Democrat Felecia Rotellini, 2010's Attorney General election runnerup, announced that she's making another run for the AG post in 2014.
Also, we've found out what 2012 U.S. Senate election runnerup Richard Carmona's up to -- being the chairman of Rotellini's campaign.
See also:
-Terry Goddard Wants to Be AG Again? Puh-lease
-Arizona AG Tom Horne's Sex Scandal Scuttles Gubernatorial Bid
As you may recall, Rotellini lost to Horne in 2010, and a rematch between the two wouldn't be unlikely.
Of course, Horne brings in a bit more baggage -- with the FBI looking into his office, Horne's alleged involvement in a campaign-finance scheme, his hit-and-run incident, and lest we forget, Horne's visits to Carmen Chenal's place.
In Rotellini's announcement yesterday, she says she'll bring back "focus" and, erm, "dignity" to the AG's Office.
If you'd like to read Rotellini's entire announcement, it can be seen on the next page:
PHOENIX, AZ - Saying she intends to return the focus of the state's top law enforcement office to fighting crime and protecting Arizona consumers and small businesses, career frontline prosecutor Felecia Rotellini today announced her candidacy for Arizona Attorney General in the 2014 election. Rotellini, a Democrat and a former Superintendent of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, worked for 17 years as an Assistant Attorney General and agency head under both Republican and Democrat governors and attorneys general.
"I want to make Arizona safer for families, children and law-abiding businesses," said Rotellini. "We need new direction in the Attorney General's Office -- a top law enforcement officer committed to rising above partisan politics. We need an Attorney General to fight criminals whether they carry a gun or a pen, human smugglers and traffickers, those who don't play by the rules, and scammers who defraud our seniors.
"The Attorney General should be an independent watchdog, not a career politician that promotes himself or is accused of violating laws he is supposed to enforce. The circus act has to stop; we must restore integrity back into the Attorney General's Office."
Among the issues Rotellini says will form the crux of her campaign: cracking down on consumer fraud and elder abuse; prosecuting securities and investment fraud; advocating for Arizona's children on a host of issues, including education, healthcare and domestic violence.
Dr. Richard Carmona serves as the campaign's chairman. Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik called Rotellini the right candidate for Arizona in 2014: "In 2010, Felecia won more votes than any Democrat on the ballot. Her no-nonsense message and prosecutor's bona fides mark her as the real deal -- an Attorney General who will go after criminals with the integrity Arizona voters expect from the state's top prosecutor."
In 2010, Rotellini lost a close race to Republican Tom Horne, who remains the subject of civil prosecution over an illegal shadow campaign that pumped more than $500,000 into the race at the last minute.
Said Rotellini: "This race is about who will be the best independent watchdog for Arizona. That's why I feel confident. And I'm looking forward to getting to work."
