According to the Arizona Guardian:
Ben Quayle posts spotty voting record in public elections
TUESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2010 00:08
By Dennis Welch
The Arizona Guardian
Ben Quayle, the latest candidate to jump into the packed Republican primary for the 3rd Congressional District, has had an inconsistent voting record since registering in the state 13 years ago, according to the election files of both major political parties.
Quayle, 33, the son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, participated in two Republican primaries but has never cast a ballot in a municipal election since registering in the state in May of 1997, according to voting databases maintained by the state Democratic and Republican parties.
Quayle did vote in three general elections, including the 2008 presidential election in which he cast an early ballot, the records show. For several years, Quayle lived in California and New York, but told the Guardian on Monday he should have taken a more active role in public elections.
“Like a lot of people my age I haven’t been involved in politics,” Quayle said. “I probably should have been more active and that’s my fault.”
But when asked when he first became interested in politics, Quayle said, “I’ve always been interested in public service ever since I was a kid.”
Quayle’s voting record disappointed many well-known Republicans who questioned the level of his commitment to local issues and public service. His voting record, many political observers predict, would become a major issue he’ll have to overcome to win the primary.
“You don’t run for an office as important as Congress and expect that no one is going to question your lack of involvement as a citizen,” said Jaime Molera, former state superintendent of public instruction and Republican lobbyist.
Qualye’s father, Dan Quayle, surprised the state’s political community last week when he announced on national television that his son was running for office.
Dan Quayle served as vice president under President George Bush from 1989 to 1993. Since moving to the Valley full-time after getting out politics, the Quayle family hasn’t been very active in the local Republican Party and has kept a low profile.
Ben Quayle, who will officially launch his campaign sometime next month, said he was prompted to run for the open congressional seat because he thinks President Barack Obama is leading the country down the wrong path.
But to win the GOP nomination, he’ll have to overcome a crowded field of candidates that include former state lawmakers, current and former mayors and other well-connected politicos.
The regularity of voters are tracked by political parties and kept in a database to help political parties and individual candidates with their get-out-the-vote efforts.
Quayle voted in GOP primaries in 1998 and 2002, according to files kept by the Republican and Democratic parties. He cast ballots for the general elections in 2000, 2006 and 2008. Quayle said he lived in California and New York from 2002 to 2006 where he practiced corporate and real estate law.
He’ll vying to replace U.S Rep. John Shadegg, who is retiring after 16 years in office. His announcement last month sent shock waves through the state political world and politicians abruptly quit their offices or other campaigns to battle for the seat.
Already in the field are former state Sens. Pamela Gorman and Jim Waring, former Rep. Sam Crump, Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker, former Paradise Valley Mayor Ed Winkler and Paulina Morris. Several other candidates, including Phoenix Rep. Adam Driggs, are still considering a run.
Ben Quayle said the Obama administration has served as a wake-up call for him politically, and he plans to run a campaign focused on fiscal responsibility and cutting federal spending.
Great, he has been here since 2006, wants to be Congressman and does not vote much. What commitment!
Ben there, done that.
Jim Warring is the man for the job. He has 50 percent support, and is a hard worker and solid conservative. Vote Warring if you want to stop the massive spending and growing deficit.
Jim Warring has this one in the bag! He’s up 50% in the polls.
Jim Waring understands that we need to focus on jobs and getting our economy back on track. He’s a true conservative and I’m definitely voting for him.
I agree with maybeimamazed. Ben really isn’t qualified, nor does he have the right experience. We need someone like Waring with experience and true conservative values.
Ben: Become a PC first and see what grassroots politics is all about first.
Whitman can get away with not voting for a decade or so because she was a Fortune 500 CEO mom.
You’ll sure have some ‘splain’ to do Jr.
Ben..maybe you should go by the AZ GOP…if you know where it is…and sign up to be a volunteer…or at least attend an Arizona republican function for once. who do you think you are..the son of a Vice President sure…but in no way should you think that the folks in my district will send you to Congress to represent us. You do not know the folks in District 3. spend the next 20 years involved and then think about it.
Quayle is just another republican replacement popping out of the woodwork. Waring has double-digit leads over his opponents and I suspect it’ll stay
Fat chance, Ben. I agree with that Waring is looking pretty good in this race.
Waring holds a substantial lead in the GOP primary race to replace the retiring Rep. John Shadegg
Waring is running behind “Undecided” by about 60%. This race is wide open.
I would also like to know how someone who endorsed Tony Bouie can be considered a real conservative. Waring, Gorman, and Parker endorsed Bouie.
Something else to consider about Waring is that his wife owns a business in Northern Virginia. If he gets elected to Congress, where do you think he will go when he wants to go home. Will it be to his empty house in his district or his wife’s home near Washington, DC where his wife and children will live? He will have to choose between staying in touch with his district, staying in touch with his family, or having his wife sell her business or hire someone else to manage it.
Waring is a hard working politician, but he is not a small government conservative.
POTATO!!!
There I said it. The cat is out of the bag.
Despite all of Waring’s astroturf here, the poll showing him with 50% is as rigged as the midway games at the state fair – it was conducted by his own campaign consultants.
http://www.dolanmedia.com/view.cfm?recID=567424
Let’s see what an impartial poll shows.
Where are the impartial polls? shoot, we do not have a front runner by a long shot and more people might jump in and run. GLAD THAT WARRING’S 5 FAMILY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS GOT ON HERE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT, HA,HA.
Is there a need to criticize one of the candidates wives? I think not.
I attended a mixer for Ben Quayle tonight, I spoke with Ben for 30 minutes and I think he is wise beyond his years. He understands the big picture better than many republican politicians I have spoken with. I think his lack of voting record is an issue, but I think his ideas are worth a look and his integrity toward deficit reduction is refreshing.