After five years in office, Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D) decided to leave Arizona’s ninth Congressional District to run for the United States Senate.

Now, Steve Ferrara (R) and Greg Stanton (D) are competing to be the new Representative from CD 9.

While there are currently no polls for this race, according to an analysis of previous races, the district is than the national average.

While in medical school, Ferrara decided to join the Navy to help care for combat casualties. He was then part of the first team deployed to Indonesia after the massive 2004 Asian tsunami. He continued caring for people hurt in combat by volunteering in Afghanistan, where he “transformed combat casualty care by pioneering life and limb saving endovascular surgical techniques on the battlefield.”

After, he worked as a National Academy of Sciences Fellow, where he helped draft legislation that transformed Medicare Part B, then became the Navy’s Chief Medical Officer.

Ferrara decided to run for Congress as a “continuation of a lifetime of service.” He served in the military for 25 years and “gained a very keen sense of how important America’s role is in the world and that when America does good, the world does well.” He said he knows firsthand how to make health care work for everyone.

In Congress Ferrara will “do what [he] did in the military and [he] does in the operating room: work as a team, not a politician, to solve tough problems and improve lives.”

Ferrara said his top issues are health care, fixing the VA, and the economy.

“I believe healthcare is our most important domestic issue,” he said. “As a practicing doctor, I see people struggle each day to make choices between medicine, food, and rent. Over the last 8 years, deductibles and premiums are out of control. Even people who have insurance still don’t have access to care because they either can’t get an appointment, or they can’t afford the deductible. I have a detailed plan which puts patients and their doctors first, not insurance companies or hospitals like the current system.”

Ferrara is not only a veteran, but he also worked as a doctor at the Phoenix VA.

According to him, he “know[s] what’s broken and know[s] how to fix it” because of his time at the Phoenix VA.

“I’m going to Congress to ensure veterans have the care they earned and deserve,” he said. ĚýĚý

Ferrara also said having a quality health insurance plan is also a driving factor in our economy.

He believes that making health care more affordable and less burdensome for employers will allow them to provide a menu of affordable options and attract the best talent available.

“This gives [businesses] the ability to attract top talent using an array of compensation packages that tailor wages and benefits to best serve their employees and their business model,” he said.

But that’s not all he plans to do for businesses. If elected, Ferrara says he will continue to support reducing tax and regulatory burdens.

“We must continue the policies that are making our economy work for so many Americans,” he said. “More people are working than ever in the past 50 years and they are bringing home more money in their paychecks. The middle class is finally growing again.”

He thinks citizens in CD 9 should vote for him because he’s had a “career dedicated to service, improving people’s lives, running a successful business, and solving tough problems.”

According to Ferrara, “the world is more dangerous than any period in the last generation. We need people in Congress with a strong background in foreign policy and the military to help guide us through these challenges. We have fewer Veterans in Congress now than at any time in our history and it’s no coincidence that we’ve been at war for over 17 years.”

And lastly, he “absolutely” believes he can work across the aisle.

“There are no partisans in a foxhole or in the operating room. I stayed in the military for 25 years because I loved the fact that we were non-partisan. We only care about solving problems, not political party,” He said. “When I was a Congressional Fellow in the 113th Congress, I worked in a bipartisan way to co-author $200 billion Medicare legislation that passed out of our committee 51-0 and was signed into law by President Obama.”

Prior to running for Congress, Stanton received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. In 2000, he was elected to the Phoenix City Council for District 6. In 2012, Stanton was sworn in as the Mayor of Phoenix.

Stanton decided to run for Congress because “we must bring civility and checks and balances back to Washington to ensure long-term economic stability and prosperity for our country. We deserve better from our leaders in Congress and that’s why I’m running.”

His top issues are working to protect pre-existing conditions, lowering health care costs, investing in infrastructure, and the economy.

Stanton believes that “insurance companies should not have the ability to charge more for people with pre-existing conditions and the efforts by the current Administration to repeal these protections is cruel.”

He said, “health care costs have skyrocketed in Arizona and Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to make healthcare more affordable and accessible while holding drug companies accountable for high prices.”

In terms of the economy, Stanton said Arizona needs to work on strengthening the state’s long-term economy.

“We must start by investing in our infrastructure and education system which will not only create good jobs and support entrepreneurs and businesses now, but also in the future,” he said. “It is only through these investments that we will continue experiencing the incredible growth the Phoenix metropolitan area has enjoyed.”

According to Stanton, our nation’s infrastructure is in crisis.

“We must prioritize a comprehensive infrastructure investment plan that immediately creates jobs and ensures that our nation remains competitive in the global economy.ĚýWe also must continue to critically evaluate our tax code to ensure that small business owners and entrepreneurs are on a level playing field with everyone else,” he said.

Stanton says he knows how to be bipartisan, and compromise is something he talks about daily while on the campaign trail.

“As a big-city Mayor you are constantly measured by your results – not by the talk shows you appear on or the speeches you deliver,” he said. “I’m ready to come to Washington to generate real change and improve the lives of all Arizonans. To do that, I’ll work with anyone, Republican, Democrat, or Independent who operates in good faith. Real leadership means checking your ego at the door and getting results – exactly what I will do in Congress.”

Stanton continued by saying that even though he’s a Democrat, he is completely willing to work with President Donald Trump (R).

“I’m willing to work with the President on infrastructure to get federal dollars invested in Arizona to improve public transit and bring jobs to our state. Results, not partisanship, are what Arizonans are looking for in Congress,” he said.

Stanton thinks Arizonans should vote for him because he has a track record as an “effective, bipartisan leader.”

“I stand firm on issues critical to all Arizonans. My priorities include: protecting coverage for preexisting conditions, standing up to prescription drug companies to get a better deal for Arizonans, drive economic growth, and champion greater infrastructure investment – especially for Arizona because we currently are not getting our fair share,” he said.

The last day to mail in early ballots is Oct. 31 and the election is on Nov. 6, which is only a week away. To find your polling location click . Ěý

The post Meet the Congressional District 9 Candidates: Steve Ferrara and Greg Stanton appeared first on Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­.

After six years in office, former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton resigned to run for Congress in Arizona’s ninth district.

Now, the race for mayor of the nation’s fifth largest city is in full swing. There are currently no polls predicting which two of the candidates are likely to win the top two spots in the general and compete in the runoff election.

The four candidates are:

Gallego was elected to the Phoenix City Council in 2013, representing District 8. Before being elected to office, Kate worked on Strategic Planning and Economic Development for Salt River Project. Kate received an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University.

