Mr. Nice Guy • Rep. Mark Anderson of Mesa, R-18, pledges to run a positive campaign in announcing a run for Congress and looking to take on freshman Democratic incumbent Harry Mitchell. Anderson faces at least three opponents in the Republican primary. Among his backers are House Majority Leader Tom Boone (left) and Rep. Rich Crandall of Mesa’s District 19.

A crowded Republican field in an East Valley congressional district just got a little more crowded, as a veteran state lawmaker announced Jan. 16 he is entering the race.
Rep. Mark Anderson, R-18, said he hopes to change what he sees as an ineffective and dysfunctional Congress. The legislator said his idea may be “idealistic and impossible” to some, but Anderson believes he can prevail.
“The timing is right. Voters are looking for change,” he said.
Anderson, who chairs the House's Education K-12 Committee, said Congress needs to be held accountable for what he called irresponsible spending, scandals and extreme partisanship, all of which have lessened the voting public’s confidence in the nation’s lawmakers.
“When Congress doesn’t work, serious problems that affect people’s lives don’t get addressed,” he said. “Once we have Congress working again, we’ll be able to address many of these other issues.”
He said he will not resign his legislative seat.
House Speaker Jim Weiers will co-chair Anderson’s campaign committee and praised the 14-year Capitol veteran for his ability to work with all sides of an issue.
“Mark’s a person who knows how to get a solution to some very difficult problems,” he said.
And Rep. Andy Tobin, R-1, said Anderson would be an ideal representation for the district, which includes Scottsdale and parts of Tempe, Phoenix, Chandler and Mesa.
“He’s committed so many years to Arizona’s children,” Tobin said. “Now he wants to go to Washington, D.C. to commit to America’s children.”
Anderson joins former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert, fomer lobbyist Jim Ogsbury and Corporation Commissioner Jeff Hatch-Miller as candidates for the Republican nomination in Congressional District 5. Former legislator Laura Knaperek has also expressed an interest in running, as has former Scottsdale City Councilwoman Susan Bitter Smith.
Democrat Harry Mitchell currently represents the district and faces his first re-election campaign later this year.