Mr. Lord goes to Washington?

Local tax attorney hopes to ride wave of energy into U.S. Congressional seat

by Jason Stone

Tax attorney Bob Lord is a big proponent of solar energy. The Democrat said it is one of the main reasons he is running for U.S. Congress in District 3, a seat currently held by Republican John Shadegg. Submitted photo

NORTH VALLEY – It has rarely, if ever, been a good time to be a Democrat when running for Congress in Arizona’s District 3, a traditional Republican base.

But with Congressional approval at an all-time low and the state’s demographics constantly changing, Bob Lord figures this is as good of a chance a Democrat has to win as any.

“Twenty years ago,
you could forget about
running (as a Democrat),” Lord said. “This race is real and this is close.”

The race Lord is speaking of is his battle against Republican incumbent John Shadegg, who earlier this year announced he would not run for re-election only to change his mind later.

Now the two are locked in a heated battle as a recent Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll showed only 39 percent of voters favored re-electing Shadegg.

That’s a statistic Shadegg hasn’t faced in his last seven elections, all of which he has won.

Lord said Shadegg has over-stayed his welcome and questions his desire after trying to walk away from the post.

“I think the fact that he wasn’t going to run just shows that his heart isn’t in it,” Lord said.

One of the reasons Lord, a local tax attorney, picked up the energy to run for office is just that – energy.

Lord is a major proponent of solar energy – he’s even installed panels on the roof of his home – and believes it is not only a fiscal issue but a national security problem.

“We need to get off our dependence of foreign oil and come up with alternative energy sources,” Lord said. “(Shadegg) just wants to keep it the way it is.”

A Washington D.C.-native and father of seven, Lord shares most of the views of the Democratic platform heading into this August’s convention.

Two areas he said he disagrees with Barack Obama, the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democrats, is in gun rights and tax cuts.

Lord said he is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and does not want to limit gun ownership. He also disagrees with most Democrats who want to overturn President Bush’s tax cut for the top 2 percent.

“We’re not going to solve our deficit problem with a tax increase,” Lord said.

Spoken like a true tax attorney. Lord is hoping he can speak it like a politician come November.

Deer Valley Education Foundation director Marie Brennan (right) presents Harkins Theatres president Dan Harkins with a thank you plaque at the new theater's grand opening.

Harkins holds Deer Valley Foundation premiere

Theater shows continued commitment to schools
in grand opening

by Jan B. Jacobson

The community not only gained a new theater for entertainment when Norterra opened its doors in late April, it found a neighborhood partner in Harkins – one that benefits education, specifically the Deer Valley School District.

More than 400 local residents recently were the first to visit the new Harkins Norterrra 14, which held a gala to benefit the educational enrichment programs of the Deer Valley Education Foundation.

“We love to give back to our community,” Harkins president Dan Harkins said about the partnership with the foundation.

The event began with a reception and included a silent and live
auction and raffle, food and entertainment. A screening of
the soon-to-be-released film, Saving Grace, followed. The writer, director, producer and lead actress of the film, Fay Ann Lee, was on hand to answer questions about the film and greet the guests. More