Sedona AZ (October 25, 2012) – In a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor, Greg Ruland, Media Response Manager Angela LeFevre Campaign writes the following:
Ruland writes: At a forum in Cottonwood sponsored by the League of Women Voters on Thursday, Oct. 18, Republican candidates for Arizona House and Senate said the current level of funding for Arizona schools is sufficient despite $3 billion cut from public education over the last three years. History shows increased spending on education does not improve student performance, they said.
The Republican candidates clashed with their Democratic opponents on school funding and just about every other issues.
To view a video of the forum for Arizona House of Representatives candidates, visit:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLbGZpJV7YQ
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nsBuPBLNE
To view a video recording of the forum for Senate candidates, visit:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMGL1KfCSpo&feature=relmfu
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r97pRGclWlM
In the Senate race, Heber Republican Rep. Chester Crandell faces Flagstaff Democratic Rep. Tom Chabin. In the House race, Flagstaff Republican BobThorpe faces Sedona Democrat Angela LeFevre and Parks Democrat Doug Ballard. Republican Rep. Brenda Barton of Payson, who is also running for one of the two open House seats in Legislative District 6, declined to attend.
In 2012, Arizona cut more from education than any other state and ranked last among the 50 states in public school funding, according to a study from the Center for Public Policy Priorities.
Crandell and Thorpe, who oppose a ballot initiative that would continue a one-cent sales tax to pay for schools and roads known as Proposition 204, said a better way to generate revenue for Arizona schools is for the state to take over management of federal public lands. Under state control, more public land would be used by ranching, timber and mining companies, they said.
The duo’s Democratic opponents said they reluctantly support Proposition 204, despite its reliance on sales tax, but oppose Proposition 120, which calls for the state takeover of 42 million acres of national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges.
Chabin said Proposition 120 is unconstitutional and will provoke expensive lawsuits the state cannot win. LeFevre said the initiative, if successful, will destroy tourism, which generates $16 billion a year for the Arizona economy.
Originally appointed to the House and then re-elected twice more, Chabin said his record of working across party lines would help moderate a state government many consider too extreme. Instead of working on problems it can control, the Republican-dominated legislature is focused on an ideological agenda that won’t create jobs or improve education, he said.
“I think the legislature is the issue. I think the legislature has made itself the issue for its extremely conservative agenda,” Chabin said.
Ballard and LeFevre said restoring $3 billion in funding cut from education over the least three years would be their top priority. A strong educational system is the only way to support a sustainable economy and bring more good-paying jobs to the state, they said.
“We have seen in Arizona the biggest cuts to education than in any other state in the nation,” Ballard said. “We’re 45th in the nation in terms of science proficiency and that’s really unacceptable. That should be unacceptable to us all.”
“I’m running because I think this great state of ours is headed in the wrong direction,” LeFevre said. “Instead of wanting to control a woman’s personal health decision, offering our district up as a site for a nuclear waste dump or allowing guns in schools, I’ll focus on what matters. I’ll focus on jobs and education.”
LeFevre is a former school teacher, entrepreneur and Fortune 500 executive who volunteered to work for a variety of philanthropic organizations including Catholic Charities. Ballard is a former planner economic development official for for Chandler.
Greg Ruland Media Response Manager Angela LeFevre Campaign 928-254-8943
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Rep. Brenda Barton received State Chamber of Commerce endorsement.
Representative Brenda Barton, R-Payson has received the endorsement of the Arizona State Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The Chamber is the state’s largest trade and business organization.
“I am very pleased to receive their endorsement and that my efforts to kick-start Arizona’s economy have been recognized by the Chamber.” Representative Barton remarked upon learning the news.
In their official endorsement letter, the Chamber said, “Because of you’re proven track record and genuine concern for the business community, we at the Arizona Chamber recognize you to be a strong pro-business advocate at the State Legislature.”
