Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said work needs to be done to “find sustainable and dedicated revenue streams to fund our schools.”
Education funding after last years Red for Ed Movement will continue to dominate discussions in Arizona Political and Economic Circles this year and next.
While the 20 percent raises for instructors and staff over two years and other increases in education funding (like extending Proposition 301) passed by the legislature are certainly helpful, it still does not fully address the funding shortfall of public schools in Arizona in 2019. For that matter, it does not rectify the funding shortfall at 2008 levels.
What is to be done to bring public school funding up to 2019 levels?
Governors Ducey’s 2019 budget, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman is a step in the right direction but work must be done to “find sustainable and dedicated revenue streams to fund our schools.”
Yesterday was a good beginning toward building a progressive governing majority in Arizona. Democrats appear to have prevailed in some state house races :
Jennifer Jermaine in LD 18
Jennifer Pawlik in LD 17
Aaron Lieberman in LD 28.
Democrats also prevailed in local contests (notably school board) laying the groundwork and foundation for future progressive advances.
Democrats should also take comfort in recruiting many capable and compelling local and congressional candidates who gave Republicans a run for their money and performed well against the odds. Hopefully, many of these candidates will decide to run again.
It may take until March but Kate Gallego appears to be the odds-on favorite to be the next Mayor of Phoenix.
Jennifer Longdon, a role model for people who can overcome great adversity, coasted to victory as a State Representative in LD 24.
Anne Kirkpatrick came back into the political arena to win in Congressional District Two.
Former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, possibly on a career track to run for Governor in 2022, easily won Congressional District Nine.
Kathy Hoffman, who went from political novice to perhaps becoming the next Superintendent of Public Instruction, may be a rising star.
The races for Katie Hobbs and Kyrsten Sinema, as of Nov. 7, are still too close to call with up to 500,000 votes in Maricopa County still to be counted.
Youth turnout rose dramatically. Yes, yesterday was a good beginning.
Furthermore, please consider the following when deciding whether or not to vote this election:
If you think we can do better than one in four children in Arizona living in poverty, then vote in November.
If you think we can do better than being near the bottom in the nation in education funding, then vote in November.
If you agree with gubernatorial candidate David Garcia that “no one should be left behind,” then vote in November.
If you agree with Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Kathy Hoffman that the “future of Arizona is in our schools,” then vote in November.
If you agree with Attorney General candidate January Contreras that public service should be about the “little guy and democracy” and the people, especially the most vulnerable (like those with pre-existing health conditions), need to be protected, then vote in November.
If you agree with Treasurer candidate Mark Manoil that local and state Arizona economic development would be better served with local community banks than Wall Street banks, then vote in November.
If you want Arizona to be the solar capital of the country and greater utility investments steered towards solar, water, and wind like Corporation Commission candidate Kiana Sears, then vote in November.
If you want the stench of Dark Money removed from the public arena as most of the Democratic local and state candidates want, then vote in November.
If you want public servants like this year’s Democratic candidates that listen to their constituents and show up to public forums and debates, then vote in November.
If you want all civil rights protected, including the right for women to choose and the newly recognized rights for members of the LGBTQ community, then vote this November.
All elections are important. The 2018 elections may be more so because if the forces of reaction, intolerance, and backwardness are allowed to prevail, it may be a long time before we recover.
Arizona Legislative District 23, a district that includes parts or all of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley, and Rio Verde, has not seen a local Democratic Representative in recent memory. In fact, Republicans ran unopposed in the recent 2012 and 2014 elections. Democrat Tammy Caputi ran and gained about 26 percent in a three-way race with the two Republicans that did take both State House Seats in 2016.
Saying “It is time for a teacher,” Scottsdale Educator Eric Kurland seeks to build on Caputi’s performance and beat either incumbent Jay Lawrence (a reactionary conservative who looks like arch villian Stephano DeMira from Days of Our Lives) or Senator John Kavanagh (another reactionary conservative who is running for the House seat because he is term-limited from running again in the Senate.) Both Republican candidates have been accused by Mr. Kurland of being aloof and inattentive to the needs and concerns of their constituents while catering their votes to the needs of Dark Money (Koch Brother for example, interests).
Profiled earlier this summer (please see link below), Mr. Kurland described, at breakfast at the Scottsdale Restaurant “Randy’s” the current state of his campaign and where he sees his path to victory.
Please describe the three top issues the people want you to discuss the most when you meet with them.
“ Education-charter school oversight-people protective of taxpayer dollars It is not a partisan issue when elected officials take public tax dollars for your kids and line their pockets. People that are following the rules should be glad the light is shining on the bad actors. Education funding is also a top priority along with dirty money and the elected officials not serving the people that elected them. I want to Reform ballot initiative process so it is easier. Charters getting some $1500 extra dollars because they cannot go out for overrides can be fixed be establishing taxing districts where charters can get their votes just like all other charter schools. They (the legislature) stopped Cave Creek from converting to public schools (so they could get additional funding assistance) but let Eddie (Farnsworth) keep the rules that enabled him to cash out. All public schools need to play by the same rules. We need to have a level playing field. I am for school choice but we need a larger conversation about accountability and transparency. I am only in favor of vouchers for severe special needs kids.”
Last month, Mr. Kurland, in reaction to the Arizona Supreme Court Ruling taking Invest in Ed off the ballot, commented that “this ruling was decided in 2016 when the majority party, despite the objections by the Chief Justice, packed the court by expanding the number of justices from five to seven. It is quite clear that the few, well-connected can remain anonymous as they buy their politicians and then sit back smoking cigars while the voice of everyday people is muted.” Furthermore, he stated, “the solution is to not just vote for people like myself but to get others to do so as well. I will put legislation in play that models the Tempe ordinance on dirty money that garnered 91% of the vote. Then, we will honor the will of the voters and place a revenue source for public education on the ballot and let the people decide. As a teacher, I see this in terms of a math question. How many doors must a person knock on to get 31 + 16 + 1? I also might add. The incumbents haven’t listened when the vast majority of their constituents reportedly told them that they want public education funded properly. They haven’t listened when 91% of the voters in Tempe wanted to unmask Dirty Money. They only listen to those that put money into their campaigns. And I will make a prediction that they will continue not to listen and won’t show up to any of the debates. They just can’t be bothered by the everyday person.”
Maricopa County Democratic Party Chairperson Steven Slugocki
After a Democratic surge in the August 28 primary and subsequent rallies to unite and energize party activists, Maricopa County Democratic Party Chairperson Steven Slugocki took time to give his impressions about the primary results and the campaign ahead to turn Arizona blue.
