By Sergio Arellano-Oros
What popular radio host, Jon Justice, of 104.1FM The Truth, has lobbied for and long awaited has finally happened; Steve Kozachik has switched parties. He didn’t become an Independent as everyone had hoped, instead he has become a Democrat.
The Steve Kozachik Intervention Facebook group, with over 350 moderate and conservative members, started by Justice, finally got its wish; Kozachik has left the Party.
From uncivil attacks toward Senator Frank Antenori to theatrics like a bipartisan town hall full of democrats and insults toward his own party, it seemed like Steve Kozachik was caught in a rapidly descending downward spiral to self destruction. In what some viewed as a not surprising move, Steve Kozachik let it all out yesterday evening by sending a letter out to constituents and to news outlet stations informing them of his decision to switch parties.
In the letter, Kozachik outlines how he was approached by the Republican Party and that he informed leadership from the start that his political views were more of a moderate standpoint and that bipartisanship would be the key to republicans retaining the Ward 6 seat. Several members of the community say the one thing they all noticed at one time or another was as one person put it, “Steve Kozachiks bipartisanship must mean going against everything the Republican Party and the constituents that vote him in stand for.”
Kozachik also claims that the Republican Party has been taken over by “ideologues” that do not care about the well being of the city or its residents therefore bringing “shame and embarrassment” not only to him but to the Republican establishment. But reveals what many consider to be the real reason for his defection; his snow ball’s chance in hell for re-election. Complaining that Republicans stayed mute throughout the 9 month long redistricting process, which in turn lead to huge defeats on all levels of public office for Pima County this past 2012 election. He also complains about the lack of involvement by the GOP in budget prioritizing discussions, and other significant issues such as water policy, public safety and transit.
Prior to the change of political party Kozachik would often be asked to explain his seemingly sudden change in ideology. He would respond that he had not changed, but the party has taken a more extreme approach to include his one time friend and supporter Jon Justice.
When reached for comment Jon Justice had this to say “I’m glad Steve K finally stopped lying to the public. The GOP didn’t change Steve K changed. From the day he took office to the day he endorsed Ron Barber in the special CD8 election every Friday he came on my show. He never took issue with the content of my show. My show and views never changed. This is the first time I have ever witnessed such a clear betrayal of a politician to the people who supported him. The PIMA GOP, Tucson Tea Party and the Jon Justice Show all supported his election and stood by him after. He has stabbed all of us in the back. The Pima County Democrats deserve to have him.”
Another republican said of the move, “I’m just glad he is finally gone from our Party. I found it completely within his “newly found” Democrat identity that he could lie without blinking an eye. When interviewed today about his switch, he said he had always told the Republicans that he was a moderate. I couldn’t believe it! When he ran in 2009, he was completely and enthusiastically in with the Tucson Tea Party which was even then considered much more conservative than the Republican Party. The Tucson Tea Party even held events for him, along with the other two Republican City Council candidates, where he was on stage surrounded by American flags. What a liar; what a good Democrat.”
Still another republican hopes to make Kozachik’s move a trend, “The perfect switch,” they said. “Now if we can only get Ray Carroll to be just as honest.”
All in all, there is no love lost on either side, but his old supporters are bidding Councilman Kozachik farewell all over Facebook with posts of a song with a familiar refrain; “Sha na, na, na, sha, na, na, na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye!”
