Maricopa County results, courtesy the website of the Maricopa County Recorder, as of 10:20 p.m.(some of these races are close enough that they could flip :
CD9 - D incumbent Kyrsten Sinema ahead of R perennial candidate Wendy Rogers by >11%, 97% reporting. Sinema's going to win. Not a surprise. Early on, she was seen as vulnerable, but nobody from the Republican "A" team stepped up.
Legislative races:
No big surprises, but one disappointment: In LD23, Republican John Kavanagh is cruising to winning the Senate seat there over Democrat Paula Pennypacker by more than 25 percentage points.
On the plus side: In LD28, Democratic State Representative Eric Meyer looks to be withstanding a challenge from Republican Shawnna Bolick, wife of Goldwater Institute bigwig Clint Bolick, and the beneficiary of lots of IE money.
County races:
Biggest surprise - In a non-partisan race for a seat on the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) governing board, Republican former legislator Jean McGrath trounced incumbent Randolph Lumm by nearly 40 percentage points. The highlight of her legislative career: proposing a bill that would have barred opposite sex visitors in the dorms of the state's universities. Wonder if anyone has informed her that Maricopa County's community colleges don't have dorms?
Ballot questions:
Proposition 480, Maricopa Integrated Health System bond question (funding for rebuilding the county hospital system): Passing by more than 160K votes.
Proposition 487, City of Phoenix question, gutting public employee pensions: Falling by nearly 26K votes.
State results (and a smattering of races that aren't statewide, but are outside of Maricopa County), mostly courtesy the website of the Arizona Secretary of State, as of 11:45 p.m. :
CD1: Democratic incumbent Ann Kirkpatrick ahead of Republican challenger Andy Tobin by just over 5K votes, 211 of 327 precincts reporting. Kirkpatrick will win.
CD2; Democratic incumbent Ron Barber ahead of Republican challenger Martha McSally by 247 votes, 136 of 194 precincts reporting. Too close to call.
AZGov: Republican Doug Ducey ahead of Democrat Fred Duval by ~141K votes, 1319 of 1566 precincts reporting. Ducey will win. :(
AZSOS: Republican Michelle Reagan ahead of Democrat Terry Goddard by ~53K votes, 1319 of 1566 precincts reporting. Likely Reagan win.
AZAG: Republican Mark Brnovich ahead of Democrat Felecia Rotellini by ~75K votes, 1319 of 1566 precincts reporting. Likely Brnovich win.
AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction: Republican Diane Douglas ahead of Democrat David Garcia by ~26K votes, 1319 of 1566 precincts reporting. Considering that Douglas basically hid from the public during the campaign, this one will be an embarrassment if it holds up.
LD2 State Representative: Upset in the making as Republican John Ackerley is ahead of Democratic incumbent Demion by ~2K votes for the second spot there, 55 of 57 precincts reporting (two are elected; Democrat Rosanna Gabaldon is easily holding on to the other seat).
LD4 State Representative: Another upset in the making with Republican Richard Hopkins ahead of Democrat Charlene Fernandez by ~600 votes for the second spot there, 56 of 59 precincts reporting (two are elected; Democrat Lisa Otondo is holding on to the other seat).
LD6 State Senate: In a race that could determine the presidency of the state senate, Independent Tom O'Halleran is ahead of Republican Sylvia Allen by ~450 votes. Word is that if O'Halleran wins, current Senate president Andy Biggs will be replaced by former Senate president Steve Pierce, and that if Allen wins, the status quo will be maintained.
LD9 State Representative: Too close to call. 250 separate the three candidate for two spots. Currently incumbent faux moderate Republican Ethan Orr trails Democrats Randy Friese and Victoria Steele, 53 of 57 precincts reporting.
Proposition 122, the neo-secessionist "nullification" measure: Ahead by ~22K votes, 1319 of 1566 precincts reporting.
Proposition 303, called the "Right to Try Act" (would allow drug companies to sell untested drugs to desperate terminally ill patients): Ahead by ~600K votes, 1319 of 1566 precincts reporting.
Proposition 304, legislative pay raise: Falling by a margin of more than 2 to 1.
Pima County Proposition 415, bonds to fund improvements to Pima County's Animal Care facility: Passing easily.
Nationally, Tuesday sucked for Democrats (mostly). There will be time for a full recap on Wednesday, but here's a bit of a preview:
Dear Massachusetts Democrats, never, EVER, again nominate Martha Coakley for anything.
Showing posts with label 2014 campaign. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2014 campaign. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 05, 2014
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Finish the Ballot - vote for the judges
As the above video, prepared by the Arizona Bar Association, explains, in the state's three most populous counties, judges are first selected for the job based on merit (explanation video here). After that, they are periodically subject to "retention" election - if a judge gets more "no" votes than "yes" votes, he or she loses the job.
