Witnessed the Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989, and the end of Soviet domination

Jonathan Paton is now running slightly ahead of incumbent Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in the race for Congress AZ CD-8. The District includes Tucson and a huge area of the border region.

Via Hedgehog:

US HOUSE – ARIZONA – CD8 (Tarrance)
Jonathan Paton (R) 45%
Gabrielle Giffords (D-inc) 44%

Paton is a libertarian-leaning conservative. His background includes small business, world travel and a stint in the Army Reserves. From his Bio:

As a student at Sabino High School, Jonathan worked at Marie Callender’s as a busboy and dishwasher, saving up the funds to go to Germany as a Rotary exchange student. His year abroad in 1989 was an important time in Germany’s history. He watched the Berlin Wall fall and took with him the images of people experiencing freedom for the first time.

After graduating from the University of Arizona summa cum laude and with honors in German and Russian, Jonathan enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and was promptly named Soldier of the Year.

Participated in the Liberation of the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein

In the State Senate Paton has been something of a crusader against coruption, particularly in state government. He went up against ex-Gov. Janet Napolitano on welfare, and transparency on child protection services. He is currently Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman.

On issues of great interest to Pro-Defense Libertarians and Rightwing Human Rights advocates:

•Jonathan wrote the nation’s first law to crack down on human smuggling -- a law that has already locked up more than 1,000 human smugglers.

•Jonathan wrote the law to divest state investments from Iran after seeing first hand in Iraq the IEDs manufactured in that country to kill American soldiers.

•Jonathan eliminated the state income tax for active duty military personnel, a $10 million tax cut for military families.

A Republican win over Giffords would be a major upset, and add greatly to the chances of GOP control of the House. The Giffords seat, although targetted, originally was not high on the list of "likely" Republican pick-ups.

PatonforCongress.com