Tuesday, October 27, the Gila County Board of Supervisors voted to enter the “Copper Communities Alliance”. This newly formed organization is a committee formed by Gila County, Pinal County, and participating cities and towns for the purpose of promoting the passage of a congressional land exchange bill needed for the Resolution Copper Mining project near Superior, AZ. This project is overwhelmingly supported by local governments, and citizens throughout the Copper Corridor.

The problem with this “alliance” becomes apparent as Gila County Manager Steve Besich explains its origin and membership. County Manager Besich, himself, though a good manager, an ardent Democrat, and once described as “old union” kind of politics. He was tapped by newly elected Governor Janet Napolitano to serve in her administration, but soon returned to Gila County.

Mr. Besich explained that this alliance was the idea of Congressman Anne Kirkpatrick-D (CD1) for the purpose of clarifying local communities’ support for the project and the land exchange legislation. However, Mr. Besich, and staff, were charged with the task of forming this official “alliance”. He stated right off that he had decided that in doing this he would not fall into the trap of ‘why did this elected official get selected and not this one.’

This is what the “alliance” decided: Chairman, Senator Rebecca Rios-D (LD23); member, Representative Barb McGuire-D (LD23); member/speaker, Supervisor Pete Rios-D (Pinal Co); member, Supervisor Mike Pastor-D (Gila Co); member, Mayor Fernando Shipley-D (Globe). Numerous other cities and towns throughout the Copper Corridor will also be represented in the alliance, but the members are not known at this time.

 To give this “alliance” a little slack, these areas do have a lot of elected democrats that have a representative interest in this project. It is the lack of “R’s” that I find interesting, or dem’s that are not necessarily sympathetic to Anne’s reelection.

Recently, when Senator Kyl and McCain’s senate land exchange bill received a subcommittee hearing, all of the dem’s except the chairman boycotted the hearing. It is reported that Kyl secured this hearing by holding Obama’s federal judge confirmations hostage. On top of the democratic boycott, only Resolution Copper President David Salisbury was permitted to speak for the legislation, while a number of individuals in opposition to the bill were permitted to speak. This was not for lack of supporters present at the hearing.

Congressman Anne Kirkpatrick’s hard work in promoting her House version of the land exchange legislation is rather hard to see. In an article published in a Globe area paper, Kirkpatrick was asked what she is doing to get her bill a committee hearing. Her response was, “ We are doing this.” (Attending a project tour event for Secretary Salazar in Superior). She further stated that she was meeting with concerned parties.

Concerned parties have been met with and heard for about five years. Copper Communities Alliance looks more like Committee to Reelect Anne Kirkpatrick.