Wilcox stays on attack in bitter campaign for Congress

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the photo caption. A previous version erroneously used a caption from our opinion section.

On the same day last week that monsoon rains swept through neighborhoods in a Phoenix congressional district, the campaigns of two Democrats locked in a fierce race for the seat were spending their time differently.

Supporters of Mary Rose Wilcox, a survivor of gun violence who has spent 31 years in office, held a news conference in front of her opponent's headquarters decrying his votes for looser gun laws, though Wilcox did not attend.

Ruben Gallego, a two-term state lawmaker who was wearing combat boots from tours in Iraq, was helping fill sandbags for neighbors whose homes were in danger of flooding.

Though it was but a snapshot in a long campaign, the juxtaposition of the activities on Tuesday reflected the tenor of the race since it began in earnest six months ago.

Wilcox went on attack against her rival early, while Gallego, at least publicly, has stayed largely positive. His campaign has pushed aggressively some attacks in recent weeks and Wilcox supporters argue he has waged a negative whisper campaign throughout. A number of rumors have been difficult to pinpoint.

The Arizona Republic looked at the public record, collecting 18 mailers and advertisements produced by Wilcox, Gallego and outside groups supportive of Gallego. Some were positive about the candidate, others were negative about the opponent, while others were "contrast" pieces, which are positive about the candidate but negative about the opponent.

Wilcox sent two mailers that were positive and six that were negative or contrasting. The inverse was true for Gallego and the outside groups that support him. They paid for eight mailers and advertisements that were positive and two that were negative or contrasting.

The groups have spent more than $200,000 for Gallego, while none has backed Wilcox.

The Democrats are in a four-way primary in the 7th District to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz. Their lesser-known competitors are the Rev. Jarrett Maupin and Randy Camacho. The election is Tuesday.

Wilcox's constant attack has been on Gallego's gun record.

She and her campaign staffers mention the line of criticism in virtually every debate, news conference, visit to a voter's home and statement to the media. She hammers it in mailers crowded with pictures of bullets. Wilcox notes that Gallego was given a B+ rating from the National Rifle Association, voted in favor of some looser gun laws as a state lawmaker and at one time carried a gun to work.

In 1997, Wilcox was shot in the hip outside a Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting. The gunman later said he shot Wilcox because she supported a sales tax that funded the Arizona Diamondbacks stadium.

Gallego calls the charges an exaggeration. He voted against other gun-rights measures and lobbied Congress with gun-control activists to tighten background checks.

When Wilcox, in debates or contrast mailers, speaks positively, she touts her elected experience, battles on the Maricopa County Board against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and helping the community, like hosting a basketball league for teens. She promises to take on the gun lobby. And she promotes endorsements from Pastor, former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and other local leaders.

Of the two Gallego mailers that attack Wilcox, he argues she is a politician out for herself.

Gallego accuses his opponent of voting for higher taxes while she failed to pay her own and of buying land from Arizona Public Service Co. for less than market value while voting on issues affecting the utility company. The campaign has pushed the criticisms in the media in recent weeks.

Wilcox's campaign says she got behind on taxes because her business was damaged by Arpaio's retaliation and the recession. She is on a payment plan with the Internal Revenue Service.

Her campaign says she bought the utility's vacant lot at the price it was offered because it was a junk-filled eyesore. She has turned it into a place for concerts, barbecues and other community events.

The majority of Gallego's mailers and public speaking, however, tout his life story and his Arizona and national supporters. He notes he grew up poor, went to Harvard and served in the Marine Corps. He advocates liberal policies on guns, women's health and worker pay. He champions backing from unions, environmental groups, Planned Parenthood and officials such as former Congressman Harry Mitchell.

The Wilcox campaign argues she has taken the high road, while Gallego has papered over his political soft spots. Gallego called the attacks "falsehoods" at one debate, though they were accurate.

The Wilcox campaign also points to Gallego's central role years ago in a bruising campaign against Laura Pastor, a Phoenix City Council candidate and the congressman's daughter.

"Ruben Gallego is a dirty, brass-knuckled politician who will do anything to win," Wilcox spokesman Sam Castañeda Holdren said. "Our campaign has stuck to the facts about Mary Rose Wilcox's record and about Ruben Gallego's record. Voters have a right to know Ruben Gallego voted for NRA-backed bills like 'stand your ground' and increasing magazine sizes for rifles."

Holdren said voters know Wilcox well.

"They love her because of the work she's done to help the community," he said.

The Gallego campaign says Wilcox has attacked him repeatedly because polling showed she was unpopular and Gallego was ahead.

"They decided they had to tear him down because they didn't have a chance of building her up," Gallego spokesman Andy Barr said. "Whether it's the APS deal or tearing down a historic home or a number of other things she's found herself in trouble for, that's what people remember."

He said the attacks on Gallego haven't held up with voters.

"Still to this day, even though we have some contrast (mailers), almost all of our paid messaging is positive," Barr said. "Us telling our story versus them telling their story — he was going to win."