Voters from Arizona’s sprawling Second Congressional District gathered Thursday in a small office near Prescott’s famous Courthouse Square to shake hands and take pictures with Congress’ new representative, Rep. Eli Crane.
Arizona, R-Crane is his first to represent a newly redrawn district that begins in the low desert south of Phoenix, extends east to the New Mexico border, and then north to Utah. It’s only months away from the semester. He crosses Flagstaff and turns west toward the Grand Canyon.
The 150 or so people who visited the Prescott field office demonstrated the diversity of the area by asking for help on issues ranging from veterans’ benefits to halted stocks. rice field.
David Drye and Scott Beck hail from the small community of Clown King, high in the Bradshaw Mountains, 26 miles off the road. They are members of the community fire department’s board of directors, and to thank Crane for sending his chief of staff earlier in the week to tour the area to better understand public safety issues for them. I was there on
Fire stations do not have indoor restrooms. With four full-time firefighters and a handful of volunteers, the Fire Department is a stop on busy weekends as visitors come to horseshoe and cornhole contests, and to zip around his popular 4-wheel-drive route. I’m eating .
“We have to do something,” Dry said. “Maricopa continues to grow.”
The board secured a $1 million grant and helped pass a $1 million bond to support the new fire station, but more equipment was needed and the community needed road support. and in some cases even require the presence of law enforcement to help the crowd.
Former Navy SEAL Eli Crane goes out to his district
Crane, 43, was a member of the Navy SEAL who left the University of Arizona to enlist after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. .
He and his wife have two daughters and live near Tucson. They started a business called Bottle Breacher, which they later sold, and appeared on the TV competition show Shark Tank. Crane also served as a brand ambassador for Sigsauer Firearms.
Crane was among a small group of Republicans who refused to vote for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in January when he was the last freshman holdout from many of his own party. It immediately attracted unfriendly attention.
It took 15 votes for McCarthy to secure the position, and Crane never voted for him, only “present” in the final ballot.
Paiute Readers who want to reserve
San Juan Southern Paiute President Johnny Lehi Jr. came to his office to thank Crane for reintroducing legislation to create reservations for the Lehi people of Arizona and Utah.
The tribe obtained federal recognition in 1989 and signed a contract to create 5,400 acres of land with the Navajo in 2000, but the treaty still needs to be ratified by Congress.
Democrat Rep. Tom O’Halleran, whom Crane lost last year, had introduced the bill when the northeast corner of the state was his precinct before the boundaries were redrawn.
“We’ve been waiting for over 20 years,” Lehigh Jr. said of the reservation. “We’re really proud that it’s been pushed forward.”
Crane said he reviewed the law and found it made sense and easy to support. Lehi said he was grateful for Crane’s visit to the area.
“I told him his ancestors were buried there,” Lehigh Jr. said of the need for reservations.
Lehi Jr.’s father signed a contract with the Navajo Nation in 2000. Lehi Jr. said she hoped to complete his contract while her grandmother was still alive.
“Most of the elders who fought for it left waiting for it to be ratified,” he said.
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Supporters say Crane reflects their priorities
Luke Cyrano stood in line to thank Crane for what he promised voters once he got to Washington: he promised to fight for them.
“He’s doing exactly what people want,” Cyrano said, visiting with Lions of Liberty board members.
The group, which Cilano calls a religious group, was involved in monitoring ballot drop boxes in Yavapai County last year, but was suspended amid a lawsuit.
He said Crane’s refusal to vote for McCarthy was one of the things he liked about Crane.
Cyrano said of Rep. Paul Gossard, whose 9th congressional district in Arizona now straddles the west side of the state, “we lost Gossard in our party by re-districting.” “But we got Eli. He’s phenomenal.”
The event was scheduled to run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., but the long line of voters who arrived before the start faded as 8 p.m. approached.
Crane took his seat after listening to the last part.
He didn’t hesitate when I asked him what impressed him the most in those three hours.
“The person who impressed me the most today was the man who prayed with me,” Crane said. “I thought that was really cool. He’s not here to talk politics. He’s here because, like me, he believes faith matters.” It meant a lot.”
Please contact reporter Ryan Randazzo. ryan.randazzo@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4331. Follow him on Twitter @UtilityReporter.
