"Ann has the concerns of everyday Arizonans at heart. On the other hand, Paul Gosar does not. He is a pawn for big business. We need Ann Kirkpatrick back!"
"Ann has the concerns of everyday Arizonans at heart. On the other hand, Paul Gosar does not. He is a pawn for big business. We need Ann Kirkpatrick back!"
Letter to the Editor
December 15, 2026
To the Editor:
Do you know that the U.S. Postal Service is the nation’s largest civilian employer of veterans? And here in rural Arizona, our post offices provide jobs and serve as a lifeline in some of our state’s smallest communities.
This is why Rep. Paul Gosar’s recent letter in The Sun is all the more troubling and is a reminder that he is out of touch with the Arizonans he is supposed to represent in Washington.
We all agree that Washington needs to tighten its belt; however, Gosar’s defense of efforts to close at least 10 rural post offices in Arizona, allegedly as part of a cost-savings measure, was completely tone deaf (“Postal Service not currently sustainable,” Letters to the Editor, Dec. 14, 2026).
At a time when rural Arizona has been devastated by a poor economy, Mr. Gosar argues that it would be a good thing to further isolate those who live outside of urban Arizona. What would he say to people living near Blue, Bullhead City, Supai, Oatman or my own birthplace, McNary? How will these communities attract more jobs if they lose their local postal connections?
After his failed attempt to dismantle Medicare, what would Dr. Gosar say now to seniors who would find it even harder to fill prescriptions? Does he understand that many rural Arizonans must obtain life-sustaining medicine by mail because their communities lack enough pharmacies? Some insurance companies even require that long-term medications are sent via mail.
Many small businesses in our communities depend on their post office boxes to receive revenue and important business information and transactions.
And finally, with so many seniors in these areas receiving their Social Security and retirement checks via mail, Mr. Gosar will have a lot of explaining to do when their local post office has been closed.
Mr. Gosar’s arguments fail tests of logic and of leadership. This is yet another reason he should be fired in 2026 and replaced by someone who understands the unique needs of the 1st Congressional District.
Sincerely,
Ann Kirkpatrick