Valenzuela is a Phoenix native and was elected to the Phoenix City Council in 2012, representing District 5. Prior to being an elected official, he worked as an instructor for the Arizona Department of Emergency Management and the director of the National Fire and Rescue Services Information Officer Network. Valenzuela has also been a firefighter for more than 15 years. Ěý

Born in the Republic of Panama, Sanchez’s family migrated to the U.S. when he was five. He served in the Navy for 21 years and currently serves in the reserves. Moses is the Director of Operations at Arizona-based company Nonnahs Marketing. He served on the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board and has been a professor at South Mountain Community College for more than 10 years.

Sarwark is a Phoenix native who earned a law degree from the American University Washington College of Law in 2008. Prior to running for office, he worked as the Deputy Public Defender in Colorado and his family runs a small business in Phoenix. He also serves as the Chairman of the Libertarian National Committee.

Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ reached out to all four candidates to see where they stand on some key issues:

Question: Why did you decide to run for Mayor of Phoenix? What unique thing do you believe you’ll bring to office?

Gallego: I am the only candidate who offers a record solving problems at the city of Phoenix, coupled with real work experience as a chamber member. ĚýI have expertise in some of the most important problems facing the next Mayor of Phoenix such as water rights and transportation challenges. My election would show that Phoenix is an open city where people who work hard can succeed—I wasn’t born here, I don’t look like your typical mayor, and I have a last name that many people can’t pronounce, but Phoenix voters value results, and that’s where I have a proven track record.

Valenzuela: I’m a husband, parent, and lifelong resident of Phoenix. Being a firefighter re-enforced in me the importance and value of service, encouraged me, and instilled in me the thought that perhaps there were other ways to serve. So, I became active in the community. Seven years ago, I decided to take my community involvement to the next level. I sought the District 5 seat on the Phoenix City Council, representing West Phoenix and was re-elected in 2015. Phoenix is on the right track. But we can’t take our progress for granted. I know I don’t, because I remember growing up, regardless of the neighborhood I was living in at the time or the classroom window that I gazed out of in a given year, I could often see the tall buildings of downtown Phoenix. Although only a few miles in the distance, they might as well have been a continent away. I wondered what those buildings were REALLY like. Just who were the important people in them? Just what did they do? And I dreamed that maybe one day, I would have a chance to see those buildings on the inside for myself. I have worked to achieve and advance some of those dreams by bringing people together and being a problem solver. Because while we are a great city, we can be an even greater city, and we will if we continue to set lofty goals and pursue our dreams. I am committed to setting those goals and achieving our dreams as Mayor.

Sanchez: I’ve lived with my family in Phoenix for the past 14 years and I’ve been fortunate to serve my Ahwatukee community in a number of roles. As a parent, teacher, school board member and small business owner, I’ve seen the strength of our community and worked to produce results that impact our families. Unfortunately, too many Phoenix families feel like there is a disconnect between them and the politicians at City Hall. I’m running for Mayor because we need a leader who will focus on the local issues that directly affect Phoenix families, like public safety, public assets and improving our quality of life. My diverse background in leadership experiences has uniquely prepared me to lead the 5th largest city in the country, which has shown over the past decade a desperate need for fresh, new leadership.

Sarwark: The city of Phoenix collects $4 billion a year in fees and taxes and from that spends $500 million on debt service, while spending just $83 million on streets. Couple that with $1.6 billion in tax breaks handed out to big developers over the last 6 years and the looming $2.3 billion in pension interest debt, and you can see that the city council has been asleep at the wheel for the last 6 years. As a small business owner and someone that has served the community as a public defender, I can balance both the city checkbook and needs of the people of Phoenix.

Q: Phoenix’s water supply could be drying up in the next eight years. How do you plan to handle the situation?

Valenzuela: Our infrastructure – water, wastewater, and transportation assets – is a foundational responsibility of city government. It is a priority We face challenges beyond our control — a now 18-year drought and the decline of the water level of Lake Meade which supplies almost 40 percent of our water. California and Nevada rely on that same supply. That may very well force us to tap our aquifer reserves by as early as 2026. That means we need to prepare and act.

To address our challenge, I propose the following:

1. Expansion of our water system that meets the demand for future growth that pays for itself. Existing business and residential water users should not pay to bring water service to new communities. That cost needs to be absorbed as part of those developments. By the way, the added benefit of that is that it encourages infill development – not sprawl.
2. Include ongoing and effective maintenance that minimizes future higher costs, especially in older parts of Phoenix with aging water pipelines. We cannot neglect maintenance needs. It will just ultimately be more costly in the future.
3. Take steps now to prepare for the future potential crisis should the 18-year drought continue

and we need to find alternative water supplies.

1. Prepare to tap the aquifer, where we have wisely banked water for an emergency, but

also, wisely did not make the capital investment needed to access the water that we hoped we would not need.

1. Prioritize stormwater management and green infrastructure across all City departments and work with experts to identify best practices for incentivizing stormwater retrofits at homes and businesses. Let’s capitalize on the 4-6 inches of rain we do receive each year rather than allow it to evaporate off. That will serve the dual purpose of addressing flood control needs in areas of the city such as far south Phoenix where it is a chronic issue.

Sanchez: First, we need to understand this will take regional cooperation and leadership in working with other states and cities in the Southwest. So far, we have not seen that kind of leadership from my City Hall opponents. Secondly, we should be discussing ways we can address this shortfall without continuing to raise rates on Phoenicians without seeing any substantive results. Two ideas that could be put to use would be giving residents a 10% credit towards their next bill for every dollar they save on their water bill and creating a tiered approach where the heaviest water users pay more money.

Sarwark: A Phoenix water crisis isn’t a question of if, but when. Lake Mead is at critical levels due to higher demand, a 16% annual drop in surface water, and 70% less snowfall feeding the Colorado River. Even if we do not hit a tier 1 shortage and the recently released Drought Contingency Plan is agreed to and fully implemented, when the Colorado River Compact comes up for renewal talks in 2026 it will likely have steep cuts in water supply. To prepare, we need to audit our water collection, storage, pumping, and delivery systems and have several experts weigh in on alternatives. Nearly 40 years ago the city abandoned and dismantled its groundwater pumping wells in favor of surface waters and canals. We can ill afford another mistake like that. As Mayor, I will lean on the legislature to address the issue of ground water usage by water intensive agriculture in central Arizona, such as almond and alfalfa farmers. The level of aquifer pumping for a one-time well-pump fee is robbing the city of its water rights and already creating water scarcity in some areas. I will also implement an expanded version of the city’s Shade Plan to include more trees and drought tolerant ground cover being added to all the unoccupied dirt patches the city is doing nothing with. We will encourage neighborhoods and homeowners to use permaculture principles to help ease the heat island effect and create soil that can retain more water that will filter down to the aquifer.

Gallego: I worked in water rights at the Salt River Project, so I have the expertise to lead on securing our water supply. ĚýInvesting in our water maintenance infrastructure and working to secure our water supply is a top priority of mine. Water is our most precious resource, and we must think long-term when making decisions about Phoenix’s access to water. I support additional investment in wells and pipelines to make sure we can deliver water to our entire city.