Barton, a freshman legislator is credited for leveling the field between urban Arizona and rural Arizona in terms of the investment threshold required of new businesses to receive a full suite of location incentives designed to enhance Arizona’s business attraction.
“Rural Arizona is quite different from urbanized Arizona so it only made sense that the investment bar be equalized,” she explained.
The Chamber maintains a rigorous process for supporting individuals for elected office. Incumbent legislative candidates were evaluated based on their voting record as it relates to their commitment to growing and attracting business in Arizona.
“We believe we have endorsed an outstanding slate of candidates,” Chamber Vice-President of Government Relations and Communications Garrick Taylor said, “… a slate with a commitment to growing Arizona’s economy by creating a tax and regulatory environment that attracts quality jobs to the state.”
Hey Greg Ruland, it’s sooo cool to see a comment from you on a media source that’s fair and balanced.
Whether or not I agree with you isn’t the point. The fact remains that the opportunity to voice an opinion on Sedona Eye is available for everyone.
How is Mom Kate doing? (aka Sylvia as was her name when my late husband, Chuck, and I first met her so many years ago. True friendship has no barriers.)
Smiles,
Eddie Maddock
Today, longtime Glendale resident and mayoral candidate Manny Cruz, alongside former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, denounced the unethical behavior of Jerry Weiers.
This defiance, displayed in recently acquired security footage, demonstrates behavior that is undeserving of the Glendale Mayor’s office. More importantly, it displays that Jerry Weiers simply has poor judgment and is unfit to lead Glendale, especially during these trying times.
In August 2011, the State of Arizona purchased six large planters, although purchased for security purposes, it was well known by Capitol observers and workers that Representative Jerry Weiers would insist on parking his motorcycle in an unauthorized zone by the entrance of the House building, so these planters served as a deterrent as well.
The morning that the security footage was captured, State Representative Jerry Weiers got out of his truck, placed a yellow nylon rope around one of those planters, wrapped the other end of the nylon rope around the truck, got back into his vehicle and drove off. According to State Capitol employees, the planter was moved approximately ten feet. When security and maintenance ground crew noticed tire marks around the planter area, and that the planter had been forcibly moved, the security tape was reviewed.
In the video, one can clearly see that Jerry was the culprit. Because he was a State Legislator at the time, there was no incident report taken; no citation given; nor an arrest made. After weeks of hard work by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the security footage capturing Jerry’s actions has surfaced.
“For the last several months, I’ve been talking about my Six-Point Economic Plan to move Glendale forward. And just last week, I announced an additional $4 million in savings to the City through the refinancing of City Bonds, which brings Glendale $37 million in annual savings. My opponent, Jerry Weiers, to this day, has not introduced one unique idea to help turn Glendale’s finances around,” said Manny Cruz.
Cruz continued, “The people of Glendale deserve a mayor who will be a responsible public servant. I will be a hard working mayor and an ethical public servant. This action is unbecoming of an elected official and the people of Glendale need to know about Jerry’s temperament. Today, I state that Jerry Weiers is not worthy of becoming the mayor of the 5th largest city in the State.”
Former city of Phoenix Mayor and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard echoed Cruz’s sentiments, “This shows a person who thinks he is above the law, that the normal rules do not apply to him. Public officials need to be especially respectful of the procedures that they put in place or enforce, or no one will follow them. Obviously Jerry does not get it. This kind of ‘self-help’ is inappropriate anytime and especially from someone who is hiding behind his legislative immunity. The main thing is that Jerry apparently believes that the rules for others do not apply to him. Simply put, this was a cowardly act.”
In the aftermath of the footage being released, the media responded overwhelmingly. To view one of the many media hits the campaign has received about this act of Jerry Weiers, please click the video below or follow the link:
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/Caught-on-tape-Former-State-Representative-Jerry-Weiers-removing-security-barrier-at-Capitol
Finished reading a prior article I decided to search for a name and here he is. Great site and one I’ll be subscribing to now. Jim Hayman