TUCSON, Ariz. - Senator McCain may be best known for his work on national and international affairs. But he still watched out for the interests of Arizona, and specifically Southern Arizona.
Senator McCain often spoke of his love for Arizona. As a Senator, he had the ability to turn that love into action.
Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild remembers the Senator as a powerful personality ready to cross party lines in the name of friendship and in the name of serving Arizona.
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He says it made a real impression when on his first day as Tucson's Mayor Senator John McCain showed up in his office and asked to see him.
“We sat and we talked we'd had a relationship before because of Mo Udall, and Senator McCain, had been very close to Mo Udall and stayed with him while he was passing away. And so we hit it off. We didn't always agree on everything. But the one thing that Senator McCain did for this community was, he was a fierce defender Davis Monthan Air Force Base, and always went to bat for the base. But we may not have always agree, but I will tell you, he always treated me with incredible respect. And we would sit and he would tell me stories, and he's going to be missed."
The Mayor says McCain had a quality becoming scarce in politics---the ability to be a fierce political opponent, but still a friend.
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Congressman Raul Grijalva says Senator McCain was a good man who is leaving a strong legacy for the state, and the nation.
“And we disagreed on policy. we disagreed on issues. but it was never personalized. it was about a point of view. and when he could help me he helped me. and when i could support him i could support. but it was a personal relationship and he treated it that way”
Pima County Government noted the Senator's strong support for Davis-Monthan, Fort Huachuca and Raytheon. County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said he could always be counted to represent the best interest of Pima County.