Most voters aren't familiar with individual judges (and that's mostly a good thing - the easiest way to become familiar with a judge is to have to appear in court). Even politically active people (like me) are only a little more knowledgeable about the members of our judiciary, in that the names of the five justices of the state supreme court are slightly familiar.
To help voters learn how well judges are doing their jobs, the state's Judicial branch has set up the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review (JPR).
One of the things that JPR does is survey the people who interact with our judges and solicit feedback on the judges' professionalism, fairness, and the way that they operate their courts.
The judges are then evaluated by JPR and given a grade of "meet" or "does not meet" performance standards.
JPR's performance reports on the individual judges are here.
One judge in Maricopa County and one in Pima County earned a "does not meet" evaluation.
If you have an early ballot, they should be put in the mail by October 31 so that they reach the county recorder by November 4. Otherwise, bring your ballot to any polling place on Election Day.
The state bar association has created a contest for Instagram videos that encourage people to "Finish the ballot. Vote for the judges!"
More information on the contest here.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Candidates and social media: A couple of examples of what *not* to do
You'd think that after a number of AZ legislators made a pilgrimage to Bundy-land in Nevada and embarrassed themselves, and the state, by bragging about it on Twitter, AZ pols would be careful about what they put out on social media.
You'd think that, but you'd be wrong.
...On Thursday, Arizona Republicans held an event in Mesa headlined by Doug Ducey, the AZGOP's 2014 gubernatorial nominee, and Mitt Romney, the national GOP's failed 2012 presidential nominee.
And the Rs were excited, almost giddy.
Which showed in their tweets from the event.
One from Congressman Matt Salmon -
Apparently, the Congressman believes that Ducey's and Romney's records on finance and employment issues...stuff that created jobs for bankruptcy attorneys and unemployment case workers...are things to boast about.
Which, of course, is his opinion, one that he is entitled to have and express.
Me? I think he just provided wiseass bloggers an opportunity to remind people of Ducey's and Romney's contemptible and predatory behavior toward people who work for a living.
...However, while the above tweet is not unusual for a Republican (lauding bad behavior by another R), Michele Reagan, the Republican nominee for AZ Secretary of State, tweeted something that definitely falls into the "gaffe" category. She tweeted this pic from one of her fundraisers -
In case you don't remember them, Samy and Amy are the proprietors of the now-infamous Amy's Baking Company.
More interestingly, neither one can actually vote for Reagan - Samy is a non-citizen and cannot vote, and Amy is a convicted felon who hasn't had her civil rights restored (so far as I can find).
To be fair to Reagan, she apparently realized that this tweet wasn't the brightest idea, and removed it -
Fortunately, a friend screen captured it first. :)
The Arizona Democratic Party sent out a press release about this, and true to form, the Bouzaglos did not react well -
Unlike Reagan, however, at least they haven't pulled down their tweets.
You'd think that, but you'd be wrong.
...On Thursday, Arizona Republicans held an event in Mesa headlined by Doug Ducey, the AZGOP's 2014 gubernatorial nominee, and Mitt Romney, the national GOP's failed 2012 presidential nominee.
And the Rs were excited, almost giddy.
Which showed in their tweets from the event.
One from Congressman Matt Salmon -
Apparently, the Congressman believes that Ducey's and Romney's records on finance and employment issues...stuff that created jobs for bankruptcy attorneys and unemployment case workers...are things to boast about.
Which, of course, is his opinion, one that he is entitled to have and express.
Me? I think he just provided wiseass bloggers an opportunity to remind people of Ducey's and Romney's contemptible and predatory behavior toward people who work for a living.
...However, while the above tweet is not unusual for a Republican (lauding bad behavior by another R), Michele Reagan, the Republican nominee for AZ Secretary of State, tweeted something that definitely falls into the "gaffe" category. She tweeted this pic from one of her fundraisers -
 |
| Reagan, center, with Samy Bouzaglo (L) and Amy Bouzaglo (R) |
In case you don't remember them, Samy and Amy are the proprietors of the now-infamous Amy's Baking Company.
More interestingly, neither one can actually vote for Reagan - Samy is a non-citizen and cannot vote, and Amy is a convicted felon who hasn't had her civil rights restored (so far as I can find).
To be fair to Reagan, she apparently realized that this tweet wasn't the brightest idea, and removed it -
Fortunately, a friend screen captured it first. :)
The Arizona Democratic Party sent out a press release about this, and true to form, the Bouzaglos did not react well -
Unlike Reagan, however, at least they haven't pulled down their tweets.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Rally to Move AZ Forward!!
