Arizona Gaurdian
Adam Sneed
Republican candidate Jim Ward launched his first television advertisement in his bid to become the party's candidate for Arizona's 5th Congressional District.
The 30-second spot that hit the airwaves Tuesday features Ward pushing his career as a business leader. He also reminds voters he has been endorsed by CD3 Rep. John Shadegg, who is retiring after 15 years.
Ward, who entered the CD5 race in June 2009, is a business executive and former president of George Lucas' video game company, LucasArts. He is now a partner at the venture capital firm Alsop Louie and serves on the board of directors for the social networking site Gowalla.com.
Ward has never held or run for public office before, which he says gives him an advantage in the election. Two of his opponents, David Schweikert and Susan Bitter Smith, both ran unsuccessfully for the Congressional seat in 2008.
"The message around being a businessman and a nonpolitician is what is absolutely resonating with people, and certainly that's what our television ad is going to do," he said.
Ward leads his Republican opponents in money raised with more than $640,000, according to financial reports from July. He reported more than $283,000 in cash on hand, but trails Schweikert in that category by more than $150,000.
