Patty Weiss picked a special spot to kick off her campaign for Congress.
"Palo Verde High School, my alma mater," she said. "It's where it all started for me."
Weiss on Monday becomes the latest Democrat to formally enter what is shaping up to be one of the most crowded and competitive contests on the November ballot: the race to succeed Rep. Jim Kolbe.
But it's not just nostalgia taking Weiss back to her old school. It's also a way to draw attention to one of her top issues.
"Education is our investment in America," she said.
Unlike many of her rivals in Arizona's 8th Congressional District, the 55-year-old Weiss is a familiar figure. A three-decade career as a television newscaster made her a nightly presence in district dens and living rooms.
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"People in this community know who I am and what I stand for and what my values are," the 1968 Palo Verde graduate said.
But Weiss herself knows celebrity can only go so far. Between now and the September primary, she said her goal is to convince voters she has what it takes to be an effective member of Congress.
Highlighting problems and discussing possible solutions certainly will be part of the debate, Weiss said. But, she added, it won't stop there. "My campaign will be based on the potentials we need to pursue."
It is the potential of picking up a rare open House seat in an off-year election that has Dem-ocrats salivating. In a recent analysis of congressional races, The Washington Post determined the party has "a real chance" at a win in CD 8, which it called the fourth-most competitive race nationwide.
Others Democrats now in the race include Gabrielle Giffords, a former state lawmaker; Jeff Latas, a pilot and Persian Gulf War veteran; Alex Rodriguez, a member of the Tucson Unified School District governing board; Francine Shacter, a retired federal employee; and Eva Bacal, a public defender and former TUSD board member who ran against Kolbe in 2004.
Republicans, however, are determined to retain a seat that has been in GOP hands since 1984. Their candidates at this point include Mike Hellon, a former chairman of the state Republican Party; Mike Jenkins, an auto shop manager; and Randy Graf, a former state lawmaker who challenged Kolbe in 2004.
Kolbe, 63, unexpectedly announced his intention to retire the day before Thanksgiving. His district embraces much of Tucson and Southeastern Arizona, including Sierra Vista, Tombstone, and Benson.
What: Patty Weiss announces her campaign for Congress.
Where: Palo Verde High School, 1302 E. Avenida Vega.
When: 10:45 a.m. Monday