This coming Saturday, October 25, from 4 - 7 p.m., join many of the great candidates for office this year at Mesa's Riverview Park (2100 W 8th St, Mesa, Arizona 85201) -
In addition to Fred Duval, some of the other candidates expected to be there include Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema, State Representative Juan Mendez, David Garcia, Democratic nominee for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Jim Holway, Democratic candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission. Also expected to appear: many legislative candidates from districts in the area.
It should be a fun time for all, and it is taking place just before the ASU football game against the University of Washington (start time: 7:45 p.m. @ UW, televised on ESPN).
The rally is being put on by the LD26 Democrats (most of Tempe, west Mesa, Salt River Pima/Maricopa Indian Community) and the Maricopa County Democrats, but it is open to all who are interested in meeting some great candidates and helping to Move AZ Forward....
In addition to Fred Duval, some of the other candidates expected to be there include Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema, State Representative Juan Mendez, David Garcia, Democratic nominee for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Jim Holway, Democratic candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission. Also expected to appear: many legislative candidates from districts in the area.
It should be a fun time for all, and it is taking place just before the ASU football game against the University of Washington (start time: 7:45 p.m. @ UW, televised on ESPN).
The rally is being put on by the LD26 Democrats (most of Tempe, west Mesa, Salt River Pima/Maricopa Indian Community) and the Maricopa County Democrats, but it is open to all who are interested in meeting some great candidates and helping to Move AZ Forward....
Friday, October 17, 2014
Arizona Election 2014: Time to vote...
Well, early ballots started hitting mailboxes in Maricopa County last weekend (mine is already filled out and returned) signaling that the election cycle is almost over.
While some people are "issues" folks (choice, women's issues, LGBT, etc.), I am a "candidate" guy - I can disagree with someone on a particular issue, but so long as I think that someone is working for the best interests of his/her constituents, I can respect and support that someone.
Which means that for me anyway, in most years it is easy to be a Democrat in Arizona.
While I can't and won't claim that every or even any Democratic candidate is a perfect human being, I can say that as a group, they're decent human beings and try to be honorable public servants.
In contrast, it's been close to a decade since Republican primary voters supported any candidate who is either decent or honorable. For example, the Republican caucus in the state legislature is now divided into two groups - the "bay at the moon" caucus and the "go along to get along" caucus.
To be sure, a few have slipped through unchallenged...one time...but once they exhibit any of the traits of public servants, they face a primary challenge from the right.
With that as a preface, here are my votes for the 2014 general election in Arizona, in the order the offices appear on my ballot (foreshadowing: this is one of the years where I'm proud to be a Democrat) -
- Congress (CD9) - Democratic incumbent Kyrsten Sinema v. Republican perennial candidate Wendy Rogers
I've made it clear before that Sinema is not exactly my favorite Democrat. I supported another candidate in the 2012 primary (David Schapira, now a member-elect of the Tempe City Council) and may support another candidate in a possible 2016 primary. However, she has done some exemplary work on behalf of her district and Arizona's veterans.
In contrast, her opponent Wendy Rogers (who *is* a veteran, as she will be sure to tell you if you ever are within earshot of her) has wholeheartedly embraced that standard GOP platform of fear and demonization. She shows absolutely no sign of being concerned with the welfare of the people of CD9 or Arizona.
In short, Sinema may not be perfect, but she is head and shoulders above her opponent.
Vote goes to: Sinema
- Arizona Governor - Open seat. Democrat Fred Duval v. Republican Doug Ducey.
Because this is a race for an open seat, the campaign has been all about what the candidates *will do* in the office, not what they *have done*.
Duval has pledged to protect the state's education system from further cuts by the legislature and to see that the state pays the court-ordered funds that were improperly cut by the lege in past years.
Ducey, on the other hand, wants to increase the amount of public money funneled to private and charter schools, and has pledged to fight the court-ordered funding repayment.
Summary: Duval is someone who brings a "us" perspective to the table, Ducey brings a "what's in it for me" attitude.
Vote goes to: Duval.
- State Senate (LD24) - Incumbent Democrat Katie Hobbs v. Republican Bill Follette
This one may be the easiest race on the ballot - Hobbs is smart and has worked her tail off for the district; Follette is running as "The Democrats' Republican". Really. Check out his signs. That's all he's got.
Vote goes to: Hobbs
- State Representative (LD24) - Democrat Lela Alston (incumbent), Democrat Ken Clark, and Republican Lei Lani Cortez (vote for 2)
Another easy one.
Alston and Clark are longtime public servants who have performed admirably in every position that they've held; Cortez is running as a Republican who has checked off every box on the GOP's "groupthink" checklist.
