Cruz for District 29 was the first to air cable television spots in this race, and some folkswonder why we pursued cable television. First and foremost, Ephraim Cruz wants everyone to get involved to make change within District 29. When people hear about the candidate who lost his career (and almost his personal freedom) fighting three different federal agencies to preserve the human and civil rights of those who could not defend themselves under our system, when people learn of the candidate who recognizes that the only long-term solution to alleviate joblessness and under-employment in Southern Arizona is increased spending on public education, when people are introduced to Ephraim Cruz, they realize he is the single best choice for voters in District 29.
Our campaign must devise and execute the most logical and effective means to reach those voters with Mr. Cruz’s message of economic uplift through increased state spending on public education, public transportation, and health care access. Cruz for District 29’s ‘saturation strategy’ involves the creation of multiple avenues of communication with registered voters in District 29, some narrowcast, some broadcast, to both repetitiously bombard registered voters with our message of economic uplift, and to expand the primary electorate with new voters, who are often sensibly practical and interested in the effects their leadership choices have on their daily lives.
During a Sunday afternoon canvass in Barrio Viejo in early June, Mr. Cruz, volunteer Carlos Medina, and I stopped at a door to promote Mr. Cruz’s candidacy. A young woman in her early twenties answered, and we engaged her on our message and the importance of her vote. As a three-year-old boy flittered around her knees, both bashful and exhibitionist like young children often are, the young woman, Angela, explained that she was not a registered voter.
Now, Mr. Cruz founded and operated Students for Barack Obama at Pima Community College in the fall before the Presidential Primary, and personally registered scores of new voters, so we immediately passed the required paperwork to Angela and proceeded to register her on the spot. When she came to the Party Preference blank, Angela raised her quiet, patient, large brown eyes, softly rubbed her pregnant middle, and asked, “What’s the Party that helps poor people?”
Immediately, in unison, Mr. Cruz, Carlos, and I shout, “Democrats!” At the time, we laughed and smiled, and appreciated her support of the campaign and her willingness to join the process. But this story exemplifies why traditional methods of voter outreach disenfranchise those most in need of political representation. Think about it: new voters do not appear on Voter Activation Network spreadsheets; Mr. Cruz, Carlos and I would never have visited Angela’s home if we’d only stuck to the list alone.
Direct mailings further exacerbate this new voter outreach problem. Again, you’re only as effective as your information, and Voter Activation Network databases provide only the contact information of voters according to your search criteria. A cost-effective mailing for District 29 will be delivered to voters who have voted in at least one out of the last three primary elections, as they are the most likely to vote in the upcoming primary election on September 2, 2008. With a crowded primary race, expanding the primary electorate will be crucial to this campaign’s victory in September. Respectable democracies encourage political participation, and Mr. Cruz and I feel strongly that reaching out to every possible voter benefits not only our political philosophies, but more importantly, District 29’s political and economic fortunes.
For example: sitting State Representatives from District 29 supported a measure to allow local law enforcement agencies to perform federal immigration law enforcement duties. Without backlash. Consider the ramifications of an already resource-strapped police department encouraged to perform in South Tucson the Joe Arpaio-style immigration checks on American citizens so commonplace in Maricopa County. The only reason this vote is not more problematic for incumbent Rep. Tom Prezelski is the constricted electorate of District 29, where new voters are rarely encouraged to participate and repeat voters are not informed of the decisions their elected officials make.
Given this, District 29 voters benefit from political campaigns that expand the primary electorate while they promote tangible and substantive solutions to the economic problems of the District. When all voters, regular and new, are asked by political candidates who seek higher office to think about the political issues that matter to them, you end up with a larger, more informed electorate, filled with practical voters who are not attached through tradition or custom to the same old names and the same old failed policies. Cruz for District 29 can win over that electorate, and our unceasing canvassing since May 3, 2008 presents the cornerstone of this ‘saturation strategy’. Since last weekend, Cruz for District 29 has personally visited over five thousand households in District 29.
And these days, evidence of the saturation strategy’s success can be found. We routinely locate voters while canvassing who share with us that they’ve admired our colorful yard signs, received our mailing, heard our radio ads and spied our television ad during episodes of The Colbert Report or Law and Order: SVU. Our strategy reaches voters in District 29; if others learn of Southern Arizona’s best hope for serious political change in Phoenix, so much the better. Non-traditional broadcast methods to reach people make sense if, like our campaign, the desired effect is to open multiple avenues of communication with an expanded primary electorate. People may vote against us because they don’t like our policies, but not because they don’t know our name.
Last night, we met an astounding landmark: thanks to the hard work of dedicated volunteers, donating just a few hours a week to the campaign, we have sent out volunteer canvassers every single day this past August, and the results are in. Thanks to your hard work, the campaign has succeeded in speaking to over 5,000 voters in LD29.
5,000 voters, each receiving the opportunity to speak one-on-one with a representative from the Cruz for District 29 campaign. 5,000 voters, each getting the chance to share ideas and concerns about what they want to see in their next State Representative.
