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The story begins in 2002, when Raul Grijalva vacated his seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors to run for Congress, and Rodney, among others, submitted his name as a potential replacement. Despite being a 23 year-old who did not live in the district of the seat to which he sought appointment, Rodney relentlessly pursued Grijalva’s seat, saying he would even consider mounting a primary challenge against whichever Democrat received the appointment.
In November 2008, Rodney already began to eye Sen. McCain’s senate seat, as rumors of the four-term Senator’s retirement surfaced. Then, rumors about Rodney himself started flying when he refused to commit to serving out his term on the Tucson City Council, claiming he had been approached “for other local things, other statewide things, other federal things.” In fact, when asked, point blank, whether he would serve out his complete term, ending in January 2012, “Glassman simply would not answer.” Rodney’s been caught “talking himself up” as Secretary of State material, too. Members of the media have joked that Rodney may be after Arizona’s governorship, especially since “three of Arizona’s last five governors ascended from the Secretary of State’s office.”
Rodney’s overly ambitious nature has garnered national attention, as noted political analyst Stuart Rothenberg wrote that he would not “be shocked if Glassman didn’t already have his 2020 Presidential campaign sketched out somewhere,” noting, “it’s pretty obvious that the young political wannabe will do whatever he needs to do to make his mark.”
McCain 2010 Communications Director Brian Rogers released the following statement regarding Glassman’s past political pursuits:
“From threatening to primary fellow Democrats for a seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors as a 23 year-old to abandoning his Tucson City Council seat only halfway through his term this year, Rodney Glassman has clearly shown that for him, public office isn’t about serving the people of Arizona, it’s all about serving Rodney Glassman. Why else would he brag about being the ‘Vice Mayor’ of Tucson, when in fact that’s an unelected title that rotates among all City Council members and carries no added power? It sounds as if Glassman feels the need to inflate his resume since on its own, it doesn’t reflect any real experience -- just personal ambition.” -- McCain 2010 Communications Director Brian Rogers
FACT CHECK: GLASSMAN HAS A LONG REPUTATION FOR BEING A “POLITICAL WANNABE,” RELENTLESSLY SEEKING POLITICAL OFFICE SINCE AGE 23
Glassman Has Long Sought Elected Office On A Variety Of Levels:
After Raul Grijalva Resigned From The Pima County Board Of Supervisors In 2002, Glassman Submitted His Name As A Potential Replacement, Despite Being Only 23 At The Time. “A dozen people want the vacant seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors created when Democrat Raul Grijalva resigned to run for Congress. Applicants - 10 men and two women - include a former City Council member, a former state senator and a University of Arizona senior research analyst. Those who filed official papers yesterday, the deadline for applications, are: … Rodney B. Glassman, former University of Arizona graduate student and a former Democratic precinct worker. He is vice president of Gateway Ice Center.” (Garry Duffy, “12 File For Grijalva's Supervisor Job,” Tucson Citizen, 2/20/02)
· Glassman Wasn’t Even Living In The District Of The Seat To Which He Sought Appointment. “Glassman, who this year sought appointment to the Pima County Board of Supervisors even though he failed to live in the appropriate district, responded with one of his lawyers, Michael Crawford.” (Chris Limberis, “Rinky Dink,” Tucson Weekly, 10/31/02)
· Glassman Said At The Time If He Wasn’t Selected To Serve On The Board, He Would Consider Mounting A Primary Challenge Against Whichever Democrat Was.
“Whoever is selected today to fill the vacancy on the Pima County Board of Supervisors created by Democrat Raul Grijalva's resignation won't have much time to settle into the $54,600-a-year job. Instead, he will be looking ahead at potential challenges in the party primary Sept. 10. … Rodney B. Glassman, vice president of Gateway Ice Center, said he is considering running in the primary, even if he's not appointed.” (Garry Duffy, “Grijalva Replacement May Face Busy Primary,” Tucson Citizen, 2/26/02)
Glassman Was Already “Eyeing” A Run For The Senate In November 2008, After He Had Been A City Councilman For Less Than A Year.
“As the 2008 presidential returns rolled in with the bad news for Sen. John McCain, retirement rumors swirled around him. But McCain quickly dispelled most of them when he set up a PAC as the first step toward running for a fifth term. … At this point, the Democratic field includes Rodolfo Garcia, a Tucson resident who is a former Bell Gardens, Calif., City Council member. Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman is also eyeing the contest.” (“Republican-Held Seats,” National Journal's CongressDaily, 11/24/08)
Last Year, Glassman Refused To Commit To Serving Out His Council Term, Claiming He Had Been Approached About Running For “Local Things, Other Statewide Things, Other Federal Things.”
“As rumors fly that Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman may be eyeing a statewide bid for - oh we don't know, secretary of state in 2010? -- the Democrat is being quite coy about his political plans. He won't commit to serving out his term, which runs through January 2012. And the ambitious young city councilman won't rule out a run for the SOS slot either. Glassman tells Notebook he's been approached about running ‘for other local things, other statewide things, other federal things.’” (Daniel Scarpinato, “Political Notebook: Daughter Of McCain Has A Mind All Her Own,” Arizona Daily Star, 4/19/09)
· “Asked Several Times If He Would Commit To Serving Out His Full Term, Glassman Simply Would Not Answer.” (Daniel Scarpinato, “Political Notebook: Daughter Of McCain Has A Mind All Her Own,” Arizona Daily Star, 4/19/09)
While He’s Now Running For Senate, Just Last Summer Glassman Was “Talking Himself Up” As Secretary Of State Material.
“State Rep. David Bradley, D-Tucson, says he's decided not to run for governor next year. But he is in the early stages of considering a bid for secretary of state, Arizona's second-highest elected office. … That might not bode well for Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman, who we hear has been talking himself up as SOS material. But the 31-year-old first-term councilman has refused to spill the beans to Notebook. If he pursues it, and succeeds, he’d end up just a heartbeat away -- three of Arizona's last five governors ascended from the Secretary of State's Office, after a predecessor stepped down. Gov. Glassman anyone?” (Daniel Scarpinato, “Political Notebook: Jockeying Gets Under Way For 2010 Governor's Race,” Arizona Daily Star, 7/12/09)
Political Analyst Stuart Rothenberg: “I'd Be Shocked If Glassman Didn't Already Have His 2020 Presidential Campaign Sketched Out Somewhere.” (Stuart Rothenberg, “Same Party but Two Very Different Candidates,” Roll Call, 6/22/10)
· Rothenberg: “It's Pretty Obvious That The Young Political Wannabe Will Do Whatever He Needs To Do To Make His Mark.”
“I wouldn't be surprised if Glassman eventually has a long career in politics even if McCain beats him like a drum in November. It's pretty obvious that the young political wannabe will do whatever he needs to do to make his mark.” (Stuart Rothenberg, “Same Party but Two Very Different Candidates,” Roll Call, 6/22/10)
Glassman’s Poisonous Personal Ambition Was Recognized As Far Back As 2003, When A Tucson Weekly Writer Urged Glassman To “Pack Up All Your Inflated Resumes, Your Grandiose And Unsolicited Position Papers, Your Boasts… And Get That Tahoe On Interstate 10 Heading Out.”
“Please, Rodney, leave. Pack up all your inflated resumes, your grandiose and unsolicited position papers, your boasts, your toasts, your roasts … your lunches at McMahon's Prime Steak House and your maniacal cell phone use -- and get that Tahoe on Interstate 10 heading out.” (C.L., “Get Out of Town!,” Tucson Weekly, 12/8/03)
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