Vote(s) goes to: Alston and Clark
- Arizona Secretary of State - Open seat. Democrat Terry Goddard v. Republican Michele Reagan
Goddard is a former mayor of Phoenix, former Arizon Attorney General and arguably, the most qualified candidate for any office this year. His concern for Arizonans is endless, his work ethic is boundless, and his integrity is unassailable (didn't even need a thesaurus for that sentence :) )
Reagan is a state legislator who has crafted, sponsored, and/or voted for the most oppressive legislation to come out of the Capitol in recent years - SB1070 (anti-immigrant), SB1062 (anti-LGBT), and HB2305 (anti-voter) - and also lies about the political process in Arizona.
Vote goes to: Goddard
- Arizona Attorney General - Semi-open seat (meaning that the incumbent lost in the primary). Democrat Felecia Rotellini v. Republican Mark Brnovich.
Rotellini is an experienced prosecutor and former head of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions. She has spent much of her career in consumer protection roles.
She has pledged to work to fight things like domestic violence, human trafficking, and fraud (and other crimes) directed toward Arizona's senior citizen and veterans.
Brnovich has worked for the Arizona Attorney General's Office and thecorporate lobbying group "free market think tank" Goldwater Institute.
Brnovich has pledged to fight things like...federal law.
Summary: Rotellini was impressive in 2010 when she was the Democratic nominee, and after four years of the incumbent's sleaze and arrogance, she's even more impressive. Plus, she takes the job of AZAG seriously, looking to protect Arizonans. Brnovich apparently sees the job as being more about enabling the neo-secessionists in the legislature and less about serving the people of Arizona.
Vote goes to: Rotellini
- State Treasurer - Open seat. Only one candidate, so I skipped this race.
- Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction -Semi-open seat. Democrat David Garcia v. Republican Diane Douglas
Garcia is an associate professor at ASU, a veteran, and a nationally renowned education researcher.
Douglas is a former school board member in Peoria.
Garcia supports a well-rounded program to help improve Arizona's K-12 system.
Douglas is a single-issue candidate - she vehemently opposes the set of education standards known as "Common Core".
Summary: Not that the other races were difficult to decide, but this was the easiest choice among the statewide races. Some offices have to go beyond partisanship, and even some Republicans consider Garcia to be the most qualified person to ever run for this office.
Vote goes to: Garcia
- State Mine Inspector - Only the incumbent, Republican Joe Hart, is on the ballot.
Vote goes to: Manny Cruz (write in). Cruz was the 2010 Democratic nominee, and was gearing up for a 2014 run until he was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away in May of this year and is still missed by the many people whose lives that he touched. I know the vote won't count, but it is the right thing here.
Arizona Corporation Commission - Open seats. Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Jim Holway v. Republicans Tom Forese and Doug Little (vote for 2)
Kennedy is a former member of the ACC and the state legislature.
Holway has had a long career in education and government service, focused on the environment.
Forese is a state legislator.
Little is a career corporate cog.
Summary: Kennedy and Holway have years of experience in public service. Forese and Little have a campaign that is being funded by APS, one of the corporations that is regulated by the ACC.
Vote(s) go to: Holway and Kennedy
- Maricopa County Assessor and Clerk of the Superior Court - the Democrats skipped these races, so my votes went to the two Libertarian candidates. Maybe if the Libertarians get enough votes, the Ds will stop skipping low-profile races like these.
- Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board - "At Large" seats - Eddie Tiggs, Mario Diaz, John Heep, and Tracy Livingston (vote for 2).
Not a strong vote "for" here, but while Mario Diaz has issues (like his ties to "Republican is everything but name" state legislator Catherine Miranda) and I couldn't find out much about Tiggs, Heep and Livingston are tea party types who will work to undermine public higher education in Maricopa County.
Votes go to: Tiggs and Diaz.
- Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board - Laddie Shane, Francesca Thomas, Kim Hartmann, and Pam Kirby (vote for 2)
This is one race that I know almost nothing about, so I went with the recommendation of a friend who teaches for SUSD and voted for Hartmann and Thomas.
- Local school district ballot questions -
1. Continuation of a "maintenance and operations" budget override for SUSD. Considering what the legislature and Doug Ducey (if he wins his race) have in mind for Arizona's K-12 system in the new year, this one was an easy "Yes".
2. Authorizing SUSD to dispose of some real property on 44th Street in Phoenix. No.
- Scottsdale City Council - Dennis Robbins, Linda Milhaven, Jennifer Petersen, David Smith, Cindy Hill, and Kathy Littlefield (vote for 3)
In August, I completely skipped this race as none of the candidates are outstanding, but the August election eliminated the two candidates that I considered to be the weakest. Looking at the race again, I still am not particularly enamored with any of the candidates, much less three of them.
Then I received a mailer where Scottsdale mayor Jim Lane announced his endorsement of three of the candidates (Robbins, Milhaven, and Petersen).
