It’s early, but potential candidates for state office are filing in, and they’re nearly all Republicans.

Registrations so far for the 2006 state elections include six for governor and nearly 60 for the Legislature, records at the Secretary of State’s Office show. Seventy-eight percent of the early filings were by Republicans.

As of June 29, four independents and two Republicans had filed for governor, and the legislative filings — most by incumbents — included four former legislators and 10 other challengers.

Secretary of State Jan Brewer, Attorney General Terry Goddard, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, Treasurer David Petersen and Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes have filed for re-election.

Democrat Bruce Wheeler of Tucson filed June 16 for secretary of state. He is a former Tucson city councilman and currently is with the Tucson Airport Authority.

Democrat Jason Williams of Phoenix has filed for Superintendent of Public Instruction. He is a former executive director of Teach for America, a national teacher-recruiting program.

Independents File For Governor

Independents who have filed for governor are Jamie Coulter, Jim Pollock, Gary Tupper and Roy Birnbaum. However, Mr. Coulter, a 19-year-old community college student from Phoenix, is not eligible because a person must be at least 25 years old to be Arizona governor.

“Oh, wow! I guess that shuts me down,” he said when informed of the law.

Mr. Tupper, a 46-year-old Gilbert contractor, said, “I’ve had a lot of problems with the system,” alleging his son is a victim of medical malpractice.

Neither Mr. Birnbaum, who lists a Gilbert address, nor Mr. Pollock, who lists a Phoenix address, could be reached for comment.

But a seven-page statement with the heading “Pollock jim for Governor… Vote for me and change the world” was obtained by Arizona Capitol Times. The statement said Mr. Pollock is also known as Jim Kress, who was listed on the filing as campaign chairman and treasurer.

Republicans John Greene, a Phoenix attorney, filed for governor June 23, and Teresa Ottesen, a 25-year-old student at Arizona State University, filed May 6.

Scottsdale financial advisor Keith DeGreen, a Republican, and Libertarian Barry Hess have said they are going to run for governor, but had not filed as of June 29.

Rep. Russell Pearce, R-18, does not totally take himself out of the governor’s race.

“No, not completely,” he said, but more than likely not.”

Mr. Pearce said Mr. Greene would be a strong candidate, but he “is not as strong on family issues.” And he said Senate President Ken Bennett also would be a good candidate, but he had a “tough time” holding out for less state spending.

Mr. Bennett says a two-or-three-candidate Republican primary for governor would be “invigorating and would still preserve unity.”

“I’m not the only Republican in the state,” he said.

Former Republican Sen. Slade Mead told Arizona Capitol Times on June 27 he is still “flirting” with plans to run for superintendent of public instruction and did not rule out running as a Democrat.

Former House Members File

Former Republican House members Mark Thompson and Clancy Jayne have filed for their old seats. Mr. Thompson was defeated by Laura Knaperek in the 2004 District 17 primary, and Mr. Jayne was eliminated in a four-way Republican primary in District 6.

Republicans Sam Crump, an attorney from Anthem who ran for the California Assembly in the 1990s, and Carl Seel, who works in publishing and ran in 2004 for the Corporation Commission, have filed for House seats in District 6, as has incumbent Republican Pamela Gorman.

Former Rep. Debra Brimhall, a Republican, has filed for a House seat in District 18, as has GOP incumbent Mr. Pearce.

Bryan DeTwiler, a Cottonwood Republican who directs a nonprofit organization there, has filed for a District 1 House seat.

Southern Arizona: GOP Battles Loom

The early filings have set up potential Republican battles in southern Arizona.

Rep. Steve Huffman has filed an exploratory committee to look at a possible run against Sen. Toni Hellon, who has filed for re-election in District 26, and Albert Melvin of Tucson also has filed for that Senate seat.

Former Rep. Carol Somers has filed for a House seat in District 26.

From District 27, Gene Chewning, a church pastor from Tucson, has filed for a House seat.

Two Republican challengers have filed for the House in District 25: Lisa Lovallo, a Tucson business consultant and teacher; and Darron Huntington, an auto technician, also from Tucson.

Another Tucson teacher, Bruce Murchison, has filed for the House in District 29. He ran unsuccessfully in the 2004 Republican primary for state Senate.

Incumbent Reps. Jonathan Paton and Marian McClure have filed for re-election in District 30, and retired Department of Public Safety officer Francis Callegari of Sierra Vista has filed for a House seat in the district.

Republican Sen. Tim Bee has filed for re-election in District 30.

Maricopa County: Switching Chambers

Nearer to the Capitol, Republican Kirk Adams, an insurance company owner from Mesa, has filed for a House seat in District 19

Sen. Linda Aguirre, D-16, is termed out in the Senate in 2006 and has filed an exploratory committee for a possible House candidacy.

Rep. Chuck Gray, R-19, has filed an exploratory committee for a possible run for the Senate.

Incumbents

Other incumbent legislators who have filed for re-election in 2006 are: Reps. Judy Burges, R-4; Robert Meza, D-14; Steve Gallardo, D-13; Ms. Knaperek, R-17; Michelle Reagan, R-8; Bob Robson, R-20, Bob Stump, R-9; Leah Landrum Taylor, D-16; Ann Kirkpatrick, D-2; Ray Barnes, R-7; David Burnell Smith, R-7, and Rick Murphy, R-9.

Also, Doug Quelland, R-10; Jim Weiers, R-10; David Lujan, D-15; John McComish, R-20; Warde Nichols, R-21; Steve Yarbrough, R-21; Amanda Aguirre, D-24; Olivia Cajero Bedford, D-27, and Phil Lopes, D-27.

Also, Sens. Bob Burns; R-9; Jake Flake, R-5; Gabrielle Giffords, D-28; Ron Gould, R-3; Jack Harper, R-4; John Huppenthal, R-20; Marilyn Jarrett, R-19; Karen Johnson, R-18; Barbara Leff, R-11; Dean Martin, R-6; Jay Tibshraeny, R-21; and Jim Waring, R-7.

A sampling of 2004 legislative candidates shows that nearly 68 percent had filed their candidacies in 2003.

Deadline To File: June 14, 2006

Candidates have until June 14 of next year to file, and the primary election follows on Sept. 12. The number of valid signatures they will be required to gather to qualify for the ballot will be determined by March 1, a state elections official said.

As of April 1, Republican voter registrations were 140,988 more than Democrat registrations. Republicans had 39.9 percent of all registrations, and Democrats were 34.4 percent of all registrations. –