By Marie Horrigan, CQ Staff

As one of the top contenders in a crowded Republican field to challenge first-term Democratic Rep. Harry E. Mitchell , Scottsdale native Susan Bitter Smith is running — hard — to the right.

Bitter Smith sat down to talk with CQ Politics on Tuesday and said she is counting on her pro-business, anti-tax record to appeal to voters in Arizona’s 5th District, which covers Scottsdale, Tempe and the Phoenix suburbs.

Bitter Smith said her experience working for several constituencies gave her the best grounding to work in Congress. She has served as a member of the Scottsdale City Council, on the board of directors for the Central Arizona Project, which brings in water from the Colorado River, and as executive director of the Arizona-New Mexico Cable Communications Association.

It is her ongoing role with the Arizona-New Mexico Cable Communications Association that drew attention to Bitter Smith this week as a somewhat exceptional case of someone who lobbies Congress while running to become a member of it. There are no regulations against undertaking the two activities concurrently, but with both presidential candidates honing their rhetoric against special interests, it could put Bitter Smith in a difficult position.

When asked about the issue and possible political fall-out from her dual roles, Bitter Smith dismissed it out of hand, saying that it was just part of a varied background that has taught her to advocate for a constituency — a key skill for a member of Congress.

She said it is her background and her record fighting taxes that make her a strong candidate to appeal to voters from both sides of the aisle. On her Web site, Bitter Smith prominently displays her signed “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” from Americans for Tax Reform that promises she will oppose any efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals or businesses and oppose any reduction or elimination of deductions and credits. Bitter Smith said she supports making the Bush tax cuts permanent.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio signed her pledge as a witness. Arpaio is famous for his hard line approach to illegal immigration and endorsed Bitter Smith when she announced her candidacy.

Four of the six candidates for the Sept. 2 primary have signed the same pledge: Bitter Smith, former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert, state Rep. Mark Anderson and former state Rep. Laura Knaperek. Former lobbyist Jim Ogsbury has not signed the pledge, nor has sixth candidate, Lee Gentry of Scottsdale, who is not expected to play a major role in the race.

Bitter Smith and Schweikert are expected to be the top two candidates in the race. Bitter Smith described Schweikert as a longtime friend whose stances did not drastically differently from hers on the major issues.

Schweikert has been in the race since November and argues his experience balancing budgets for Maricopa County gives makes him an obvious choice in the battle for conservative credentials. So far his argument has convinced the anti-tax Club for Growth, which endorsed him soon after he announced his candidacy.

In addition to fiscal issues, Bitter Smith said that controlling illegal immigration was a key issue for voters in the 5th District and nationwide, and that the solution must begin with securing the border. She said that the immigration overhaul bill offered by freshman Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina was a “good start” on the issue. Shuler’s bill would boost the ranks of border patrol by 8,000 agents over five years and require employers to use an electronic verification system to ensure no employee is an undocumented worker.

Bitter Smith charged that Mitchell said he would address illegal immigration but has not signed onto any bills related to the issue.

Mitchell is well-liked in his hometown of Tempe and throughout the region, and has made veteran issues a top issue for his first term in office and has been named chair of the subcommittee on oversight and investigations in the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.