Q: How do you plan to fix the city’s pension problem?

Sanchez: It will take innovative solutions and looking at best practices around the country to come up with a solution for Phoenix, which has been failed by its leadership for too long. First, we need an actual concrete number of the debt we owe. If you ask 8 councilmembers what we owe, you’ll get 9 different answers. That’s not acceptable. Secondly, we should commit to not touching the pensions of any current or retired first responders. Third, we should take innovative ideas, like the “cost corridor” concept from Houston, and apply them to our situation here. This isn’t a new problem, but we need new leadership to fix this mess.

Sarwark: First and foremost, we cannot handoff our responsibilities and obligations of today to our children. When the city council voted to spread our pension payments over 29 years, instead of 19 years, they handed the next generation a $2.3 Billion interest bill. I propose that we rework that plan to pay it off faster and create retirement security for our first responders and prevent our children from inheriting the failures of the city council to do their jobs. I would also work with city employees and first responders to address limiting future obligations while maintaining a strong retirement package for our dedicated workers.

Gallego: To look into solutions, we must look back at decisions previously made that got us here. We need to meet the obligations we have made to our employees and right now the public safety pension is only 40 percent funded; that is unacceptable. I have the financial background – MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School – to address the issue, and I would be the first mayor in a generation to be elected without support from any city unions.

Valenzuela: When I joined the Council, I inherited the major challenge of an underfunded public safety pension system. In response, I teamed with then State Senator and now Congresswoman Debbie Lesko and Co- Chaired the Yes on Prop. 124 statewide measure approved by Arizona voters by a 70-30 margin that instituted financial reforms to a system that was facing insolvency. More needs to be done to bring stability to the public safety pension system that is financially sound and build on the reforms I helped to institute. This is not only a Phoenix issue but a statewide challenge, requiring the State Legislature to act as well. But rather than just point the finger and blame others for this problem that ultimately impacts all taxpayers, I’ve done something about it. And I’ll continue to do so as Mayor.

Q: As mayor, how will you help small businesses grow and thrive?

Sarwark: My family business, started in 1942, was a founding member of Local First Arizona and has been a member of the NFIB since 1990. For 76 years we have been part of the small business community of Phoenix. ĚýAs the only candidate for Mayor with retail business experience, I understand and have felt the impact City Hall has had on small businesses. Too often it feels like the city council does things to us, not for us. We find out last minute that lanes of traffic, in front of our struggling businesses, will be closed for weeks or months. Community meetings are held at times when it is impossible for someone working in their small business to attend. And our taxes are used to enrich our competitors or big developers, while our streets are falling apart and police response times are dangerously high. ĚýIt has been decades since small business owners had a real champion in the Mayor’s office. I will be that champion.

Gallego: Much like raising a child, it takes a village to maintain and grow a small business. As Phoenix Mayor, I will ensure the city is a partner and listens to our local economy. Just last year, Phoenix experienced the highest small business wage growth in the nation. We must continue to work on access to capital, business loans and providing education needed to empower our local markets. ĚýWe need to cut red tape wherever possible.

Valenzuela: Phoenix has experienced unprecedented growth – in large part due to the collaborative efforts of our local and regional public-private partnerships. Today, the city is a very attractive place to do business. We do not need to recruit every retail and big-box business with costly incentives or favors that can come at the expense of small business development efforts. That is not fiscally responsible or sustainable over the longer term. We can recruit businesses but also help to grow them from within. Rather than solely hunting for the next big business location, today’s economic challenge is to also make strategic investments that strengthen the sectors that most enhance our city’s business ecosystem while providing the best long-term opportunities for economic growth. As Mayor, I want our economic development efforts to reflect a more strategic approach. An increased focus on attracting and growing businesses that are economic drivers, that create new opportunities, and that strengthen the economy in every sector. The expansion of “base” sector businesses, along with the provision of a solid economic foundation, will result in the local market industries in the form of small businesses to closely follow and be successful.

Sanchez: I am the only candidate in the race who has started a small business from the ground up. When I talk to other business owners about what the City of Phoenix can do better, the discussion isn’t around taxes or regulations as much as it is on quality of life. We don’t have enough police officers in our city, which has given us the status quo of a 10-year high for homicides and 50% increase in violent crime since 2011. When communities do not feel safe, businesses cannot grow and thrive. We should be focused on improving our quality of life, keeping our neighborhoods safe and upgrading our infrastructure throughout the city. Once we focus on being brilliant at the basics, small businesses will be able to focus on growing their companies.

Q: There has been significant economic growth in Phoenix in recent years. How will you ensure the city remains on this path?

Gallego: Prior to serving on the city council, I worked at the Salt River Project with a focus on economic development and strategic planning. I know how to work with businesses that are deciding where to locate and how to invest — the district I represented gained about 7,000 jobs because of that these last five years. Another area I plan to focus on is our healthcare and biosciences, jobs related to that field grew by 22 percent in Arizona and only by 8 percent nationally.

Valenzuela: My economic development plan, PhoeNEXT, is the most extensive and comprehensive jobs and economic development plan of any candidate for Mayor. The 22-page plan outlines in detail my commitment to build on the foundation of progress I fostered as Chair of the City Council’s economic development arm, the Downtown, Aviation, Innovation, and Economy Subcommittee… As Mayor, I want to continue our focus on being strategic with attention on the creation of higher wage jobs. The private sector doesn’t need a parent, it needs a partner. Sometimes business development requires a little push by the government, and sometimes it needs government to take a step back. I want to combine building the economy by building the community. We need to focus on job creation, but also making the city livable and with neighborhoods that are woven together. This is my home, and it’s your home too. But to do this we need to continue to build on our solid foundation. A strong economy makes for strong tax collections. This allows us to invest in physical infrastructure like roads and intellectual infrastructure which is our workforce. To encourage job creation, we need good infrastructure, we need skilled workers, and we need a foundation that allows people to prosper. Incentives can be PART of the value that the city offers a company. But, businesses need things just like people need things. Roads, skilled workers, competitive taxes, lots of stuff. As a Councilmember, I’ve made wise use of incentives. Wise because the key to incentives is to not lead with them, and always make sure there’s a positive return on the investment. The redevelopment and growth of our downtown and the positive return in high wage jobs, and overall expansion of our tax base would not have occurred without the use of these tools. To blindly commit that incentives will not be used is an economic development strategy just to fulfill some political ideology is not only foolish but irresponsible. We are competing in a global economy, and such tools are critical in that competition. That is why we have taken advantage of the incentives and programs offered by our partner at the state level, the Arizona Commerce Authority. And that’s why every city and town in Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­tilizes incentives as part of their economic development strategy.

Sanchez: Economic growth hasn’t been an issue in the state of Arizona, thanks to the leadership of Governor Ducey and his focus on growing our economy. At the City level, however, we should do a better job of allowing businesses to thrive by providing them with a trained and talented workforce. That means creating a city where young people want to stay and work, and we should do a better job of creating vibrant neighborhoods that retain our students and attract those from throughout the country to come here.

Sarwark: Business are attracted to areas with low crime, high quality of life, and a fair regulatory system. We don’t need to bribe them, through tax breaks and special deals, to thrive in Phoenix. We need to refocus on the city core services like libraries, parks, public safety, infrastructure, and clean and reliable water delivery. We also need to balance our checkbook and eliminate our out of control city debt. When the next recession comes, Phoenix needs to be prepared. The only way that will happen is if we stop borrowing against our future and tackle the problems today.

The post Meet the Phoenix Mayoral candidates: Kate Gallego, Moses Sanchez, Daniel Valenzuela, and Nicholas Sarwark appeared first on Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­.

U.S. Senate candidates Martha McSally (R) and Kyrsten Sinema (D) faced off in their first debate Monday night, discussing key issues such as internet privacy, human trafficking, border security, health care, and more.

The two women, who both currently represent Arizona in the U.S. House, are fighting for Senator Jeff Flake’s (R) open seat. Polls show the candidates in a dead heat and political analyst Jennifer Duffy recently said she expects this race to be the closest Senate race in 2018.

The debate kicked off with moderators Ted Simons, host of “Arizona Horizon” on Arizona PBS, and Maria Polleta, a reporter from the Arizona Republic, asking the candidates about their previous voting records and stances.

Simons called out McSally, saying she flipped on her support of President Donald Trump.

“I was representing my district back in 2016, I was fighting for Southern Arizonans and I was running my own campaign and I’ve never endorsed anyone for anything, whether president or dog catcher, so I continued with that path,” McSally replied. “He’s now in office, as our president, and we have this historic opportunity to move America in a new direction, and we’ve really seen more opportunities for people in Arizona and I’m going to keep working with him.”

Alternatively, the moderators asked Sinema about her change from a far-left activist to a more centrist politician.

“I have taken the time to learn and to grow and occasionally even change my opinion. So over time, I think it makes sense for individuals to learn and to grow,” Sinema said. “Over time [I’ve] been able to grow and get even better at my job serving Arizonans.”

Sinema stated that Arizonans need a senator who is willing to learn from experiences, buck their party if it is in the best interest of their constituents, and is willing to change opinions throughout their career.

The often tense debate touched on key issues that have dominated the election cycle.

Federal Tax Reform and Budget DeficitĚý

Last year, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the largest piece ofĚýtax reform legislationĚýin more than thirty years. Congresswoman McSally supported the legislation touting the positive economic impact.

“Well the revenue is actually up this year. [The deficit is] not because of the “Tax Cuts and Job” act, which I proudly voted for, to cut the taxes of hardworking Arizona families to make sure they have more money in their paychecks. I was excited and privileged to be able to vote for that,” McSally said. “The economy is doing so well. We are at a historic 3.8 percent unemployment rate, there is so much opportunity for people, revenue is coming in at a higher rate this year than last year. We have a spending problem, [that was] the issue. Now we supported, and I fought for us having the biggest military increase in spending over last year and this year.”

Sinema voted against the tax reform bill, citing deficit concerns.

“I voted no on that tax bill last year for several reasons. First, it increased our deficit by what we though would be $1.9 trillion, turns out, from that report this morning, it could even be higher. More importantly for Arizonans, and their everyday lives, the bill jeopardizes spending from Medicare and Social Security…it is wrong to try and balance your budget on the backs of seniors, who’ve worked so hard for their entire lives for these benefits. My last concern about that legislation is that it didn’t provide permanency of tax cuts for middle class families or small businesses. Last month the House took a vote to increase tax cuts for those communities and I voted yes,” Sinema said. “Small businesses and individuals in the middle-class deserve a tax cut.”

Lastly, McSally rebutted saying, “our economy is doing amazing. [We had a] 4.2 percent GDP growth.Ěý Every single day jobs are opening around Arizona. I talked to small business owners who are investing in equipment, investing in training employees, hiring new employees. The optimism is like we’ve never seen before and we’ve got to keep it going. So, this is the right approach for us. Cut taxes, roll back regulations, and make it permanent for small businesses, individuals and for companies. The economy is doing great and Arizonans feel it every single day.”

Would you have voted for Justice Brett Kavanaugh?

“I would have voted yes to, now-Justice Kavanaugh,” McSally stated. “He’s highly qualified and he has shown what we need to be looking at for judges and justices.”

McSally added that she, herself, was a victim of sexual assault and can stand for survivors, as well as support Kavanaugh.

Sinema, who seemed to dodge the initial question, eventually answered that she would have voted no on Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

“I had several concerns with Justice Kavanaugh,” Sinema said. “I was concerned about the partisan nature of some of his comments during his second testimony. I [am] also concerned that he appears to have lied under oath.”

What is the government’s role in health care?

Both candidates agreed there should be protections for people with pre-existing conditions and from insurance coverage caps.

“I voted to protect people with pre-existing conditions,” McSally said. “At the federal level there should be a part but it’s best managed at the state level where there’s more options for them to be innovative because what works best in California is not what works best in Arizona.”

“It is the number one issue that I hear from folks both on the campaign trail, as I travel the state, and in my office at the United States Congress. Arizonans are very worried that they will lose coverage [for] pre-existing conditions,” Sinema said. “We cannot go back to a time when people could not get coverage because they had pre-existing conditions.”

Social Security and MedicareĚý

“I’m committed to protecting social security and Medicare for current and future generations. I oppose privatization schemes. I think that’s the wrong answer for our seniors. I also oppose raising the retirement age. I believe after a lifetime of hard work it is not fair to ask someone to work even more to just get the benefits that they’ve worked so hard for and deserve. Lastly, I believe turning Medicare into a voucher system is risky and allows Wall Street to make decisions about what our future health care looks like,” Sinema said.

“Our seniors have been working their whole lives and they have been saving for retirement and they have been paying into Medicare and Social Security and they deserve to have the benefits that they had paid into. We must protect Medicare and Social Security for those that are at retirement and the next generation to come… so the only person who has supported cutting Medicare in this senate race is [Sinema]. Obamacare’s cutting $700 billion from Medicare, robbing it for its one size fits all Washington approach… The Medicare trust fund and Social Security trust fund are doing better right now because of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs” act. More people are working, more people are paying into it, and that is going to sustain it,” McSally said.

Immigration and Border Security

Ěý“The dangers we have around border security are too great to simply allow for an 18^th century solution to a 21^st century problem,” Sinema said in regard to President Trump’s border wall. “We’ve got to combine our efforts not just with a physical barrier but with smart technology.”

Sinema also shared that she does not believe in separating families who try to cross the United States border.

“Separating families is not reflective of American values; we can both secure our border and keep our country safe and secure without taking children away from their parents,” she said.

“I have been leading the effort to secure our border. I represent fifth generation ranchers and 80 miles of the border, who are tired of the cartels that are trafficking through their ranches and into our communities. It has created an opioid crisis, and the policies of the past have failed,” McSally said. “Moving towards a merit-based immigration system and providing a path to citizenship for DACA, that is the definition of a compromise on this issue. Most Arizonans agree, we’ve got to secure the border, end family separation and address these other issues.”

To watch the full debate click .

Election day is Nov. 6. To find your polling place click and to find locations for early voting click . To check your mail-in ballot’s status click .

The post McSally and Sinema hold first debate: go head-to-head just in time for early voters appeared first on Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­.

As the 2018 midterm election is quickly approaching, Arizonans will decide who they want to hold a variety of offices throughout the state.

Gov. Doug Ducey (R) is facing reelection. The incumbent, known for his business-friendly policy stances, is facing off against David Garcia (D), a military veteran and former teacher.

In a race that started neck-and-neck after the primary, it appears Ducey has pulled ahead as election day nears. According to a recent by OH Predictive Insight and Arizona Capitol Times, Ducey has taken a double-digit lead over Garcia.

“Governor Ducey is dominating the vote with a 17-point-lead,” Mike Noble, chief pollster of OHPI, said in the report. “The incumbent clearly has a large support system behind him.”

Ducey moved to Tempe, Arizona in 1982 to attend Arizona State University. During college, Ducey worked at an Anheuser-Busch distributor. After graduating he began working at Procter & Gamble until he became the CEO of Cold Stone Creamery.

Ducey then ran for the position of Arizona’s Treasurer, where he served from 2011-2015. In 2014, he ran a successful campaign for Governor and was inaugurated into office in 2015.

Ducey believes Arizonans should vote for him because he has balanced the state’s budget, resolved education lawsuits and grown the economy to a point that allows the government to give teachers a 20 percent pay raise and invest $2.7 billion towards schools.

“Well I want Arizonans to remember where we were four years ago.” he said. “I would like Arizonans to vote for me because there’s a lot more work to do, we’ve got a momentum that can’t be stopped. We’ve got a plan [and] I would like to secure Arizona’s future both economically, from a budgetary perspective, and making our neighborhoods, our schools, and our border more safe.”

According to Ducey, his top three priorities are education, the economy, and public safety.

Education:

“Education is a top issue and will always be a top issue. My commitment is to get more money over and above inflation every year that I’m Governor, to prioritize the 20 percent pay increases for our hardworking teachers, to get more money inside the classroom and to bring the teachers academy to life,” he said.

His plan to fund schools includes three steps:

1. ĚýĚýĚýĚýPrioritizing teachers and public schools;
2. Ěý Ěý Take government revenues from the state budget and make sure they’re distributed properly to K-12 institutions, targeting outcomes and results;
3. Ěý Ěý Focus on growing the economy to add additional resources that can be used for K-12 education.

The Economy:

Ducey says he wants to make sure the government stays out of the way so that big- and small-business entrepreneurs can innovate and continue to create jobs and grow Arizona’s economy.

“Right now, our economy is heading in a great direction,” Ducey said. “I [will] focus on simplifying our tax code, reducing regulations, and making sure we have ample water, reliable energy, and an education system that’s working for our citizens.”

Border Security:

According to Ducey, “border security is national security. My focus has been on public safety, we’ve created the border strike force.”

He believes that one of the first facets of public safety is border security, saying that the border strike force – which is the Department of Public Safety partnering with border sheriffs, local law enforcement and border patrol agents – has had significant success in interdicting illegal and dangerous drugs.

He also says that as Governor he will continue to fight against the drug cartels, human trafficking, and child-sex trafficking.

Ducey ended the interview saying, “there’s a clear contrast in this campaign. We have one person who wants to secure Arizona’s future economy, in the budget, and at the border and the other person has a very different view… I’m hoping people will embrace the positive direction that [my] administration is taking the state of Arizona in.”

Editor’s Note: Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ reached out to Garcia’s campaign multiple times but did not receive a response. The information below is from the candidate’s website.

Garcia is a fourth generation Arizona native, who enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry at age 17. He then graduated from Arizona State University, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. After his time at ASU, he received a masters and doctorate in education research and has been nationally-recognized as an expert in education research and policy.

Garcia was an Arizona teacher and served as a research analyst for the Arizona State Senate, after becoming the Associate Superintendent of the Arizona Department of Education. He is currently a professor at Arizona State University.

Garcia has three issues listed on his website: stable families, a fair economy, and honest, effective government.

Under stable families he lists; commitment to public education; investing in childhood; protecting our children; immigrant families are Arizona families; a champion for Arizona women; fairness for all families; protecting outdoor Arizona for our children and families; and healthy families as his top priorities to help keep Arizona families stable.

To create an honest & effective government he lists; putting an end to current corruption; the courage to stand up for public safety; fighting for our democracy; and keeping families together through responsible criminal justice solutions as top priorities.

Lastly, his bullet points for a fair economy are putting working families first; making Arizona a solar superpower; investing in Arizona’s tech future; and investing in a competitive and dynamic workforce.

The election will be held on November 6, 2018. To find your polling location, click.

The post Meet the gubernatorial candidates: Doug Ducey and David Garcia appeared first on Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­.

The Corporation Commission is one elected body that often goes unnoticed. However, as the so-called fourth branch of Arizona government, those on the commission hold tremendous decision-making power over utility rates and profit-making for utility companies. Elected commissioners play a large role in ensuring Arizonans have access to safe, reliable, and affordable utility service.

There are four people running for two seats on the five-member commission.

The candidates are:

Olson, an incumbent, was appointed to the Corporation Commission in 2017 by Governor Doug Ducey to fill a vacant seat. He says his priority is “to stand up for Arizona taxpayers on the Commission and ensure that their interests are always protected.”

Prior to serving on the Commission, Olson worked as a tax analyst before being elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010.

Kennedy, a former commissioner, served one term on the Corporation Commission from 2008-2012, and was unsuccessful in her bid for reelection. She is running on a platform of promoting solar energy in Arizona and acting as a consumer advocate.

In 1986, Kennedy was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives where she served for six years before moving to the state Senate in 1992.

Glassman is running for Corporation Commission on the platform of restoring integrity to the Commission while promoting clean water and affordable power to help Arizona’s economic future.

Prior to running for commissioner, Glassman served on the Tucson City Council focusing on “jobs, the economy, and public safety.”

Kiana Sears served as the Water & Wastewater Executive Consultant for the Arizona Corporation Commission. She is running because she believes families and small business owners deserve the opportunity to thrive and that children “have a right to breathe clean air and water.”

She says her time at the Commission helped her become an expert in utility operations, analyzing complex data, mainline extension agreements, water and wastewater, telecom, solar, adjudications, and rulemaking procedures.

On Oct. 3, the Arizona State University School of Sustainability held a panel for the candidates to discuss what they would bring to the position.

Here are some highlights:

Question: Governor Ducey signed a bill that provides that, even if voters were to pass Prop. 127, utility [companies] could likely ignore it and pay only small civil fines of $105,000 for non-compliance, basically making it ineffective. If you were elected to the Commission, would you support doing everything within your power, in the Commission’s power, to ensure utilities don’t evade compliance with Prop. 127 because of this new law?

Glassman: As a commissioner, my job would be to follow the Arizona Constitution and to regulate the utilities based on a focus on reliability and resiliency and safety and that includes all the laws that the state Legislature passes because that’s what we have to enforce as commissioners. Every decision that I make is going to be based on reliability, resiliency, safety, and affordability regardless of my personal feelings of what should be advocated and that’s what the job of the commission is, it’s to protect the ratepayers.

Kennedy: I believe the Arizona Legislature and governor overstepped their bounds. The Arizona Corporation Commission has the right to promulgate rules and procedures, and for APS to go to the Legislature and ask [them] to overstep their bounds, is a little farfetched to me. The reason we have the initiative is because the commission has not done what they really should be doing, and that is making Arizona the solar capital of the world. We have rules for renewable energy, we have the renewable energy standard and it has not been updated in years. So, I am supporting 127 and I will do everything in my power, when I’m elected, to make sure that Prop. 127 is actually promulgated correctly into the Commission.

Olson: I think the role of the commissioners is to fulfill our constitutional requirement. Our constitutional requirement, right now, is to establish that the utilities are not charging anything more than a just and a reasonable rate. If Prop. 127 puts new constitutional requirements into the constitution, then it’ll be our job to fulfill those constitutional requirements. We’ve got to then evaluate what is the requirement placed on us both by statute and by the constitution and fulfill the requirements.

Sears: The Corporation Commission is the fourth branch of our government, so when we talk about constitutional right, there has been an obvious attack to actually reach and take power from the Corporation Commission. The governor does not have that power, that right, over the Corporation Commission because it is the fourth branch of government. So, as a Corporation Commissioner, I will defend the position of the Corporation Commission that has been created constitutionally, and do everything in my power to ensure that every dime that needs to be imposed on companies that don’t comply with 127 will be collected because it’s about our safety, our air, our water quality. That’s why I’m here, that’s why I’m in the fight, to actually protect us, the ratepayers and collecting that money would do just that so that’s what I’m going to do for Arizonans.

Q: [Prop. 127] would raise what is currently known as the renewable energy standards, which currently requires 15 percent of power be from renewable by 2025, that was actually adopted in 2006 by the Corporation Commission, not by voters. Which do you think is preferable, for voters to directly set the state’s renewable energy standard or for the Corporation Commission to do that? Why?

Kennedy: It really is the job of the commissioners, but unfortunately, they have done everything they could to roll back renewable energy here in Arizona. They’ve taken away that …. They have decided they’re not going to do anything as far as raising the renewable energy standard, what they have done is made it complicated for those who want to put rooftop solar on and they’ve just made it a business center. So, for prop. 127 and the 80 percent of Arizonans who say “we want this,” kudos to you because the Commission has not done their job.

Olson: I would say that the preferable way to enact renewable energy standards is at the Corporation Commission rather than through a constitutional amendment. There have been a significant amount of solar wars that have taken place at the Commission in the years prior to the time when I was appointed to the Commission. Those solar wars were resolved with a compromise that all of the interested parties have agreed is a good compromise. Rooftop solar is strong and viable here in Arizona, in addition, the Commission has been looking at what are the appropriate renewable standards that the Commission should adopt. We’ve been evaluating that … and what we can expect the cost of storage in the years to come and as that cost of storage drops, then we can increase, dramatically, the renewable energy standards and do it in a commonsense way that doesn’t drive up cost for ratepayers.

Sears: The six and a half years I was at the Corporation Commission, I watched the eroding leadership, that’s why we’re here, that’s why the ballot initiative exists, because of public outcry. I do believe that our commissioners should have stepped up and increased the renewable energy standard as well as the energy efficiency standard a decade ago. I believe in the power of the people.

Glassman: I believe that the appropriate place to set standards in our core branches of government is the state Legislature. If you look at the Corporation Commission, it was created to protect ratepayers and regulate utilities – energy, water, telecom, pipelines – because customers of those utilities, those public service corporations, had no other outlet to make sure they weren’t taken advantage of when it came to rates. If you look at setting standards, that should be happening at the legislative branch and if that’s something that’s not happening, then it would be for advocates to change the Legislature and elect people who are going to do that. I do not believe the Corporation Commission is a place for mandates or advocacy, it’s a place for adjudicating rate cases and protecting ratepayers and keeping rates low in the most efficient way possible.

Q: The Arizona Constitution, Article 15, specifically requires that the Commission prescribes “just and reasonable rates and charges for utilities of the state.” Does this mean the Commission’s sole duty in this area is to keep utility rates as low as possible? Or does protecting ratepayers also mean commissioners also have a duty to consider utilities’ impacts on ratepayers’ health, the environment, or other things that affect ratepayers? If you think that they have both duties, how do we strike the right balance?

Olson: I do agree that the constitutional mandate is our number one priority and our number one requirement, and that is to fulfill that requirement that is in the constitution to regulate the public service corporations, and ensure that they are not charging a rate that is more than a just and reasonable return. Now, in accomplishing that we can, and should, establish mandates that are in the best interest of the ratepayer. If a utility law is something that does not make sense for the ratepayer, then it is appropriate for the Commission to step up and say “look, in this instance, renewable energy, whether it’s solar or wind, is more cost effective and the utility ought to look in that direction because that will establish a rate that is just and reasonable if you invest in something more costly, then it would not.” So, that’s why the Commission has an important role to ensure that the utilities are investing in renewable energy when it makes common sense.

Sears: The Arizona Corporation Commission needs to take a strong stance when it comes to policy. When you look at the fair, reasonable rates, if you go a little farther up and look at the mission of the Corporation Commission, the words clean, abide in the mission, and safety. Clean speaks to me when it comes to health, when reducing our asthma rates. Safety, making sure that our water is clean and lead free and doesn’t have contaminates. I think the responsible role of the Corporation Commission is to protect the ratepayers, not just the dollar amount but our health and our wellbeing. It’s about hardworking Arizonans that need protection against monopolies, it’s not about companies’ special interests. It’s about us, who live here, work here, play here and our environment needs to be protected and so do the rates.

Glassman: The role of the Commission is to protect ratepayers when it comes to affordability, reliability, resiliency, and safety. That’s the jobs of the Corporation Commission. Now I have a track record when it comes to sustainability, when I was in law school, I ran for the Tucson City Council. A role where I was able to create mandates, I wrote the nation’s first mandatory rain water harvesting ordinance for commercial developments, the first gray water plumbing ordinance for new homes, and the first solar water power heating plumbing ordinance for new homes. I did that as a member of the council because that was the role of the elected body that I ran for and was elected to. The Corporation Commission, within the Arizona Constitution, is very different. If you think about it, why was it created as the fourth branch of government? It wasn’t to do things the Legislature could do tomorrow, it was to protect ratepayers when it comes to the regulated utilities, making sure they weren’t being taken advantage of and were paying fair rates.

Kennedy: Back in territorial days, the Commission was formed to protect the consumer. History has shown that [the] Commission has sided with the monopolies and not with the ratepayers and that is an issue we are seeing today. It is time for a change when it comes to individuals representing the mere people they are elected to represent. It is a public service commission, not a monopoly service commission. When it comes to the environment, one of the things the Commission does have charge to do, and staff does it very well, they get information. When it comes to the environment, I think the commission and DEQ should work hand-in-hand.

For more information about the Corporation Commission seat click . The election will be held on November 6, 2018. To register to vote, click; and to find your polling location, click.

The post Corporation Commission candidates discuss what they would bring to the office appeared first on Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­.

With incumbent Michele Reagan’s (R) loss in the primary election, Arizona is destined for a new face in the Secretary of State seat.

The race is between Steve Gaynor (R) and Katie Hobbs (D), and according to an , it’s going to be close.

Gaynor currently holds 42.2 percent of the votes, Hobbs holds 38.7 percent, and 18.8 percent of voters are undecided.

Prior to running for office, Gaynor worked in business for almost 40 years. He worked in a number of industries before purchasing a small printing company in west Phoenix in 1988. Staying in the printing business, in the early 2000s he bought a printing plant in Denver and started his own in Los Angeles.

He decided to run for the Secretary of State’s office because multiple friends and colleagues encouraged him to do so and he believed that he could bring valuable experience in growing companies, as well as, turning around troubled enterprises.

“I just felt that the people deserved competence in the Secretary of State office because voting is a very important process in our society, [and it] wasn’t being handled well. I knew based on my business background I could turn the office around,” Gaynor said.

On top of that, Gaynor says his unique experience in the printing industry has helped him learn a lot about document security, information technology, and gives him an extensive knowledge of the law.

Here’s where Gaynor stands on the issues:

Election Security

“I believe that using paper ballots is an important component of election security. I am not in favor of electronic voting,” Gaynor said. “I think that’s an invitation for disaster. There is a lot of potential for difficulty if the computers of the state or counties are attacked. I think the counties, especially in the smaller ones, need help in securing their information technology. It’s important because these counties access the state computers so the whole system needs to be secure and that’s something that I would make a priority if I were elected.”

Voter Participation

Gaynor says that he would encourage his department to hold voter registration drives that encourage young people to register and participate in elections. However, he thinks that the Secretary of State’s office is limited in their impact on voter participation.

“If people are not motivated by political campaigns, the Secretary of State, while it’s important that people vote, the ability of the Secretary of State to impact voter participation is somewhat limited,” Gaynor said. “[So] it’s not so much increase voter registration as [much as] working with the counties to make that process uniform and secure.”

Gaynor says a problem area he will be paying attention to is the interface difference between the County Recorder’s offices and the Motor Vehicle Division.

Working with County RecordersĚý

“Well, I think the most important thing there is to establish a good working relationship. I’ve already started that process. I’ve met many of the county recorders and election directors and started a working relationship with them,” Gaynor said. “I think the secretary of state can help in certain cases overcome problems or obstacles that exist at the county level. I think it needs to be a cooperative effort between the secretary of state and county officials to develop [election] rules and procedures and implement them.”

Helping Businesses

“One thing I would like to see happen is that the process for creating a corporate entity and the process of getting a trademark or trade name for that entity be streamlined so that you can go to one location, preferably a website [to complete all forms] in an efficient way,” Gaynor said. “Eventually I would also like to see the UCC filing process become an internet function.”

Campaign Funding/Independent Expenditures

“The disclosure of contributions of 501(C)3 and (C)4 organizations is governed by federal law. To that extent, if those contributions are made in compliance with those laws then contributors are generally, under IRS rules, not disclosed. That’s something that has been and will continue to be observed.”

Gaynor believes he is prepared to take over as governor if needed. He says that the highest priority of the Governor’s office is to make sure private enterprises thrive. He says that would be a focus for him, as well as education funding, public safety, and water.

“The state and the region is in a long-term drought and we’re approaching the point where the drought could start to have an impact on us as a state, so it would certainly be an area of attention for me,” he said.

Lastly, Gaynor added, “if I’m elected my intention is to see to it that the voters, and the county officials are well-served, that there’s a good relationship with the county officials and that they’re treated professionally. The Secretary of State’s office needs to perform at a high level so that voters have confidence, that the election process is sound, and the integrity of the results is unimpeachable.”

Prior to her time as an elected official, Hobbs worked as a social worker for more than 25 years. She was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010 and moved to the state Senate in 2012.

According to Hobbs, she decided to run for Secretary of State because she spent her entire career, as both a social worker and elected official, trying to make the government work better for Arizonans. She believes elections are the core of our democracy and that the Secretary of State’s office needs someone who can properly handle them.

“I ran because I wanted to fix that and be a champion for the voters and make sure that every single eligible voter was able to cast their ballot, and that’s why I’m here,” Hobbs said.

In her time as a social worker, Hobbs was the chief compliance officer of one of the largest domestic abuse shelters in the country, where she made sure the shelter complied with the laws and regulations that came with the money it received. She thinks her experience in that field combined with her leadership in the state Senate prepares her well to be Secretary of State.

Hobbs says she “brings the perspective of someone who’s a social worker and has really spent time trying to make government work better for the people of Arizona.”

Here’s where Hobbs stands on the issues:

Election SecurityĚý

“I plan on day one to put together an election security task force, including all the county recorders and other relevant stakeholders and election security experts,” Hobbs said. “It’s not just the technology pieces, it’s the voter registration system, the e-poll book system and anything related to the voting machines vulnerability. Also, on the back end, how we ensure with our hand count audits of the paper ballots [that there isn’t] tampering of the election. That is something that could use a lot of improvement in Arizona in terms of how we conduct those.”

Voter Participation

According to Hobbs, “people don’t trust the system, they don’t have confidence, and they don’t think that their vote matters. So, we have to make sure that we’re getting it right and that every voter is able to participate in a way that’s meaningful and convenient to them.”

Hobbs says the biggest way to solve this problem is by having a leader in the Secretary of State’s office.

“I think that the Secretary has failed in leadership on these issues,” Hobbs said. “The county recorders need someone in the Secretary of State office who’s going to have their back, make sure that they have the resources that they need and make sure that there are plans in place so that if something doesn’t go right, there’s a backup and voters have a seamless process in elections.”

She also thinks that voters need to be better educated on early voting, as well as making early voting more accessible. She believes that on top of increasing new voter engagement efforts, restoring voter confidence and making elections a seamless process will help increase both voter participation and registration.

Working with County Recorders

Hobbs believes the way to ensure smooth primary and general elections is by working in a collaborative way with county recorders.

“[With] the current secretary it’s well known that there are not good relationships with the county recorders. I’ve already been reaching out [and] I plan on day one to start building those relationships, to work collaboratively with them and to [be] a leader to make sure that everyone has everything that they need on election day to make sure that things go smoothly.”

Helping Businesses

“I think that this is an area that doesn’t get a lot of focus,” Hobbs said. “What I’ve heard from almost every single stakeholder is that things are not running smoothly. I think a big area where we can actually make some difference is I plan on day one to order a top to bottom review of all the areas of the office that need improvement. Then put together an action plan of how to do that and every step along the way engaging stakeholders in the process.”

She gave the example of fixing how companies file for trademarks. She says she will engage the users of the system to make it more effective.

“It seems like a really small thing, but that trademark is part of their business; it’s important and we need to make it work right so that businesses have a seamless experience and not have all this red tape,” she said.

Campaign Finance/Independent Expenditures

“I think that there is a lot of room for reform in campaign finance. Obviously, there’s laws in place and as Secretary of State, I would be elected to uphold those laws and I would plan to do that. I think that our system does give some advantage with bigger dollars and I think that voters deserve to know who is trying to influence our elections.”

Hobbs also noted that she believes that she is prepared to become governor if that were needed.

“I think the Legislature is the best arena that there is to prepare for that. I’ve been there for eight years, in the trenches, dealing with the most pressing issues of our state,” she said. “I think that [the voters] deserve someone in the Secretary of State’s office who wants that job [and] I want to make it clear that I absolutely do want the job as Secretary of State, but they also deserve to be electing someone who is ready to step into the Governor’s office should it happen.”

Lastly, Hobbs commented on the Arizona State Archives, which she believes is an important, but often forgotten, part of the Secretary of State’s job.

According to Hobbs, “Arizona’s library used to be a model. It’s not anymore and I want to work to bring it back to that place. Under Secretary Reagan, there’s been entire collections that have been discarded and that’s really a tragedy for the history of our state.”

The post Meet the Secretary of State candidates: Steve Gaynor and Katie Hobbs appeared first on Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­.

Now that the dust has settled on a busy primary race for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ talked with both candidates vying for the seat.

A Ěýon Sept. 13Ěýfound that the Superintendent’s race is in a dead heat, with nearly 20 percent of voters still undecided.

Chief Pollster and Managing Partner Mike Noble said that Republican Frank Riggs is leading Democrat Kathy Hoffman by five points in rural communities while Hoffman has a two to one advantage among self-identified moderates.

“You’ll definitely see the number of undecided voters start to decrease once early voting begins,” he said.

Republican Frank Riggs

Former California congressman Frank Riggs won the Republican primary for Superintendent of Public Instruction after besting incumbent Diane Douglas. Riggs said his top three priorities are addressing the “acute and well-documented teacher shortage,” closing the achievement gap, and closing the skills gap in Arizona’s economy.

“I’m the only candidate with a proven record of executive, educational and legislative leadership,” he said. “I really feel that my career trajectory has ideally prepared me for the role and responsibilities of Superintendent of Public Instruction at a critical time for K-12 education in our state.”

As the former head of Arizona Connections Academy, an online charter school, Riggs said charters are “clearly meeting a demand on the part of the parents of 188,000 students currently enrolled.” But, Riggs said he would call for policy reforms to charter school governing boards that would require training and limit family and business relationships.

Riggs supports academic accountability, including providing schools the ability to opt-up to different exams. With the majority of third graders failing the state’s AzMERIT reading exam, he would address the “literacy crisis” by providing schools the resources for early intervention and small group instruction, while also limiting K-2 class sizes to no more than 20 students. Ěý

“I want to make sure that we enforce the Move on When Reading law because reading is the foundation of all learning,” he said. “Until we do that almost any other discussion on K-12 education is moot.”

Riggs said he believes in parental empowerment and choice, and as superintendent he would guard against “fraud and abuse” of Education Savings Accounts.

He said he is a proponent of full immersion as quickly as possible for English Language Learners and believes it’s the Department’s responsibility to assesses if schools have the resources and infrastructure to serve students of all ability levels. Ěý

Riggs’ full platform can be found on his website .

Democrat Kathy Hoffman

Portland native Kathy Hoffman is a former preschool teacher and speech therapist who resigned her position to run for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Hoffman said her top three priorities are to be a positive voice for public education, to fight for competitive pay for all educators and to build “inclusive policies that are mindful of all our students’ needs.”

Hoffman said while she doesn’t have experience leading an organization, she has classroom experience.

“I saw firsthand the effects of the diminished resources for our students and for our teachers. As superintendent, I want to make sure I’m hiring highly qualified staff. It’s my responsibility to make sure that I’m coordinating and leading the department with transparency and integrity,” she said. “We’ve had about two decades of people without teaching experience leading our public schools and I realized that that’s part of the problem.”

An essential component of Arizona school accountability is state benchmark tests, which ensure schools are academically supporting students. Hoffman said she is a very data driven person and supports providing schools with academic data, but she has “issues” with AzMERIT and the current structure of school accountability.

“My concern is I don’t believe in punishing schools when kids are underperforming,” she said. “I believe in finding the root of the problem and providing with them the supports to help them keep moving in the right direction.”

The Superintendent also serves as a voting board member for the state’s largest charter authorizer. Hoffman said she believes all schools should provide “a good quality education,” but would want to “take a closer look” on whether academic or financially failing charter schools should be closed and wouldn’t “rely on one measurement.”

While she is a vocal opponent of Education Savings Accounts, Hoffman said she “would be committed to make sure the program is run well… and (would) adhere to the laws and policies established by our legislature and governor.”

Hoffman said she believes Arizona needs to repeal the four-hour block for English Language Learners and provide schools “more flexibility in how they can teach their ELL students.” ĚýShe would like to see the department offer more mediation to schools and parents with special education disputes.

Hoffman’s full platform can be found on her website .

The post A look at the candidates for Arizona’s top education seat appeared first on Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­.