IN 1992, PAUL Marsh was the underdog Republican who managed to sneak past two better-funded campaigns to win the GOP primary in safely Republican District 4. Today, he's chairman of the Board of Supervisors. During his first term on the board, Marsh has distinguished himself as a solid pro-development vote. He's rarely voted against rezonings and he stubbornly resisted the imposition of impact fees. He's also grumbled to the dailies that he's frustrated that the public's business has to be conducted in front of the public--Marsh feels more could be accomplished behind closed doors. Marsh ran on a promise to cut the county government staff and budget by 5 percent a year. This year, the board passed a record budget and there are more employees now than when he was sworn in. Marsh's contribution to the budget process was a call for a 10-percent across-the-board budget cut; but he's yet to explain in depth how the cops and courts are supposed to get by on less. In the GOP primary this year, Marsh faces not two opponents but a single, well-connected, well-financed one: John Even, a retired lawyer who has served two terms on the Pima Community College Board of Governors. Having cut his political teeth on the PCC board, the smooth-talking Even now wants to move up. He argues that he's simply a better candidate than Marsh. Both men have impressive warchests to use to reach the approximately 47,000 Republicans in District 4. Both have already spent nearly $20,000 on their respective campaigns. Marsh may yet prevail against Even. While he may not have two opponents to splinter the vote, he does have incumbency. Not that it did Reg Morrison any good four years ago. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Craig Runyon and Libertarian Ted Glenn, neither of whom had raised more than $250 at the end of May. Given that nearly half of District 4's voters are registered Republicans, only 37 percent are Democrats, and Libertarians make up just 1 percent, it's unlikely either Runyon or Glenn will be serious contenders for the office.

 
 

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