Congressional District 8 candidate profiles

Ron Barber walks slowly to a podium as a room full of supporters cheers loudly. He smiles and extends his hand.

Instead of a handshake, Phillip Rotondi of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, has a surprise for Barber - a pair of red boxing gloves.

"To prepare you for Washington," says Rotondi, as the crowd laughs.

"Well, that's unexpected right there," says Barber, smiling and then pausing. "But, it is a fight. And we are going to do it in a way that we know how is best, and that is, stick to the issues and not make things up."

The moment is illustrative of how much the life path of Barber, 66, has changed since a gunman opened fire at Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' campaign event at a Safeway in northwest Tucson on Jan. 8, 2011.

Before that day - when six people were killed and 13 others wounded, including Giffords and Barber - Barber was entrenched as Giffords' district director, the latest chapter in a career of helping people behind the scenes and out of the public eye.

Today, he's the man at the podium, the name on the campaign signs, the shooting survivor, and the target for the slings and arrows unleashed during a high stakes congressional campaign.

Just as he was finishing his battle back from nerve damage in his left leg, caused by being shot twice that day, Barber was asked in February to accept an equally daunting challenge: run to replace Giffords and keep the Congressional District 8 seat that she held for six years in Democratic hands.

When Giffords, who resigned in January to focus on her recovery from being shot in the head, asked him to run to fill her seat, he had to contemplate it with his family.

"The last thing on my mind was running for office," Barber said. "I just wanted Gabby to get back in office."

Barber, who had once promised his wife, Nancy, he would never run for office, reneged on that vow because he wanted to give back to a community that has been good to him his entire life, especially since the shooting.

"I've been in public service all of my adult life, and this is another opportunity to serve the community that I love so much," Barber said. "I know the people, I know the issues. Working with Gabby, I really know what's important to the people of Southern Arizona."

Ron Barber likes to say he's a semi-native of Tucson.

Born in England, Barber came to the Old Pueblo in 1959 as a teenager after his Irish mother married an American serviceman who was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

He met his Tucson-native wife, Nancy, soon after. They fell in love, and eventually married and had two daughters. Ron and Nancy Barber have the daughters and four grandchildren over every Sunday for dinner.

The couple owned a small business, Toy Traders/Stork's Nest, for 22 years. Barber worked 32 years at the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities, including as the state director. Then, in 2006, he went to work for Giffords, becoming her district director in 2007.

Those deep roots and knowledge of the community are why Barber understands so well what makes Southern Arizona tick and why he is a trusted leader, said Rodd McLeod, who is working on Barber's campaign and worked on Giffords' campaigns.

Jane Holbrook met Barber 30 years ago while he was working with Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities. Barber's guidance made a difficult period much easier for Holbrook, a mother of a disabled son.

"Ron is a kind and gentle man whose quiet resolve is a force to be reckoned with," said Holbrook, a Republican. "He's so ethical, and he's so honest."

GOP critics, however, say Barber will be nothing more than a "rubber stamp" for failed policies of President Obama, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats. Critics also wonder if he's ready to make the jump from his career as a behind-the-scenes bureaucrat to congressman.

But Barber believes his 5 1/2 years as Giffords' district director and his lengthy experience prior to that in administrative posts prepared him.

"I am not going to have to start learning how to do this job on June 13," Barber said.

After entering the race in February, Barber quickly squashed the notion that he would be a caretaker of the seat, saying that's not his nature. He further trampled down that idea when, in mid-March, he announced he would also be running in the newly drawn Congressional District 2 in November.

Though he gushes about how much he learned from and admires Giffords, he wants to be judged on his own merits.

"I am running as Ron Barber for Congress not Gabrielle Giffords' guy Ron Barber," Barber said. "I really want people to vote for me or not vote for me depending on what they think I can do for them."

Barber's campaign has centered on fighting for the middle class and protecting Social Security and Medicare. He's also pledged to focus on medical and mental-health services for veterans; supporting military families and bases; creating more job opportunities in Southern Arizona; balancing the budget; and bolstering border security.

He's painted himself as a person who has proved he can work across party lines to find solutions to complex problems. Several well-known Republicans have crossed the aisle to endorse him, including former Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, former state legislator Pete Hershberger; City Councilman Steve Kozachik; and former TUSD board member Laura Almquist.

Barber says he's the only candidate voters can trust, and who truly understands the issues and people of the district.

"I will not be telling people one thing and then doing another or trying to change my position," said Barber.

Contact reporter Brady McCombs at 573-4213 or bmccombs@azstarnet.com

With his wife and two young sons by his side and a group of supporters behind him, Jesse Kelly is in his element as the cameras roll.

Standing beneath a ramada at a Tucson park, Kelly announces the launch of a group called "Women for Kelly."

"Women who appreciate the fact that we have a plan to get this economy back on track," says Kelly in a booming voice. "We have a plan to lower the cost of gas, which will lower the cost of food and all the goods and services we buy every day."

Then, he launches into one of his favorite topics - talking about how awful President Obama is.

"Women in the workforce, women at home, women doing both, they've had enough of a president that is long on promises and short on delivery," Kelly says.

His voice deepens as he makes his oft-repeated vows of lower taxes for small businesses and Americans, and cultivation of more domestic oil and natural gas, solutions he believes will right the economy and even shore up the future of Social Security and Medicare.

In his second run for Congress, the 30-year-old Kelly has presented himself as calmer and more mature, but the root belief system that drives his conservative stances remains the same - less government is always better.

"It's endless government interference, and I see it every day as a small businessman," said Kelly, a project manager in the family business, Don Kelly Construction.

Like so many in Southern Arizona, Kelly came from somewhere else. Born in Steubenville, Ohio, Kelly with his family moved to Bozeman, Mont., when he was 9 years old.

