A trickle of locals and employees walk by the Six Gun City owner and pat him heartily on the shoulders, as if congratulating him.

Sunday evening, as the city saw off its busiest weekend of the year, Carrafa said, "We've been packed for two days now.

I can't complain. I'd stay up as much as I have to."

But, Carrafa's got a bit more on his plate than manning Six Gun City.

He's headed into a run-off election with incumbent Stacey Korbeck-Reeder to secure the Tombstone Ward 3 council seat.

Although he won more votes in the primary election – Carrafa got 57 and Korbeck-Reeder got 49 – he didn't reach the 50 percent plus one vote threshold needed to win outright.

With a disparity of only eight votes, the 15 votes that went to a third candidate, Stephen Engdahl, during the primary election, could decide the outcome.

Carrafa said he thinks things are looking good for him.

"I've been going door-to-door speaking to people. I found it very positive," Carrafa said. "In fact, out of the whole ward, I only found two negative responses."

He acknowledged that some people might have simply opted not to voice their disapproval, but still he said he thinks the numbers bode well for him.

Aside from going door-to-door, hanging posters and creating a website, Carrafa also mailed a series of newsletters to all registered voters in Ward 3, introducing himself and telling them his stances on some "bedrock issues."

Carrafa, the 52-year-old Connecticut native and Florida transplant, has lived in Tombstone for four years. But he said his roots go back further than that.

"I've been visiting since '95, so that makes it 15," he said.

Caraffa's owned Six Gun City for three-and-a-half years now, and before that, he worked as a communications contractor in Florida. And before that stint, he was in the U.S. Navy.

So, while Carrafa has worked an array of jobs over the years, there's one occupation he never thought he'd have – a politician.

"I really didn't want to get involved in politics, but I figured the only way to protect people like myself, and new people coming into this town, was to have a voice on the city council of someone who's had these experiences," Carrafa said.

Carrafa said he thinks the powers that be in Tombstone tried to put him out of business, and said he hopes to do just the opposite if elected.

"The reason I'm running for city council is to treat all businesses the same and to help businesses prosper," he said.

Although his personal experiences with the current government sparked the idea to run, he's got a few other reasons for seeking the seat.

He said he wants to better represent Ward 3, which he says has "been neglected for the past six years."

Carrafa said he had noticed overgrown bushes near his home on Skyline Circle in the past, for example. Then once he decided to run for city council he began surveying the whole ward.

"I started looking around and you can see it's neglected," Carrafa said.

While Ward 3 is the epicenter of his focus, Carrafa's got some ideas for the town as a whole as well.

"We need to get entertainment back on Allen Street. The key phrase I use is 'activity creates activity,'" he said.

Aside from changing the solicitation ordinance, Carrafa said he also wants to help the kids of Tombstone.

Carrafa said he thinks the town needs more programs for children and that he hopes to get a park or basketball courts underway, if elected.

"Why can't we just pour a cement slab, throw a couple poles up and have something for people to do?" he said.

Carrafa also said water and infrastructure are high on his list of importance.

He explained that some of the reservoirs coming out of the Huachuca Mountains are insecure.

"There are some broken pipes, which prevent all the springs from feeding. We need to get up there and we need to secure them," Carrafa said.

Tombstone also needs a 20-year-plan, he said, to allow it to expand.

He explained that if an outlet mall, for example, wanted to come to Tombstone they'd have to scramble to figure out how to handle the sewer and water. But, a
20-year-plan would delineate all that.

"It would help with growth," he said.

Carrafa said mayor-elect Jack Henderson has 36 events in the works for next year and he said, "I support him (Henderson) 100 percent."

Carrafa also said he's got some potential event weekends ruminating in his own mind.

He hopes to set up events for some of the small holidays that the city doesn't already celebrate, like St. Patrick's Day, for example.

When asked what things he could offer the city that incumbent Councilwoman Korbeck-Reeder couldn't, Carrafa was quick to answer.

"My time," he said. "I live and work in the city of Tombstone. I will be able to go to every council meeting. She missed 25 percent of regular council meetings and 30 percent of special council meetings."

"I don't have any other outside obligations that'll drag me away," Carrafa said.

"I'm here everyday, I know what's going on cause I'm here."