supervisor candidate — and employee!) that he doesn’t have a minute to spare to actually do his job. James Walsh is about the only one in the county who can and will stand up to this bully. He’s also honest, professional and ethical. Please give him your vote.

Election Day no longer has the same meaning with more and more voters taking advantage of the early-ballot option.

For information about polling place identification requirements, please contact the Pima County Division of Elections at 724-6830, or visit their web site at www.pima.gov/elections.

When it comes to the special election to replace retired Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Congressional District 8, I’ve heard a couple statements that have got me to thinking. First, a SaddleBrooke resident told me after reading some political statements having to do with the CD8 race between Ron Barber and Jesse Kelly, “Thelma, I don’t know who to believe.” She keeps up with current events, is responsible in voting and is a good citizen, and yet, she’s put in this position of not knowing who is telling the truth anymore. Her problem is not uncommon, as many voters see the television ads, hear the radio shows, the rhetoric, the back and forth politicking, and they wonder if what they are hearing is the truth.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 419-0 last week, naming a prominent room in the Capitol in honor of Gabe Zimmerman.

After a year of miscommunication, assumptions and confusion, members of the Oro Valley Town Council are confident they will sort out the town’s complex transit situation. In the meantime, the July 20 vote on the future of funding for the town-operated Coyote Run Transit System will be delayed until September.

The Oro Valley Town Council postponed on Wednesday a decision on the proposed environmentally sensitive land ordinance that has been under discussion since 1996.

During the Republican watch party last Tuesday night, Al Melvin speaks to the audience after being notified he won re-election to the District 26 Senate seat. Sitting in the front row were Northwest residents Vicki Entrekin, right in chair, Vickie Davison and Judith Blair.

No one denies that Arizona has enormous budget problems. Since the halcyon days of 2007, state general fund revenues have fallen a staggering $3.6 billion, more than one-third. Arizona has a structural budget deficit of $1.7 billion. Big, painful cuts have taken place; more are ahead.

Mark Twain once said that the only people who have the right to use the collective "we" are kings, presidents, editors and people with tapeworms.

As a Republican member of the Arizona Legislature who has been recognized by conservative groups as a "friend of the taxpayer," I have acted decisively to help reinstate smaller government and fiscal accountability since taking office in January 2009.

The ballots have been counted and counted again, now the results of the Oro Valley primary election are official.

Both incumbents on the Oro Valley Town Council have been defeated in their bids for re-election.

March seems a long way off, though the chill of a winter rain storm in Northwest Tucson feels like spring in the rest of America.

Last week’s election in Marana may provide the latest evidence for municipal governments to rethink the way communities elect leadership.

It looks like our new state representative, Vic Williams, hasn’t quite got the hang of what it means to be a legislator.

A decision rests in the hands of the Marana Town Council about whether visitors to Tortolita Mountain Park may drive through an exclusive, upscale development.

I normally don’t tell folks how to vote in an election I can’t vote in myself, except in Tucson and Oro Valley. You stick your nose in my back yard, I shoot back.

October 5, 2005 - This week, Oro Valley residents should receive ballots in the mail for the Nov. 8 election.

With an eye on projects and benefits the town would receive, the Marana Town Council voted unanimously at its meeting March 16 to throw its support behind all six questions listed on Pima County's bond election scheduled for May 18.