U.S. Senate hopeful Rodney Glassman meets and greets Maricopans

U.S. Senate candidate Rodney Glassman was in Maricopa Saturday evening for a meet and greet at the home of Councilman Marvin Brown, one of his campaign co-chairs

Brown and his wife Helen hosted a group of 50-60 friends who gathered to learn about Rodney Glassman, vice-mayor of the city of Tucson until he resigned to begin his senate campaign. As a councilman Glassman tackled Tucson’s water shortage by championing the first-ever rainwater ordinance, which requires new commercial development to harvest and reuse rainwater, and requiring new homes to include gray-water plumbing to reuse rainwater for landscaping. Both measures are now being adopted by cities across the Southwest.

Who is Rodney Glassman? 

Glassman grew up in California, playing ice hockey and becoming an Eagle Scout. He attended the University of Arizona, earning a PhD in Arid Land Resources and was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps Reserve.  He met his wife Sasha in law school, and the couple is expecting their first child in November.

In addition to serving on Rep. Raul Grijalva’s Congressional staff, Glassman served on the Arizona State Farm Bureau for three years, has been a consultant to KB Home Tucson and founded the Glassman Foundation, which has raised over $1 million for children’s charities.

Although Glassman is running as a Democrat, he said, “Arizonans aren’t worried about Republican or Democratic ideas—just good ideas.”

He cited the following facts about Arizona:  more than 50 percent of homeowners are upside down on their mortgages; on average in most states the tax allocation coming back per person is $45; Arizonans get $15, and Arizona has the worst student to teacher ratio in the country.

“I care about our schools,” said Glassman, who believes Arizonans do, too. “Recently we passed a sales tax against ourselves in the midst of the biggest recession since the Great Depression. Even in the worst of times, Arizona cares about the future.”

“Arizona is concerned about jobs, education and sustainability,” Glassman said, “but those aren’t just state issues; they’re national issues as well.” He sees himself as a champion of immigration reform, but says, “The economy is not right for a boycott.”

At age 32, Glassman said he will be a young U.S. senator, but one who believes in our state and will raise his family here. He wants to keep tax dollars at home instead of exporting them for ‘pork’ projects. “This election is about the future of our state.”

Glassman’s platform includes plans to:
Create jobs for Arizona by helping small businesses and keeping American jobs here at home.
Restore faith in government by cracking down on special interests and ending pay-to-play in DC.
Strengthen education and prepare our children to compete in the global economy.
Guarantee retirement security by strengthening Medicare and fighting efforts to privatize Social Security.
Make Arizona the clean energy capitol and promote innovative solutions to protect our environment.
Honor our troops and veterans by giving them what they need to get the job done and the support they deserve when they complete their service.

The Glassman campaign is also sponsoring an “Arizonans for Glassman” photo contest, which lasts until July 4. Supporters can download an official Glassman for Arizona sign and take a photo of the sign somewhere in Arizona. The top photos will be used for marketing purposes. The first place winner will receive a Flip camera; second place is dinner for two with Glassman and a special guest in Flagstaff or Tucson, and third place is a Glassman for U.S. Senate Supporter Pack. Enter the contest at www.rodneyglassman.com/puttingazfirst.

For further information on Glassman and his campaign, or to donate, call 888-997-4429 or go to www.rodneyglassman.com.

Photo by Joyce Hollis