DON ASCOLI 1946-2021
Prominent Gila County Republican Passes
The Gila County Republican Party, as well as the State Party, lost a long time and prominent Republican with the passing of Don Ascoli the first week of August.
Don’s dip into Republican politics started early as a young man. Before moving to Payson, a decade ago, he was very active in Republican politics in the Valley and chairman of a legislative district in the Ahwatukee area of southeast Phoenix.
The Gila County Republican Party wasn’t very active in 2010 when Don was elected chairman. He immediately went to work growing the Party. He got the Party’s first website up, came from 14.9 percent behind Democrats in voter registration to just crossing into a Republican majority two years later, then got the first Republican elected sheriff since statehood in the 2012 election.
Don set the standard and direction for the Gila County Republican Party. Today Republicans are 73 percent ahead of Democrats in voter registration, Republicans hold all but three of the county elected offices and all three of the Arizona legislators in both legislative districts 6 and 8 are Republicans.
Don was a great mentor and tutor for the growing leadership of the Gila County Republican Party and many of the Party’s successes can be attributed to Don.
God received a Christian man and a good man.
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