A political newcomer no more, Oro Valley resident Jo Holt is getting an early jump on her campaign for state Senate.
Holt filed paperwork this week to form her campaign organization, telling the Mari- copa Monitor she plans to run a traditionally funded campaign this go-round rather than being restricted by the rules of running a Clean Elections campaign. Holt ran for office for the first time last year as the Democratic Senate candidate in Legislative District 11 — which includes Oro Valley, Saddlebrooke, Maricopa, Arizona City, part of Eloy and a west-side sliver of Casa Grande — but lost to Republican incumbent Al Melvin by a double-digit margin.
Melvin, however, announced earlier this year that he intends to run for the Republican nomination for governor next year, prompting Maricopa’s Steve Smith, currently in the House of Representatives, to announce he would run for the LD11 Senate seat.
Holt said the difference between facing Smith over Melvin won’t mean much to her campaign.
