While we've all heard quite a bit about Jeff Flake and Wil Cardon; and to a lesser extent, Bryan Hackbarth and Clair Van Steenwyn; we've not heard so much about Dr. Richard Carmona. He's the Democratic candidate for the Senate, and he's running unopposed.

Dr. Carmona served as Surgeon General of the United States of America, under President George W. Bush. According to his campaign information, he's come a long way. "Born to a poor Hispanic family in New York City, Dr. Richard Carmona experienced homelessness, hunger and bleak prospects for a future education and economic opportunity. After dropping out of high school, he earned a GED and went on to serve as a combat-decorated medic with Special Forces in Vietnam. Dr. Carmona went to college and medical school on the GI Bill, becoming a trauma surgeon, hospital administrator and eventually the 17th Surgeon General of the United States."

Carmona will be in Prescott on Friday, at the Rowle P. Simmons Adult Center from 5-6:00 PM. After his time there, he will head to Lyzzard's Lounge from 6:00 - 7:30 PM.

Dr. Carmona, who is also expected to meet earlier in the day with veterans, will have an interesting reception in this Republican stronghold. On the one hand, when he was registered as an Independent, he served under Republican President George W. Bush. He is also a combat Veteran, a credential typically held in high respect in Prescott, which is home to the Bob Stump Veteran's Administration Medical Center. On the other hand, Carmona is running as a Democrat, and is willing to staunchly defend key platform issues such as global warming, embryonic stem cell research, emergency abortions and abstinence-only sex education. 

On the other hand, Carmona is running as a Democrat, and is willing to staunchly defend key platform positions on such issues as global warming (he is in support of measures to address global warming), embryonic stem cell research (he is in favor of embryonic stem cell research), emergency abortions (he believes in abortion rights for women) and abstinence-only sex education (he is not in favor of abstinence only sex education).

Editor's note: The last paragraph was re-written for purposes of clarity.

When: Friday, July 27 5-6:00 PM

Where: Rowle P. Simmons Adult Center
1280 E. Rosser Street
Prescott, AZ

When: Friday, July 27 6-7:30 PM

Where: Lyzzard's Lounge
129 N. Cortez Street
Prescott, AZ