Candidates for nomination for Arizona Governor

Name: Ken Bennett

Race: Arizona Governor

Party affiliation: Republican

Statement:

As Americans, we work hard to build a better life for our families and loved ones. We count on the promise that our efforts mean something, and we don’t have to accept failure, mediocrity or a bad government. Unfortunately, even the smartest and most hard-working citizens cannot escape the reality of bad government. Here in Arizona, high taxes, unbalanced budgets, failing schools, unsafe neighborhoods, and two-faced politicians have become the norm of late. No matter how hard we work, things continue to worsen. 

I am running for Governor because the Truth Matters and in critical areas we are not being told the truth.

We’ve been told the State budget has been balanced but the total State debt has grown by 1 Billion dollars over the same four years. We were told this last State budget didn’t have accounting tricks and gimmicks in it and there was no tax increase, but the Medicaid Expansion tax was increased as well as other ‘fees.’ The education solution failed and the border is worse than it was four years ago.

My record as President of the State Senate proves I achieved a structurally balanced budget with the largest tax cuts and biggest increase in education funding in history without no gimmicks.

Education and school safety are top priorities but will not include my opponent’s gun seizure plan. I will never sell out to outside groups. I will issue strong terms of engagement for our National Guard and demand that our Senators repeal job killing Obamacare.

Enough is enough. If you want more of the same, there are other candidates who would happily take your vote (and your money) to continue up the political chain. If you want something better, my name is Ken Bennett and I would be honored by your vote.

Name: Doug Ducey

Race: Arizona Governor (incumbent)

Party affiliation: Republican

Statement:

Three years ago, Arizona was still struggling to recover from the recession and families were hurting. Today, Arizona is growing and getting stronger, but we have more work to do.

Since 2015, Arizona has added over 160,000 new jobs and over 300 companies have relocated or expanded in Arizona. Workers are taking home bigger pay checks and the last time unemployment was this low, we were renting our movies from Blockbuster.

With a growing economy and new jobs, we’ve been able to invest in what matters most—like K-12 education and public safety—without raising taxes. We’ve added 2.7 billion additional dollars to K-12 public schools. Per-pupil spending is up 10%. And districts across Southern Arizona are rewarding our teachers with double-digit raises.

But we need to do more.

I’ve pledged to continue increasing K-12 spending above and beyond inflation – and I’ll veto any budget that doesn’t do so.

I’m also committed to passing the Safe Arizona Schools Plan to keep our kids safe. This means more cops on campus, more school counselors, and improving background checks.

Following the creation of Arizona’s Border Strike Force, we have made 3,199 arrests and seized over $10 million in cash and tens of thousands of pounds of meth, marijuana, and heroin.

In the next four years, our goal is to expand these efforts with 24/7 police coverage in all border counties, new technology to connect police forces across the state, and tougher penalties for drug cartels and human traffickers.

The gains of the last three years show us what our state is capable of when we focus on creating a strong economy and secure communities.

I’m asking for your vote because I want to continue working for you to secure our future. A secure economy. Secure schools. A secure border. Safe neighborhoods.

Name: Steve Farley

Race: Arizona Governor

Party affiliation: Democrat

Statement:

My parents were both public school teachers. They taught me my spirit of service, and that’s why I’ve served the last twelve years in the legislature. I have the experience, the knowledge of the policy and the knowledge of this state. I plan to be the next governor of Arizona, and finally lead as we invest in ourselves--in education, healthcare, the economy, and more.

I know our budget inside out from serving in the appropriations committee, I know our finance structure inside out, and I know when Governor Ducey says we don’t have enough money to make these investments, he’s lying. We have the money, we’ve chosen to give it away. I know how to fix this.

I’ve been on the legislature for twelve years, but my most important job has been as a dad. I have two daughters. As dad, I saw particularly for the last four years, the devastating effects of these cuts to public education. There are six counselors for thirty-two hundred kids, schools have a third of the computers they need, and they have ten percent of their classrooms locked away because they’re literally hazardous to inhabit.

That has to change. The only way we’ve ever invented to effectively allow people to lift themselves from poverty is universal, high-quality, public education. And one in four kids currently live in poverty in this state. It’s time to invest in ourselves.

This is our state, we can move it forward, we can invest in ourselves. We finally get the government we deserve. We all live in Arizona because we love this place, but we’ve had such poor leadership. Imagine what we could be with good leadership. We could be a light to the nation.

We will change this state and in November of 2018, we finally move forward.

Name: Kelly Fryer

Race: Arizona Governor

Party affiliation: Democrat

Statement:

Arizona should work for everyone – and I mean everyone. Right now, it's not. It can, and I can help. I've spent the last 29 years in executive and CEO leadership positions in grassroots organizations, as a pastor, a seminary professor, and the owner of a consulting company that helped leaders across the US do what matters. Today, I'm the CEO of the YWCA Southern Arizona, which is part of the oldest civil rights and social justice organization in the country. When I got there in 2013, some members of the board weren’t sure that the organization could survive. I thought it would take 10 years to turn it around; it took less than 5 to grow our budget and program impact by 400%.

My specialty is walking into an organization or community that is in some kind of distress or dysfunction, and helping people come together over a shared vision to grow, thrive, and make a difference in its community. I don’t think there could be a more dysfunctional system than our state capitol right now, where I think many of our elected officials forget that they work for us.

Here’s my commitment to you: as Governor, every single policy I write, every bill I sign, and every budget I draft will be done through a human rights lens. That means people will come first. Arizona should work for everyone. Arizona should work for you.

I have a vision, I have a plan, and I have 29 years of leadership experience – and because I’ve spent my career working at the grassroots, I know what issues we’re facing. Read my detailed plans and proposals at fryerforarizona.com. I’d be honored to earn your support.

Name: David Garcia

Race: Arizona Governor

Party affiliation: Democrat

Statement:

I’m a husband, father, teacher, and veteran, not a politician. I’m a working-class kid from Mesa who enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17. I’m a 4th generation Arizonan running for governor to end the crisis in our schools, stamp out corruption, and make the economy work for all of Arizona. We’ll invest in education to create good jobs and to make the wealthiest and corporations pay their fair share.

Our economy is stacked against us and it’s time to stand up and say enough. Our schools rank forty-eighth in funding, and the middle class is getting crushed while Governor Ducey works for the special interests that hike utility rates and line their pockets while we pay the price. Our campaign doesn’t accept money from corporate PACs or lobbyists so I’ll only answer to Arizonans, fighting for our children to get a good education and our workers to get a living wage.

I have spent my career dedicated to improving Arizona public schools so that every child has a shot at a quality education. As a professor and Associate State Superintendent, I earned a reputation as an education leader who found common ground, created smart solutions, and built consensus. I’m not afraid to take on Doug Ducey, standing with the Red for Ed movement every step of the way, and winning the endorsement of the Arizona Education Association.

I stand for everything that Donald Trump opposes, such as a government that works for the people and not wealthy special interests and the chance for every child to have the best shot at opportunity and the American Dream. In the face of Donald Trump's extreme policies and rhetoric - which Doug Ducey enables - I’ll make Arizona stronger and move our state forward. I’d be honored to earn your support.