Professor running for Congress wants to fight 'special interests'

Brian Foster Arizona Daily Wildcat Political science professor Tom Volgy, who is currently running for Congress, relaxes yesterday in his office. Volgy, former Tucson city councilman and mayor, is trying to turn back the clock and make campaigning more personalized again.

Goaded to action by what he perceives as corruption in Congress, a UA political science professor is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives - while continuing to teach a full course load.

"Only rich people can afford to leave work to run for office, and I'm not," said Tom Volgy, a University of Arizona professor since 1972. "The political stuff is an act of passion, but the teaching and research is my profession."

A former Tucson city councilman and mayor, Volgy said he used to teach while holding office and balanced the two jobs without trouble.

"I don't let the two interfere with each other - I kept them separate," he said. "It worked quite well."

He said he will campaign at night and in the morning.

Volgy, 51, said he wants to upset the special interests that are marring the policy-making process in Washington.

"Special interests buy and sell Congress wholesale," he said. "There are literally hundreds and hundreds of special-interest pacts with Congress making sure they get their way and we don't."

Volgy, a Democrat, said corruption stains policies on everything from the environment to student finances.

"Students get lousy loan deals because banks have special interest and they force Congress to give loans to students at a higher interest," he said.

Special interests keep their stranglehold on Congress through massive contributions to elected officials' campaigns, Volgy said.

To fight this hold, he would introduce into Congress the Tucson model of Campaign Finance Reform, which he created 15 years ago as a councilman, Volgy said.

This model made Tucson the only city in the world where campaign costs have decreased, he said.

The policy holds candidates to spending only 50 cents for every registered voter by promising to match every dollar generated with city funds if the candidate agrees to the limit.

Prior to the model, there was no cap on campaign spending, Volgy said.

"Before people were beholden to the interests who financed their campaign," he said.

If he is elected to Congress, he will take a leave of absence from teaching at the UA, Volgy said.

Bill Mishler, head of the UA Political Science Department, said he will support Volgy in his decision to take a leave of absence if he is elected.

"It would create a hole in our department, but I would consider the greater good that he would do," Mishler said. "I'd be happy to try to facilitate the service of someone as talented and dedicated as he."

Volgy was named Outstanding Teacher in the College of Social and Behavioral Science in 1990 and received the UA Alumni Distinguished Citizen Award for teaching and public service in 1991.

He is running in District 5, where Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe is seeking re-election.