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As if the field of candidates in the District 8 congressional race weren't vast enough, late Wednesday night a new name popped up on the Secretary of State's Web site: Bill Johnson.

As of now, Johnson, who is running as a Democrat, is a mystery man. His campaign manager, however, is not.

Russ Dove, a local border-issues activist who might be best known for publicly burning a Mexican flag in April, is heading up Johnson's campaign.

"In time we'll be willing to share with the world" who Johnson is, Dove said. All right, just keep us posted.

In the meantime, Johnson seems to be incognito. The campaign won't provide any biographical information or Johnson's positions on issues. They won't agree to an interview or even a quick cup of coffee just to chat.

But we do know that Dove and Johnson are co-founders of American Democrats for a Secure Border. It's an "educational" group, Dove says.

What's also curious is Dove has ties to Republican candidate Randy Graf's just-fired campaign manager, Steve Aiken, a local radio talk show host.

Dove was Aiken's "border reporter" for about a year, but left about two months ago, Aiken said. Aiken said that with illegal immigration becoming such a dominant theme on his show, there "just wasn't a need for a border reporter" since he handles the topic himself.

Aiken said he wouldn't know who Johnson was if he passed him on the street. Neither would the rest of us.

The Graf campaign says there aren't any ties between the two campaigns, but Democrats think otherwise.

While every other candidate in the race — the five additional Democrats and five Republicans — are hitting up party events and dying for media coverage, this stealth candidate hasn't even met key people in his own party, says Donna Branch-Gilby, chairwoman of the Pima County Democratic Party.

"It's like something out of Monty Python," said Branch-Gilby, who has heard rumors that Johnson's intent is to start a "Democrats for Randy Graf" group after losing the primary.

"He's presenting himself as a Democrat in name only," she said. That's "based on his anti-humanitarian stand on immigration," she said.

Still, Johnson is official.

So, Mr. Johnson, just let us know if and when you plan to reveal yourself.

Save Michael Moore, he's probably the guy best at making liberals weak in the knees.

His name is Howard Dean, and the former presidential candidate turned Democratic National Committee chairman is dropping by Tucson later this month to talk about "the Democratic Party's bold vision for real change in America."

Some view Dean as a hero. Others, remembering sound-bites like "I hate Republicans and everything they stand for," see him as a divisive political figure. Either way, Dean has raised washtubs of money he's spending across the nation — including right here in Tucson — to try to take over Congress.

The local event is scheduled for June 29 at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave., and in an attempt to keep Democrats excited about the midterm elections, there will be a special drawing for a baseball bat signed by Dean.

Why, you ask? "Because this year we are hitting it out of the park!" or so says the Pima County Democratic Party Web site.

Just be careful. Last time Dean got overly ambitious about winning (remember his speech after a disappointing showing in the 2004 Iowa caucuses when he screamed "Yeeeeeeeearrrrrrhhhhh!"?), he yelled his way right out of presidential politics.