Editorial: Bee faces a choice, state senate or Congress

State Senate President Tim Bee wants to run for Congress against Rep. Gabrielle Giffords while he continues to serve in the Arizona Legislature.

There’s only one little problem: the state’s resign-to-run law. Arizonans overwhelmingly approved the 1980 ballot initiative to force politicians to step down before seeking another office. If Bee waits until Jan. 1 to announce his candidacy, he would be exempt from the law since he would be in the final year of his term.

There’s controversy over whether the Republican who represents Green Valley should be declared a candidate. Bee has formed an exploratory committee and established a Web site in part to solicit donations.

By testing the waters, he’s enjoying the best of both worlds, seemingly campaigning before Jan. 1 and tiptoeing around the will of Arizona voters.

“He’s trying to have his cake and eat it too,” Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Maria Weeg said.

When Giffords decided to run for Congress in 2006, she resigned nearly one year before the General Election. She and other state Democrats are pressuring Bee to follow suit.

Tucson Weekly reported that Giffords was worked up over Bee’s tactics during a recent appearance on John C. Scott’s radio talk show.

“The law is pretty clear here in Arizona,” Giffords said. “When the founding fathers — and mothers — put the law together when they created a Constitution and achieved statehood, (they were) really trying to make sure we don’t have people running for office and serving simultaneously.”

Giffords was wrong about the law coming from the founding fathers. It came from a ballot proposition. But she’s right about the law being clear. If a candidate announces, either by filing papers or announcing, the intent is obvious.

If a candidate starts traveling outside the district and conducts interviews on topics such as the war in Iraq, the race is on. If he or she starts collecting money and piles up endorsements from Sen. Jon Kyl and Sen. John McCain, he’s on the move.

Bee maintains a distinct advantage by staying in the Senate. As president, Bee will lead significant legislative efforts in 2008. He will be high profile in the media, a prospect Democrats do not relish.

Republicans have brushed off calls for Bee to resign, essentially calling it sour grapes.

“This early, pre-emptive strike on Sen. Bee by the state Democrats is further proof that Gabrielle Giffords is frightened by the prospect of a Tim Bee candidacy,” Arizona Republican Chairman Randy Pullen wrote on the party’s Web site.

Bee has made Southern Arizona proud with his service. He’s the first Senate president from these parts in 30 years. He’s a consensus builder and family man who’s in politics for all the right reasons.

Clearly, though, he should consider resigning. He does not want to be seen as someone who’s hanging around on a technicality, the fact that he has not formally announced. And if he knows state history, he should start campaigning for Congress full time if he intends to beat Giffords.

Giffords and U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., resigned from the State Senate and won in 2006, establishing a formula for success. Giffords replaced retiring Republican Jim Kolbe. Mitchell unseated six-term Republican stalwart J.D. Hayworth.

Since 1982, 22 candidates have stayed in the Legislature, deciding to run for U.S. House or Senate seats later in the year. Only two of the 22, Karan English in 1992 and Matt Salmon in 1994, were victorious.

Bee can make a difference for Southern Arizona anywhere he serves. He just needs to decide where he wants to be, the State Senate or on the campaign trail for Congress.

Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of this newspaper. Respond by e-mailing letters@gvnews.com or comment online at www.gvnews.com.