I ended up voting for two of the others.
I'm not exactly a fan of Jim Lane. In case you couldn't figure that out for yourself. :)
- Maricopa County judge retention ballot - too numerous to list individually, but there is one of special note: Michael Herrod, husband of Cathi Herrod, head of the Center for Arizona Theocracy Policy.
- Statewide ballot questions - previously covered here.
To recap briefly:
Proposition 122 - "No" - it's an effort to mobilize the neo-secessionist vote; if passed, it will serve only to keep us as a national punchline.
Proposition 303 - "No" - it's an effort to use the "awwwwwww" effect to get people to change AZ law to allow drug companies to bypass the FDA and sell untested drugs and medical treatments to desperate patients.
Proposition 304 - "Yes" - it would raise legislative salaries from $24K per year to $35K. Bottom line: you get what you pay for, and we pay our legislators crap.
- Maricopa County ballot questiion - Proposition 480
Would authorize the county health care district to issue $935 million in bonds to rebuild and expand the county's nationally-recognized hospital and health care system.
Vote: Yes.
While some people are "issues" folks (choice, women's issues, LGBT, etc.), I am a "candidate" guy - I can disagree with someone on a particular issue, but so long as I think that someone is working for the best interests of his/her constituents, I can respect and support that someone.
Which means that for me anyway, in most years it is easy to be a Democrat in Arizona.
While I can't and won't claim that every or even any Democratic candidate is a perfect human being, I can say that as a group, they're decent human beings and try to be honorable public servants.
In contrast, it's been close to a decade since Republican primary voters supported any candidate who is either decent or honorable. For example, the Republican caucus in the state legislature is now divided into two groups - the "bay at the moon" caucus and the "go along to get along" caucus.
To be sure, a few have slipped through unchallenged...one time...but once they exhibit any of the traits of public servants, they face a primary challenge from the right.
With that as a preface, here are my votes for the 2014 general election in Arizona, in the order the offices appear on my ballot (foreshadowing: this is one of the years where I'm proud to be a Democrat) -
- Congress (CD9) - Democratic incumbent Kyrsten Sinema v. Republican perennial candidate Wendy Rogers
I've made it clear before that Sinema is not exactly my favorite Democrat. I supported another candidate in the 2012 primary (David Schapira, now a member-elect of the Tempe City Council) and may support another candidate in a possible 2016 primary. However, she has done some exemplary work on behalf of her district and Arizona's veterans.
In contrast, her opponent Wendy Rogers (who *is* a veteran, as she will be sure to tell you if you ever are within earshot of her) has wholeheartedly embraced that standard GOP platform of fear and demonization. She shows absolutely no sign of being concerned with the welfare of the people of CD9 or Arizona.
In short, Sinema may not be perfect, but she is head and shoulders above her opponent.
Vote goes to: Sinema
- Arizona Governor - Open seat. Democrat Fred Duval v. Republican Doug Ducey.
Because this is a race for an open seat, the campaign has been all about what the candidates *will do* in the office, not what they *have done*.
Duval has pledged to protect the state's education system from further cuts by the legislature and to see that the state pays the court-ordered funds that were improperly cut by the lege in past years.
Ducey, on the other hand, wants to increase the amount of public money funneled to private and charter schools, and has pledged to fight the court-ordered funding repayment.
Summary: Duval is someone who brings a "us" perspective to the table, Ducey brings a "what's in it for me" attitude.
Vote goes to: Duval.
- State Senate (LD24) - Incumbent Democrat Katie Hobbs v. Republican Bill Follette
This one may be the easiest race on the ballot - Hobbs is smart and has worked her tail off for the district; Follette is running as "The Democrats' Republican". Really. Check out his signs. That's all he's got.
Vote goes to: Hobbs
- State Representative (LD24) - Democrat Lela Alston (incumbent), Democrat Ken Clark, and Republican Lei Lani Cortez (vote for 2)
Another easy one.
Alston and Clark are longtime public servants who have performed admirably in every position that they've held; Cortez is running as a Republican who has checked off every box on the GOP's "groupthink" checklist.
Vote(s) goes to: Alston and Clark
- Arizona Secretary of State - Open seat. Democrat Terry Goddard v. Republican Michele Reagan
Goddard is a former mayor of Phoenix, former Arizon Attorney General and arguably, the most qualified candidate for any office this year. His concern for Arizonans is endless, his work ethic is boundless, and his integrity is unassailable (didn't even need a thesaurus for that sentence :) )
Reagan is a state legislator who has crafted, sponsored, and/or voted for the most oppressive legislation to come out of the Capitol in recent years - SB1070 (anti-immigrant), SB1062 (anti-LGBT), and HB2305 (anti-voter) - and also lies about the political process in Arizona.
