Other articles by C.j. Karamargin:

Lawmakers face 50 bills that deal with border Bill: Migrant laws must be enforced Phoenix-area voters remember their ID Ignore voter registration ruling, state official says Greene stops run for Ariz. governor U.S. panel says voters don't have to prove citizenship Kolbe: Real ports issue is container inspection Drivers' use of cell phones faulted Napolitano starts bid for re-election; 12 others in, so far C.J. Karamargin: A sea change? Grijalva, Kyl in agreement on ports issue

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Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo is headed to Tucson to help Randy Graf get to Washington.

Tancredo, the self-proclaimed GOP point man for a get-tough border policy, will headline a $75-per-person breakfast fund-raiser for Graf on Friday at a Downtown hotel.

The opinion page of The Wall Street Journal recently described Tancredo as the guy who wants "to make America the world's biggest gated community." The front page of The New York Times dubbed him a one-time "Capitol pariah on immigration" who is now a force to be reckoned with.

Graf, a former state lawmaker making his second bid for the Southern Arizona House seat from which Jim Kolbe is retiring, clearly wants to hitch his campaign wagon to Tancredo's star.

"Meet the two men in the nation most responsible for keeping illegal immigration at the forefront for the American people," notes the invitation to the event from the Graf campaign. The posterity-minded can plunk down an additional $20 for a color photo with Tancredo or Graf. And rest assured, it's "suitable for framing."

So far, the only other Republican in the running to succeed Kolbe is Mike Jenkins. Word is the party is still scrounging around for another candidate.

Wis. solon hangs out in S. Tucson with Raúl

Maybe it's our warmth that brings congressmen from cold-weather states to Tucson in January.

David Obey of Wisconsin was here last week, soaking up some sun and spending time with his House pal, fellow liberal Raúl Grijalva.

After lunch with the Tucson Democrat at Las Cazuelitas on South Sixth Avenue, Obey told the Notebook that congressional ethics — or the lack thereof — will be high on the agenda when lawmakers return to work in a few weeks.

"Congress should be spending time dealing with the problems of the country, not problems with itself," he lamented.

Obey is at work on a package of measures that would, as he puts it, sever the link between legislating and lobbying. It includes clamping down on congressional trips paid for by lobbyists.

Rep. John Shadegg: Arizona's anti-DeLay?

Speaking of ethics D.C. style, a conservative Web site has thrown its support behind an Arizonan's attempt to become the next Tom DeLay.

Well, that's not quite true. John Shadegg doesn't want to be the next beleaguered House majority leader whose cozy relationship with a high-powered lobbyist sends election-year shivers down the spines of congressional Republicans.

No, Shadegg wants to be the anti-DeLay. And that's why RedState.Org likes the congressman from Phoenix. The Web site called him a committed conservative, a team player and a reformer who represents a much-needed "new face."

Shadegg announced Friday that he will compete in the Feb. 2 House leadership contest. Congressmen from Ohio and Missouri also are running.

Elias gets the chair

The gavel is being clenched by a new fist at the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

Richard Elias, the "supe" from District 5, recently took over as board chairman from Sharon Bronson of District 3. Both are Democrats.

"It was time for a change in leadership," the 47-year-old Elias said. "It will be a new challenge for me."

Elias was appointed to the board in February 2002 after Raúl Grijalva stepped down to run for Congress. He has since been re-elected twice. Bronson served as chairwoman for five years.

Please, Mr. Postman, is there a ballot for me?

The growing trend of mail-in voting has given Steve Leal an idea: Why not make mail balloting the norm?

At the suggestion of the Ward 5 city councilman, Tucson's elected leaders will take up the idea at their weekly study session, beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.

About half the city's voters now do their civic duty via the U.S. Postal Service. As recently as 1999, only 17 percent of voters cast their ballots by mail.

According to the city, mail-in voting can boost turnout but not necessarily reduce the cost of conducting an election. Hardly a surprise, considering the cost of a stamp just went up 2 big cents.