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By Ronald J. Hansen | Arizona Republic
Republican congressional hopeful Walt Blackman likes to talk about the past, whether it’s his two decades in the military or his wife’s family founding the town of Snowflake.
What he doesn’t play up is his recurring problem with money.
Blackman, R-Snowflake, faced criminal prosecution over bad checks in Texas, lost multiple cars to repossession in California and was tagged with a default judgment over credit card debt last month in Arizona.
It’s a rundown of what he characterized as “financial struggles” that stretches back 30 years and includes his time in the Army, his efforts as a self-employed businessman and now as a state lawmaker hoping to replace Rep. Tom O’Halleran, D-Ariz., in Congress.
Others in the Republican primary have their own histories.
For example, Ron Watkins, the longtime administrator of 8kun,the QAnon conspiracy’s favorite message board, presented sensitive Colorado voting information at a Mike Lindell election-conspiracy gathering.
After an FBI raid last year, Colorado officials have been indicted on state charges of allowing the information to be copied and given to someone else, though court documents don’t identify that person. Watkins has not been charged, and it is unclear whether authorities view him as a suspect.
Businessman Eli Crane had a 2019 traffic offense in Marana, for which he paid the $225 fine.
The candidates:Arizona GOP congressional contenders affirm election conspiracies, seek leaner government
Blackman: ‘Our priority was me staying alive’
