With the exception of being in the same party as the governor, being a Democrat in the Arizona Legislature is akin to being politically impotent.
At least that’s how Sen. Robert Cannell, D-24, says he has felt for some time, and when he retires from office at the end of the year, he will register as a Republican, practice medicine full time and stay somewhat involved in politics, possibly to someday run again for the Legislature.
Unlike former Democrat Carol Chase, R-23, who last year switched parties during her term, Mr. Cannell says he’ll wait.
“I’m going to stay a good Democrat until the end of the year, or a fair one,” said Mr. Cannell, who announced earlier this year he will not seek re-election.
He told Arizona Capitol Times that if he ever decided to seek a legislative seat again, it would be as a member of the party in charge, “so I could have some power down here.” “I’m not willing to make the personal financial sacrifice, without being a chair or vice chair,” Mr. Cannell said. “Six years here, I think I’d make a good one. I’ll never be one in the Democratic Party. I’m just a guy who wants to be in charge.
“I’m not sure how well I’d fit in the Republican Party, either, but that’s the party that’s going to be in power for awhile,” said Mr. Cannell, who serves on the Appropriations, Health, and Natural Resources and Rural Affairs committees.
He said it costs him between $40,000 and $50,000 per year to serve.
Mr. Cannell’s district, which covers Yuma and LaPaz counties, had a more than 4,000 Democrat voter registration edge as of March 1.
The son of Republican parents, he switched to the Democratic Party about 20 years ago, when he served on a Yuma school board.
Democrats historically have sided with plaintiff attorneys against tort reform, including legislation they say would adversely affect the right to sue or collect full damages in medical malpractice cases.
With the help of Republicans and Governor Napolitano, however, Mr. Cannell’s six years in the Legislature have seen the enactment of three major medical malpractice reform bills, but he said the governor’s veto this session of a measure to increase the burden of proof of malpractice in the emergency room was influential in his decision to go Republican.
Upset over veto
“The fact that she vetoed this last one is really upsetting to me,” he said. “It was a really good bill. It’s hard for a physician to find a place in the Democratic Party.”
Mr. Cannell said he talked to Ms. Napolitano about his decision, and she asked him to keep it under wraps until after the election. A reporter, however, asked about the rumor he might go Republican. “I can’t lie to a reporter,” he said.
When the word got out, he said, a Senate staff member was upset at him.
“I expect I’ll get some grief,” Mr. Cannell said. “Whether I’ll be a total pariah, I don’t know.”
Mr. Cannell said he will support the governor for re-election, will work for the election of Democrat Rep. Amanda Aguirre to replace him and will support former Sen. Slade Mead, a Democrat candidate for state superintendent of public instruction. He added he will remain neutral on Arizona’s U.S. Senate race.
Mr. Cannell, who served two years in the House and was appointed to the Senate to replace Herb Guenther in 2003, has had a fairly successful track record as a Democrat, with eight of his bills enacted, and he was the prime sponsor of a 2002 legislative referendum passed by the voters to increase the tobacco tax. This session, however, only one of his eight bills is still in the waning flow of legislation.
“He’s been a good Democrat,” said Senate Democrat Leader Linda Aguirre. “He’s been very uncomfortable, he’s wanted to do this, and all I can do is wish him well.”
Assistant Democrat Leader Richard Miranda said he doesn’t think Mr. Cannell will ever run again.
Mr. Cannell, who plans on running school-based medical clinics in Yuma and doing part-time practice in his pediatric medicine group, said, “I’m going to change, regardless, even if I don’t run again.”
Vying for the seat
Filings for legislative seats in District 24:
House — Joseph “Mel” Melchionne, Republican; Ken Rosevear, Republican; Lynn Pancrazi, Democrat; Rodney Martin, independent
Senate: Rep. Amanda Aguirre, Democrat; Rep. Russell Jones, Republican; Stanley Lenihan, independent