Though he doesn't talk much publicly about his formative years, he's joked about being the designated light bulb-changer growing up, thanks to being 6 feet 8 inches tall. And he's made fun of his own judgment when, as a 15-year-old in chilly Bozeman, the first car he bought was an International Scout 2 for $500.

"It could drive over buildings but didn't have a working heater," said Kelly.

After high school, he briefly went to Montana State University, but didn't graduate. In 2000, Kelly joined the Marine Corps. He led an infantry squad into combat in Iraq in 2003 and was honorably discharged in 2004.

He moved to Tucson that year and went to work for the family construction business. He and his wife, Aubrey, a former University of Arizona gymnast, plan to make Pima County their permanent home and raise their two young boys here. They attend Tucson's Alive Christian Fellowship Church.

"My faith in God is not part of who I am: It is who I am," Kelly said. "It is everything to me. I believe in this nation because I believe this nation has absolutely been blessed by God on high."

At forums and debates, Kelly introduces himself as a father and husband, combat veteran and small businessman. He tells people that he's not a politician, but is seeking public office so his sons can grow up in a free country without an overbearing government.

Those who know him say he's an honest, devoted family man. Janice Rimer of Tucson met Kelly four years ago and became a supporter because of his integrity and consistency.

"He doesn't change the way he feels depending on what kind of crowd he's with," said Rimer, who has three children and 11 grandchildren. "I don't want to hear a typical politician."

But Kelly's inconsistency on issues, namely changing his opinion about privatization and elimination of Social Security and Medicare, is exactly why critics and Democrats say voters shouldn't trust him. Critics also question if a relatively young man with no college degree and less than 10 years in Arizona is qualified to represent the district in Congress.

For this story, Kelly turned down repeated requests by the Arizona Daily Star for an interview. His spokesman, John Ellinwood, said he didn't have enough time. He takes only a few questions at press conferences.

He doesn't talk about what he learned from his tea party-backed 2010 campaign, when he lost to Giffords by 4,000 votes. This time, though, he has revamped his image.

Gone are the campaign ads with pictures of him holding weapons from his Marines Corps days. Gone are the campaign events inviting supporters to shoot fully automatic M16s with him to "Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office." Gone are the quips that he "hopes there are no liberals left" when he gets to Washington, D.C.

This campaign, Kelly has surrounded himself in TV ads with women, children and his grandpa, Hank. His campaign events have been family affairs used to tout his support from seniors and women. His recently revamped website now advocates for bipartisan solutions to protect Social Security and Medicare.

Judiciously choosing his words and hammering home a platform of lower taxes, a better economy and more jobs, Kelly comfortably won the four-way Republican primary in April.

He's largely stuck to that playbook in this general election, though he's also spent considerable time trying to persuade voters that he's dedicated to preserving Social Security and Medicare despite his past comments about privatizing and phasing out the two benefit programs.

He envisions becoming a member of a Congress the Founding Fathers envisioned.

"When they created this country, they didn't want all politicians or all one thing or another," Kelly said. "They were lawyers, they were soldiers, they were business people. They came from all walks of life. We need that kind of diversity in Congress."

Contact reporter Brady McCombs at 573-4213 or bmccombs@azstarnet.com

Charlie Manolakis figured the fastest way on to the ballot in this special election was as a Green Party candidate.

So, the 72-year-old longtime Democrat registered with the Green Party in February and got 13 signatures - eight more than he needed. His candidacy survived a legal challenge, ensuring that the retired substitute teacher will be on the ballot in the Congressional District 8 special election alongside Democrat Ron Barber and Republican Jesse Kelly.

He has been telling potential voters he is an "independent Democrat."

Though he's never run for public office, he says he has been a community activist for 40 years, standing up for civil rights and against the military-industrial complex. He says he was asked to run for governor of Massachusetts when he was involved in a movement against the military-industrial complex.

"Every movement I've been in, I've been a leader," Manolakis said. "I've always been interested in health-care reform, and I've always been interested in the major issues of the country. I've been a very active citizen."

Born in Lowell, Mass., he grew up rafting down the Merrimack River playing as if he was Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.

"I could take on any personality I wanted: El Conquistador, Native American, cowboy, Range Rider, Davy Crockett," Manolakis said. "I really enjoyed it. That's how I developed a great love of nature."

He moved to Boston when he was 12 and went to the University of Massachusetts, where he earned a degree in psychology.

He arrived to Tucson in 1974 after hitchhiking around the country with his dog. He fell in love with the area, which appealed to him as a budding photographer.

"The beauty around here, the sun and the light," Manolakis said. "I really loved it."

He is retired now but worked as a substitute teacher and counselor, he says.

He advocates for a single-payer system so more people can have health care.

"The greatest social injustice is to deny people health care," Manolakis said.

His campaign flier advocate for four issues:

• Health care for all.

• Bring the troops home as quickly as possible.

• Create jobs.

• Make sure all social contracts are in simple, direct and clear language.

Though he hasn't raised any money, and faces long, long odds to defeat Barber and Kelly, he said he's in it to win.

"I've got momentum going," he said. "And, I know that in a lot of ways I have the backing of the people."

He's the owner of 12 medals in the Senior Olympics, 10 of which are for swimming events. He still runs, swims or hikes regularly and loves to dance.

"I can run 10 miles a day, swim three miles anytime, and I can dance all day," Manolakis said.

He said he often goes to local festivals to dance and enjoy the music.

"I could make thousands of dollars for my campaign if I collected money for all the pictures taken of me dancing," he said.

Contact reporter Brady McCombs at 573-4213 or bmccombs@azstarnet.com