Vote goes to: Goddard
- Arizona Attorney General - Semi-open seat (meaning that the incumbent lost in the primary). Democrat Felecia Rotellini v. Republican Mark Brnovich.
Rotellini is an experienced prosecutor and former head of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions. She has spent much of her career in consumer protection roles.
She has pledged to work to fight things like domestic violence, human trafficking, and fraud (and other crimes) directed toward Arizona's senior citizen and veterans.
Brnovich has worked for the Arizona Attorney General's Office and the
Brnovich has pledged to fight things like...federal law.
Summary: Rotellini was impressive in 2010 when she was the Democratic nominee, and after four years of the incumbent's sleaze and arrogance, she's even more impressive. Plus, she takes the job of AZAG seriously, looking to protect Arizonans. Brnovich apparently sees the job as being more about enabling the neo-secessionists in the legislature and less about serving the people of Arizona.
Vote goes to: Rotellini
- State Treasurer - Open seat. Only one candidate, so I skipped this race.
- Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction -Semi-open seat. Democrat David Garcia v. Republican Diane Douglas
Garcia is an associate professor at ASU, a veteran, and a nationally renowned education researcher.
Douglas is a former school board member in Peoria.
Garcia supports a well-rounded program to help improve Arizona's K-12 system.
Douglas is a single-issue candidate - she vehemently opposes the set of education standards known as "Common Core".
Summary: Not that the other races were difficult to decide, but this was the easiest choice among the statewide races. Some offices have to go beyond partisanship, and even some Republicans consider Garcia to be the most qualified person to ever run for this office.
Vote goes to: Garcia
- State Mine Inspector - Only the incumbent, Republican Joe Hart, is on the ballot.
Vote goes to: Manny Cruz (write in). Cruz was the 2010 Democratic nominee, and was gearing up for a 2014 run until he was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away in May of this year and is still missed by the many people whose lives that he touched. I know the vote won't count, but it is the right thing here.
Arizona Corporation Commission - Open seats. Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Jim Holway v. Republicans Tom Forese and Doug Little (vote for 2)
Kennedy is a former member of the ACC and the state legislature.
Holway has had a long career in education and government service, focused on the environment.
Forese is a state legislator.
Little is a career corporate cog.
Summary: Kennedy and Holway have years of experience in public service. Forese and Little have a campaign that is being funded by APS, one of the corporations that is regulated by the ACC.
Vote(s) go to: Holway and Kennedy
- Maricopa County Assessor and Clerk of the Superior Court - the Democrats skipped these races, so my votes went to the two Libertarian candidates. Maybe if the Libertarians get enough votes, the Ds will stop skipping low-profile races like these.
- Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board - "At Large" seats - Eddie Tiggs, Mario Diaz, John Heep, and Tracy Livingston (vote for 2).
Not a strong vote "for" here, but while Mario Diaz has issues (like his ties to "Republican is everything but name" state legislator Catherine Miranda) and I couldn't find out much about Tiggs, Heep and Livingston are tea party types who will work to undermine public higher education in Maricopa County.
Votes go to: Tiggs and Diaz.
- Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board - Laddie Shane, Francesca Thomas, Kim Hartmann, and Pam Kirby (vote for 2)
This is one race that I know almost nothing about, so I went with the recommendation of a friend who teaches for SUSD and voted for Hartmann and Thomas.
- Local school district ballot questions -
1. Continuation of a "maintenance and operations" budget override for SUSD. Considering what the legislature and Doug Ducey (if he wins his race) have in mind for Arizona's K-12 system in the new year, this one was an easy "Yes".
2. Authorizing SUSD to dispose of some real property on 44th Street in Phoenix. No.
- Scottsdale City Council - Dennis Robbins, Linda Milhaven, Jennifer Petersen, David Smith, Cindy Hill, and Kathy Littlefield (vote for 3)
In August, I completely skipped this race as none of the candidates are outstanding, but the August election eliminated the two candidates that I considered to be the weakest. Looking at the race again, I still am not particularly enamored with any of the candidates, much less three of them.
Then I received a mailer where Scottsdale mayor Jim Lane announced his endorsement of three of the candidates (Robbins, Milhaven, and Petersen).
I ended up voting for two of the others.
I'm not exactly a fan of Jim Lane. In case you couldn't figure that out for yourself. :)
- Maricopa County judge retention ballot - too numerous to list individually, but there is one of special note: Michael Herrod, husband of Cathi Herrod, head of the Center for Arizona Theocracy Policy.
- Statewide ballot questions - previously covered here.
To recap briefly:
Proposition 122 - "No" - it's an effort to mobilize the neo-secessionist vote; if passed, it will serve only to keep us as a national punchline.
