Another Fannin to fore in Arizona

Human Events, Jul 23, 2001 by Gizzi, John

Politics 2001

Next to Goldwater, the name Fannin is the most revered among Arizona Republicans. And the destinies of the two families have been intertwined since Paul Fannin and Barry's brother Bob Goldwater were roommates at Stanford University (class of 1930).

When the Goldwater brothers were building up their department store: before and after World War II and becoming prominent in Phoenix civic life, so was Fannin, head of a gas and equipment company. When Sen. Barry Goldwater was romping to a big reelection in 1958, Paul Fannin was winning his first term as governor of the Grand Canyon State, only the second Republican to hold the office.

As Richard Nixon's handlers pleaded for a unanimous nomination for their man at the 1960 Republican National Convention, a defiant Gov. Fannin placed Barry Goldwater's name in nomi-. nation, setting off a wild demonstration that launched a movement. Four years later, when Goldwater finally won the GOP nod for President and abandoned his Senate seat, old friend Fannin narrowly won it and went on to serve until his retirement in 1976. Barry Goldwater has been dead for nearly three years, but, at 94, Bob Goldwater and Paul Fannin live on, respected as two of the genuine "First Citizens" of Phoenix.

So it was really no contest two months ago when Arizona Republican Chairman Mike Minnaugh resigned his party post and the GOP State Committee elected the former senator's son, Phoenix attorney Paul Robert Fannin to succeed him without opposition. Clearly, the party wanted someone at the helm who was well known and well respected in the business community and could raise money. Sure enough, in the first fundraising dinner for state legislative candidates under Fannin's aegis, more than $160,000 was netted-a record for such GOP events.

"I decided to take the job after talks with [Republican Sen.] Jon Kyl and [Republican Rep.] John Shadegg," the 65-year-old Fannin told me. "Although I was having a very rewarding career with [the law firm] Steptoe and Johnson, I recalled how Jon Kyl left private practice at the peak of his career to run for the House back in 1986. I felt it was time for me to do something similar."

For Bob Fannin ("I go by Bob because between Dad and my nephews and grandnephews, we have a couple of Pauls in the family"), the task of leading the GOP could be tough. His tenure begins while state Republicans are still embroiled in internecine warfare over past differences. Moreover, with the influx of new residents that gave the state two new U.S. House districts following the 2000 census, Arizona can no longer be counted on as the safe Republican turf it was in the heyday of his father and Barry Goldwater.

BY JOHN GIZZI

Mr. Gizzi, political editor of HuP^AN Evi;.siri-rs, welcomes political intelligence from subscribers on campaigns and issues at the local and state level. Though he cannot reply to all correspondents, we appreciate your contributions. Write: One Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001

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