Liberal group puts Renzi on 'most corrupt' list

26 Sep 2005 // A liberal advocacy group is going after Arizona Republican Congressman Rick Renzi, listing him as one of the 13 "most corrupt" federal lawmakers.

The left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is criticizing Renzi for fundraising report discrepancies. The CREW group also claims that Renzi's position related to the Fort Huachuca Army base near Tucson helped his father's federal contracting company.

Renzi's office dismissed the CREW report, saying the group is biased against Republicans and conservatives.

"This group is run by one of the biggest Democratic Party donors in the nation and is a mouthpiece for its fierce political attacks," said Renzi's office in a statement Monday. "The group's biased accusations show the campaign season is starting early."

The CREW faults Renzi for failing to itemize campaign contributions and some other campaign finance paperwork issues in his two election victories.

Renzi has had to file and re-file updated and corrected campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission.

On the contracting issue, Renzi's father, Eugene, is an executive vice president with Virginia-based ManTech International (NASDAQ: MANT), which has a number of contracts at Fort Huachuca. Eugene Renzi is a retired U.S. Army general.

In 2003, Renzi worked to help keep the southern Arizona base open and allow for possible expansions by exempting it from some water regulations related to water levels in the nearby San Pedro River.

CREW said that helped benefit ManTech, which also is a Renzi campaign contributor.

The Washington D.C.-based liberal group listed 11 other Republicans and two Democrats on its list of "most corrupt" members of Congress. That tally includes San Diego GOP Congressman Duke Cunningham, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Sens. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and Rick Santorum, R-Penn. and Democratic U.S. Reps. Maxine Waters of California and William Jefferson of Louisiana.

The CREW list does not include embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, a top target of the political left. The 13-list is meant to highlight lawmakers beyond DeLay.

Renzi faces a challenge from former Democratic state legislator Jack Jackson Jr. next year.

A Jackson spokesman declined comment on the CREW study.

Renzi's rural Arizona congressional district is the state's most competitive federal contest and includes Flagstaff, the Navajo Nation, Payson, Prescott and Florence. The district has a slight Democratic voter registration edge but is socially conservative. The seat was created after the 2000 census, and Renzi has bested Democratic opponents in both 2002 and 2004. The Republican has received substantial Bush administration and business backing, including from banks, defense contractors, retail and real estate interests.

Jackson, an openly gay Navajo, served as state Indian affairs director under Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano.