Tonight's LD17 Dems meeting

Tonight's District 17 Democrats meeting at the Pyle Center in Tempe was a pretty straightforward one.

This evening, the candidates for State Representative from District 17 each spoke to us for one last time before the primary next week.

They were asked which three (of 19!) ballot questions they are the most passionate about.

Angie Crouse started this portion of the meeting, speaking first in strong support of Proposition 202, the citizen initiative to raise Arizona's minimum wage.

[Note: the passion about and support of this proposition was unanimous among the four candidates.]

Angie noted that under the current minimum of $5.15/hour, a worker would earn less than $11,000 per year, assuming 40 hours worked per week for 52 weeks; at the proposed rate of $6.75, that would become a little over $14,000. And the rate would be adjusted for inflation.

That wouldn't provide a great standard of living, but it would be much better than that provided by the current wage, and given that some of the most important work in our society is performed by minimum wage earners (see: care, child and care, elder), well-deserved.

She followed up with strong opposition to Proposition 107, the Protect Marriage Arizona amendment to AZ's constitution. The proposal would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman and bar any official status or benefits for couples made up of unmarried persons.

What she does support is equal rights for all citizens; she also observed that the amendment would negatively impact thousands of couples, the vast majority of which are heterosexual.

She closed with her support of Proposition 203, the First Things First initiative. This proposal would provide $150 million for early childhood education and health screenings.

She then gave us a campaign update, saying everything is "going great" and advising us that she spent over 18 hours this weekend walking the district.

Ed Ableser was up next.

He too strongly supports raising the minimum wage (Prop 202), citing a study that shows that a truly livable wage would be in the $9.20 - $9.80 range.

As with Angie, he also opposes Prop 107, calling it a bad proposition, not only because of the unfairness of it but because of the harm it would do to cities such as Scottsdale and Tempe that offer domestic partner benefits to their employees. They would lose a competitive advantage over cities elsewhere in the country when it comes to recruiting employees.

Ed also supports Proposition 204, the Humane Treatment of Farm Animals Act. He talked about a pig factory farm near Flagstaff where the pigs are kept penned for their entire existences practically, with their food going in one end of the cage and their...ummm...."post digestion food byproducts" exiting the other, with the pigs never being allowed to move.

As with Angie (and the others as it turns out :) ), the campaign is going great.

He had to leave to attend a meeting in his capacity as a serving state senator concerning ASU's plans to build a large dorm (seven stories) in a nearby neighborhood.

Rhett Wilson led off his part of the presentation with his strong opposition to Proposition 300, a legislature-initiated proposition to bar access for undocumented immigrants to literacy and adult education programs and educational financial aid.

My take, in my words: this prop is the way the Republicans in the legislature are protecting us against those "durned lurned furriners. They don' need ta read 'n write to pick chilies, cut grass and be deported."

Rhett was far more tactful than me. :)

He also strongly supports raising the minimum wage, noting the growing income disparity in the U.S.

Lastly, he also opposes the Protect Marriage Arizona ballot question, observing that it doesn't just attack same-sex couples.

His campaign is also in good shape. He talked about how he was grateful "just to be there" and that over the course of the long primary season he had learned a lot.

David Schapira closed out this part of the meeting with his three answers.

On his first, he admitted he was cheating a little, but he tied to initiatives together. He urged everyone to support Proposition 201, the Smoke Free Arizona Act and to oppose Proposition 206, the Arizona Non-Smoker Protection Act. They're both citizen initiatives, however, Prop 206 was funded almost totally by RJ Reynolds Tobacco.

Prop 201 would ban smoking in enclosed public spaces; Prop 206 would allow bars and restaurants to exempt themselves if they so choose.

David cited a study of the effects of a California law similar to Prop 201 that observed a nearly-60% reduction in emphysema and other lung/breathing disorders among bar and restaurant staff. Second-hand smoke does kill.

He also warned that passage of Prop 206 alone would roll back Tempe's already-stringent anti-smoking ordinances.

Secondly, he strongly supports raising the minimum wage; he thinks it's embarrassing that Arizona is one of six states without it's own minimum wage.

Finally, he closed with his support of Prop 203, the First Things First initiative. He said the state currently provides almost no financial support for early childhood ed; this would change that.

His campaign is "fantastic"; two of the more notable developments are his endorsements by the Arizona Republic and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

Personal note: I have to say now that all four of the candidates, Ed Ableser, Angie Crouse, David Schapira, and Rhett Wilson have done a great job and should be proud of the way that they have conducted their campaigns and themselves during the campaign. There are some other districts that could learn from their example (yes, that's you CD8.)

Even tonight, as tired as they are, they were friendly, respectful, and complimentary toward each other.

They're a credit to themselves, the district, the party, and their parents. [Hey - Rhett Wilson's mom was there tonight...gotta give credit where credit's due. :)) ]

Regardless of how the primary turns out, I hope the two runners-up stay involved with the party. They have way too much to offer the district and the state.

In other matters, Elvis Richardson, the write-in candidate for Kyrene District Justice of the Peace spoke briefly before he had to pick up his kids from the babysitter.

Randall Holmes spoke for a while about the elections integrity work that he is involved with.

Meg Burton-Cahill, candidate for LD17 Senate, called LD17 the "hottest district" in the state and how we have a chance to sweep the seats this year to help protect the Governor's veto.

Jon Levinson, candidate for Kyrene Constable, spoke and thanked everyone for their support. Well, that's not completely correct, as he couldn't thank me.

I live in the University Lakes Justice Precinct. :)

However, if I did live in Kyrene, I would support his candidacy.

Lauren, the Volunteer Coordinator for the Mitchell for Congress campaign gave a brief update. I'll do a post on that and calendar-type stuff tomorrow.

Next meeting: October 3rd, 7:00 p.m. at the Pyle Center in Tempe.

Good night everyone!