Southern Arizonans Seek Own State

'Baja Arizona' could be 51st state
By G. Hudak,  Newser User
Posted Feb 24, 2011 9:48 PM CST Posted Feb 24, 2011 9:48 PM CST
Promoted on Newser Feb 25, 2011 1:20 AM CST
America's 51st State?
   (AP)

More weird news brewing in the Ol' West: A political committee called "Start Our State" has officially registered in Arizona, seeking statehood for Pima Country in the southern part of the state. Organizers in Tucson are apparently so frustrated with disagreements in policy that they want to break away from Phoenix completely. Start Our State's mission is to "restore our region's credibility as a place welcoming to others, open to commerce, and friendly to its neighbors," a press release says.

"I think once you take a step back and think about it, it starts to make more and more sense," said co-founder of "Start Our State co-founder Peter Hormel tells ABC15. "I and some other people finally got so frustrated with what's happening in Phoenix that we felt obligated to do something about it." If the Arizona legislature approves, and the president seals the deal—probably a longshot—then the 51st state will be named Baja Arizona and its capital will be Tucson. (More Arizona stories.)

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