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Congressional Candidate Forum
on the Future of Arizona’s Natural Resources

The vast majority of voters in the state of Arizona say that more should be done to protect their land, air, and water, although when candidates are asked to comment, these specific issues typically take a back seat.

A recent poll of Arizona Congressional District One tells us that 62% of the voters agree that “more needs to be done to help protect our land, air and water.” If you are a member of that 62%, you will want to mark Sunday, June 8 on your calendar to attend a unique and first of its kind candidate forum to hear CD1 candidates speak to these very issues.

While we have no intention of discounting the importance of illegal immigration, health care, and education, we want to hear candidates speak to the issues of river care, clean energy, habitat for fish and wildlife, and the impact of mining on our land, air, and water.

With an initiative driven by the Arizona Wildlife Federation, multiple organizations have come together to promote and support this unique forum. AWF is joined by the Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited, Grand Canyon Trust, the Arizona Conservation Partnership, the Arizona Wilderness Coalition, the Arizona League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Verde Natural Resource Conservation District, and the Sedona-Verde Valley League of Women Voters. Many of these supporting groups will have tables set up at the forum to share information with you.

All the candidates currently in the race have confirmed their participation. These candidates include:

  • Jeffrey Brown
  • Sydney Hay
  • Ann Kirkpatrick
  • Preston Korn
  • Brent Maupin
  • Jeff Riley
  • Howard Shanker
  • Mary Kim Titla

Mark this date on your calendar, Sunday, June 8 th. Tell your family, your friends, and your communities that you want their help in telling the candidates how important these issues are for Arizona’s future. This is your opportunity to make sure your vote for these candidates is based on the issues that matter to you.

Here’s the details:

Sunday, June 8 th 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Camp Verde School District
Multi Use Complex on Camp Lincoln Road

From Hwy 17, take Exit 289; go East 1.5 miles to the school district center.

For more information, contact Trish at 928-853-8206 or trensink@yahoo.com

Here is an interesting position paper written by Larry Audsley on the Tumacacori Wilderness bill. Larry offers as background that 41% of Arizona 's lands are Federal (not counting tribal lands), and that 38% of all Federal lands have special use restrictions. Additionally nearly 15% of the Federal lands are already designated as wilderness. More Info

President Bush signed an Executive Order on Friday, August 17 with the purpose to direct Federal agencies that have programs and activities that have a measurable effect on public land management, outdoor recreation, and wildlife management, including the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat. To read the order click on this icon More Info

Outdoors sage leaves legacy, story by Mark Armijo of The Arizona Republic, Oct. 6, 2007

Bob Hirsch, an iconic figure whose love for the Arizona outdoors helped bring it into the living room through various media outlets, died Friday. He was 79.

Hirsch, a freelance outdoors writer for about 30 years for The Phoenix Gazette and The Arizona Republic , also was the host of a television and radio show geared toward the outdoors.

"He was Mr. Outdoor Arizona," his son Steve said. "He was pretty much the outdoor mouthpiece for Arizona . He was so kind. More than any single person, he led the way to educate the transient population without roots here in Arizona about the Arizona outdoors.

"The big part of what he was about was reaching out to people of all walks of life to try and get them to recreate even if they weren't a hunter or trophy fishermen. He wasn't all about hunting and fishing. He would talk to Rotary Clubs and just everyone about conservation, camping and outdoors recreation."

Steve said Hirsch, who suffered a series of recent ministrokes that ultimately led to his death, graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1945, and in the mid-1960s, he became a public information officer for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

In the 1970s, Hirsch turned to freelancing for numerous media outlets. Twice he was named Outdoor Writer of the Year by the department.

"Bob Hirsch was truly a giant among Arizona outdoor writers," said Duane Shroufe, director of the department for more than 20 years.

"He introduced generations of people to the enjoyment of fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation, and he was a strong advocate for our state's wildlife and wildlife conservation."

Hirsch was inducted into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame in 1999, a year after the late former Sen. Barry Goldwater was inducted.

Hirsch also won several awards from the Outdoor Writers Association of America for a radio show he co-hosted with daughter Ann.

"Bob certainly was the dean of Arizona outdoor writers," said DeWayne Smith, former outdoors editor for The Gazette and a frequent correspondent for The Republic . "The main thing about Bob is he made the outdoors available to people through his writing, his TV and radio shows. He gave them information in how to use the outdoors in a friendly, family-style manner.

"He was the go-to guy about the Arizona outdoors."

Hirsch was the author of several books and for the past 15 years published the White Mountains Map for fishing, camping and hunting.

"Bob has been the voice and personality of Arizona outdoors forever," said Hays Gilstrap, a former member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. "He brought to light the beauty and the opportunity of appreciating wildlife and of conserving wildlife. He's been a wonderful spokesman with a great sense of humor.

"He did all this with a great deal of humility. He wasn't braggadocious. He was very humble. One of the great things he did was introduce so many people to the outdoors experience. He's just been an outdoor treasure."

Hirsch is survived by his wife, Mary, five children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

AES Unit 9 Water Project - Every hunter dreams of putting that 400 class bull in his/her crosshairs. In Arizona, the unit most noted for fulfilling that dream is unit 9. More Info

 
 
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