On the ground, we’re hearing stories of triumph: working-class heroes who are working hard to make ends meet. But we’re also hearing stories of struggle: of the storekeeper who waited three hours for police to respond to a 911 call, of the mother who paid her mortgage and has only $3 left for the week, of the grandmother who scrimps and saves to pay for the chemotherapy her health insurance doesn’t cover.
Ephraim Cruz believes that LD29’s next representative needs to hear the voices of voters in the district. Thanks to your hard work, we’ve personally contacted 5,000.
We’ve still got one more week (and two more weekends) left of campaigning and there are many more voters that we still want to talk to. Help us let those voters be heard: come to canvass at our remaining weekend canvasses.
Ephraim Cruz Becomes First Candidate for State Representative of LD29 to Air TV Ads
TUCSON, Arizona (August 20, 2008) – Cruz for District 29 released their first cable television commercial, “Weight”, on August 19, 2008. Ephraim Cruz is currently the only candidate for Arizona State Representative in LD29 to utilize cable television to reach voters in the Tucson, AZ media market.
“Weight” was shot on location at Boxing Inc. Undisputed on August 12, 2008 and Cruz for District 29 completed production with Cox Media on August 16, 2008.“Weight” will air extensively on both English and Spanish cable television stations throughout the remainder of the local primary season. Both the English and Spanish versions of “Weight” can also be viewed at EphraimCruz.com.
“Using our Clean Elections-funded campaign budget, we purchased an advertising schedule that rivals local congressional candidates,” said James Lamb, campaign manager for Cruz for District 29. “Reaching voters where they are – whether they’re watching American Morning on CNN or Primero Noticias on Galavisión – offers a non-intrusive method to communicate electoral choices to a diverse constituency that I’m surprised more local campaigns haven’t tried.”
“Weight” adds to a growing variety of grassroots techniques Cruz for District 29 has employed to appeal to voters including mailings, yard signs, door-to-door canvassing, and English and Spanish radio advertisements.
Ephraim Cruz is a whistleblower and a former U.S. Border Patrol Agent. While stationed at the Douglas Border Patrol Station, Cruz witnessed human rights violations being perpetrated against detainees, including prolonged starvation of women and children. Cruz blew the whistle to stop these abuses, and was consequently forced to resign from the U.S. Border Patrol on November 9, 2007 after nearly 10 years as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent. Cruz launched his campaign for the Arizona State House on March 24, 2008.
For more information, please visit the campaign website at EphraimCruz.com.
Thank you for all your hard work this week. No one can drive south past 22nd Street and miss our campaign, and for that I thank you.
Still, door-to-door canvassing presents our single best option to offer change in this campaign. We have to stay on the ground as much as possible, and I ask you for your help this weekend to meet this goal.
We will meet at 1656 East Mabel Street, at 3 PM on Saturday, August 9, 2008. We will have a short training on canvass particulars, and then hit the streets!
Our activity during these next few weeks will maintain the street-level support we require to win. I ask for your help this Saturday at 3 PM to offer voters in District 29 the information needed to make a reasoned choice for State Representative. Our campaign has always promoted public education, public transportation, and healthcare access in Southern Arizona, because that’s exactly what voters in District 29 wish to improve.
The status quo isn’t good enough in this election. I ask you to help me change things. See you this Saturday at 3 PM.
Ephraim Cruz
Candidate for State Representative from District 29 Cruz for District 29
I just got back from our general volunteer meeting earlier this afternoon, and I was completely blown away by the level of energy and enthusiasm. We had nearly twenty volunteers show up on the middle of the day on a Saturday, and all were excited to be involved in the Cruz campaign. More volunteers emailed us earlier this week letting us know they wouldn’t be able to make it, but that they were ready to jump into high gear this coming month.
We discussed the overall campaign strategy and showed some previews of our upcoming publicity materials. After the meeting, which took about an hour, a few of us donated even more of our time and canvassed the streets to talk to voters!
The level of support volunteers are demonstrating is truly astounding.
I can’t wait to get to work! If you want more information and sign up for the many, many outreach events we have scheduled this month, please shoot an email to questions@ephraimcruz.com.
Andres Gabaldon, one of Cruz for District 29’s most dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, was injured in the arm earlier tonight. Andres was taken to the University Medical Center, where the campaign was relieved to hear he is expected to make a full recovery.
Cruz for District 29 sends our most heartfelt prayers to Andres and his family. Cruz for District 29 supporters who wish to send their thoughts and well-wishes to the Gabaldon family can send them care of the campaign at questions@ephraimcruz.com.
Check out our brand-new radio spot, titled “Service” (.mp3). It will run on “The John C. Scott Show”, on 690 AM KVOI “The Voice”, throughout the remainder of campaign season.
I was thrilled to be a guest on Mr. Scott’s show earlier this morning. I really enjoyed our conversation on the pressing political issues facing District 29. A recording of my appearance on the show will be available shortly.
My heartfelt thanks go out to Mr. John C. Scott and Mr. Gerald Cross for their professionalism and assistance. Listen to “Service”, and email me at questions@ephraimcruz.com with your comments!
