Wampum

I spent much of entire day a few weeks back, looking for potential Indian challengers to Rick Renzi's seat in Eastern Arizona, and came upon Ms. Titla. Well, she's tossed her hat into the race.

Mary Kim Titla to run for Arizona Congress
By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

SAN CARLOS, Ariz. - Mary Kim Titla, Former journalist and founder of Native Youth Magazine Online, has some news of her own: she has decided to seek the seat in Arizona's 1st Congressional District.

"After much soul searching and prayer, and after being encouraged by voters, I am humbled and honored to inform you I have decided to run for Congress for Arizona's First Congressional District," Titla said.

...

"I am ready to be a real voice for the people, and although I am a conservative Democrat, I intend to reach out and better serve all citizens of District 1no matter what party they belong to," Titla said. "I want to hear from the people, so I will initiate a 'Hear The People Tour' when I make my official announcement. I'm listening carefully now."

Born and raised on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in southeastern Arizona, Titla was nearly given away for adoption by her young unmarried parents. Her father, Phillip, only 16 at the time of her birth, lived in a two-room house with no plumbing or electricity. Her parents eventually married and had five more children. Phillip is now a master wood carver and high school teacher; her mother, Charlotte, is a retired social worker.

Photo from Gallup Independent

The Arizona 1st is the most Indian Congressional district in the US, with 22% of the population identified as Native American on the 2000 census. The district itself is majority Democratic, but only just, and is socially conservative and fiscally liberal, like many Indian and Latino areas. The Democratic primary is heating up, with potentially a half-dozen candidates, most of them white, Ms. Titla's entrance may bode well for an Indian taking that seat.

h/t Indianz.com