Proposition 303 - "No" - it's an effort to use the "awwwwwww" effect to get people to change AZ law to allow drug companies to bypass the FDA and sell untested drugs and medical treatments to desperate patients.
Proposition 304 - "Yes" - it would raise legislative salaries from $24K per year to $35K. Bottom line: you get what you pay for, and we pay our legislators crap.
- Maricopa County ballot questiion - Proposition 480
Would authorize the county health care district to issue $935 million in bonds to rebuild and expand the county's nationally-recognized hospital and health care system.
Vote: Yes.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
OP-ed: Take it from the parents who know her, Douglas “scarily unqualified” to lead Arizona schools
This was published previously in the Peoria Times and the Arizona Republic's West Valley section.
It is printed here with the permission of the authors (h/t to ProgressNow Arizona) -
To every single voter in Arizona:
It is printed here with the permission of the authors (h/t to ProgressNow Arizona) -
To every single voter in Arizona:
As long-time
education advocates in Peoria and Cofounders of Peoria United Parent
Council in 2004, we have had long-term first-hand experience with
Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Diane Douglas.
We want to make this warning crystal-clear to voters: Diane Douglas does not even remotely have the skills to do the job.
Several
years ago, before she ran for the Peoria Unified School District (PUSD)
Governing Board, Diane was a member of our parent group. At the time,
she seemed to be willing and able to make reasoned
decisions and prepared to review all sides of an issue.
However,
much to our chagrin and dismay, once she was elected to the PUSD
Governing Board, an astonishing Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation took
place. Her dangerous extremism, and overwhelming anti-public-education,
anti-teacher agenda came rushing to the forefront. Her micromanaging of
educators and overwhelming partisanship — in a non-partisan position —
was so volatile and divisive that it became nearly impossible to get
even the most mundane day-to-day business of the district done, let
alone provide additional support to kids and teachers.
Diane is an
anti-everything candidate. She repeatedly scorns the benefits
of higher education. She opposed every effort to provide adequate
funding for our district. While she was a PUSD Governing Board member,
she lead the opposition against Prop. 100, the temporary statewide one
cent sales tax initiative intended to provide a modicum of additional
support to education. Fortunately, Prop. 100 was overwhelmingly approved
by voters and supported by our Republican Governor, Jan Brewer.
Diane’s
ONLY "experience" in the classroom is second-guessing thousands of
highly educated, hard-working, overwhelmingly competent professional
teachers in the district on a daily basis. And, no, teaching people how
to make stained glass does not count. Yes folks, this esteemed candidate
for the most powerful education position in Arizona most recently
worked as an instructor at the local strip mall’s stained glass shop. An
honest job, but hardly the background required for providing high-level
educational leadership and policy direction for the state.
Please
listen to the people who know her best. Don’t put Diane Douglas, who is
scarily unqualified for this important state-level position, in charge
of the future of our children’s and grandchildren’s education, and hence
the future economy of Arizona. By any measure – professionalism,
cooperativeness, experience and so much more -- David Garcia is the far
more qualified candidate to lead our schools.
The
above accurately describes our eight plus year experience with Diane
Douglas, however, we are no longer spokespersons for PUPC.
Jan Wilson and Kim Price Olsen, Peoria Parent and Grandparent
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
Fun with campaign signs: Reinforcing choices
A little while back, I posted my choices/recommendations on the three statewide ballot questions going before Arizona voters this year (No on 122 and 303, the questions sent to the ballot by the legislature, and Yes on 304, the legislative pay raise).
At the time, I didn't have anything specific to point at to support my opposition to 303, just a general feeling of distrust of the people behind the measure, the Goldwater Institute.
Now I have some more specifics.
And am even more firmly opposed to it.
First up: Another committee has been formed to support the measure.
If the name "Laura Knaperek" rings a bell, it should - she's a former legislator who became an industry lobbyist after her time in the lege. Which industry? Whichever one is paying her today.
Second up: Signs that show that the neo-secessionists that support Prop 122 are supporting Prop 303 -
Closer -
And the "Paid for by" -
Any other questions?
At the time, I didn't have anything specific to point at to support my opposition to 303, just a general feeling of distrust of the people behind the measure, the Goldwater Institute.
Now I have some more specifics.
And am even more firmly opposed to it.
First up: Another committee has been formed to support the measure.
If the name "Laura Knaperek" rings a bell, it should - she's a former legislator who became an industry lobbyist after her time in the lege. Which industry? Whichever one is paying her today.
Second up: Signs that show that the neo-secessionists that support Prop 122 are supporting Prop 303 -
 |
| On the west side of Pima Road in Scottsdale, between Via de Ventura and Indian Bend Road |
Closer -
And the "Paid for by" -
Any other questions?
Monday, October 06, 2014
Charles Boles: Campaigning to prove that he is unsuited for the job he is seeking..
In most of the country "justices of the peace" are basically known for conducting weddings.
In Arizona, while they do that (for most JPs here, it is one of the more enjoyable parts of the job), they also serve as judges (small claims, low-level DUIs, evictions, many misdemeanors, orders of protection, etc.).
In that regard, a large part of the job is about paperwork - see that it is done cleanly and accurately.
And because it is an elected position, there are occasionally candidates for the job who don't seem to understand that, or at least who don't take it seriously.
Charles Boles, the Republican nominee for Justice of the Peace in the University Lakes precinct of Maricopa County (east Tempe) seems to fall into that group.
Notes: the Democratic nominee is Tyler Kissell; the district itself is almost evenly divided between Rs and Ds.
As noted in a complaint filed by Mark Thompson, a Republican former legislator and one of the candidates in the R primary won by Boles, Boles has been filing campaign finance reports that are contradictory and/or incomplete.
From the complaint -
He lists a number of issues with a number of different reports, so I chose to look at his most recent filings.
"Sloppy" doesn't even begin to describe what I found.
From Boles' most recent report ("Post Primary Report") -
As someone with a bit of an accounting background (and only a *bit* - I am not an accountant), this page is almost horrifying. On line 5b and line 7, columns A and B should have the same number. As you can see, they don't. Not even close.
From his Pre-Primary report:
Boles' response to Thompson's complaint was less than illuminating (it also didn't say anything about fixing the shortcomings in his reports; in fact, most of his response was to simply criticize Thompson's previous candidacy) -
According to reports that have reached me, Maricopa County Elections has punted on the complaint, citing lack of jurisdiction (which I find hard to believe) and lack of time (considering that early ballots go into the mail later this week, I believe this one very much).
In other words, Boles probably won't get much push back on his financial reports until after the election, at the earliest.
Of course, if he wins the election, he may see far more push back than he, as a non-sitting judge, expects - *if* he wins his race, he will then fall under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Arizona's judicial branch is a nationally respected one; in fact, it garners more national respect than the state's legislative and executive branches.
And the Commission is a big reason for that. It does a very effective job of keeping the few AZ judicial officers who get out of line from getting too far out of line.
And not getting the paperwork right is something that *will* get the Commission's attention.
Summary:
Boles' open disregard for the detail work of being a candidate speaks volumes about how he would do the job if he wins.
In Arizona, while they do that (for most JPs here, it is one of the more enjoyable parts of the job), they also serve as judges (small claims, low-level DUIs, evictions, many misdemeanors, orders of protection, etc.).
In that regard, a large part of the job is about paperwork - see that it is done cleanly and accurately.
And because it is an elected position, there are occasionally candidates for the job who don't seem to understand that, or at least who don't take it seriously.
Charles Boles, the Republican nominee for Justice of the Peace in the University Lakes precinct of Maricopa County (east Tempe) seems to fall into that group.
Notes: the Democratic nominee is Tyler Kissell; the district itself is almost evenly divided between Rs and Ds.
As noted in a complaint filed by Mark Thompson, a Republican former legislator and one of the candidates in the R primary won by Boles, Boles has been filing campaign finance reports that are contradictory and/or incomplete.
From the complaint -
He lists a number of issues with a number of different reports, so I chose to look at his most recent filings.
"Sloppy" doesn't even begin to describe what I found.
From Boles' most recent report ("Post Primary Report") -
As someone with a bit of an accounting background (and only a *bit* - I am not an accountant), this page is almost horrifying. On line 5b and line 7, columns A and B should have the same number. As you can see, they don't. Not even close.
From his Pre-Primary report:
Boles' response to Thompson's complaint was less than illuminating (it also didn't say anything about fixing the shortcomings in his reports; in fact, most of his response was to simply criticize Thompson's previous candidacy) -
According to reports that have reached me, Maricopa County Elections has punted on the complaint, citing lack of jurisdiction (which I find hard to believe) and lack of time (considering that early ballots go into the mail later this week, I believe this one very much).
In other words, Boles probably won't get much push back on his financial reports until after the election, at the earliest.
Of course, if he wins the election, he may see far more push back than he, as a non-sitting judge, expects - *if* he wins his race, he will then fall under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Arizona's judicial branch is a nationally respected one; in fact, it garners more national respect than the state's legislative and executive branches.
And the Commission is a big reason for that. It does a very effective job of keeping the few AZ judicial officers who get out of line from getting too far out of line.
And not getting the paperwork right is something that *will* get the Commission's attention.
Summary:
Boles' open disregard for the detail work of being a candidate speaks volumes about how he would do the job if he wins.
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