Frank Riggs

Arizona List Blasts Frank Riggs, Right-Wing Candidate for State Superintendent

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Meet Frank Riggs, Republican candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Throughout this campaign Riggs has done everything he can to position himself as a moderate Republican.

“But don’t be fooled —  Frank Riggs is a far right-wing conservative who aligned himself with some of the most extreme figures and policy stances of the Tea Party movement,” said Devin Rankin, Executive Director of the Arizona List in an email to members. “He made this clear in 2014 during his losing campaign for Governor:

· “Immigration protesters, including… Frank Riggs, had gathered in Oracle, Ariz. to rally against the expected arrival of a busload of Central American migrant children. A group of armed militiamen were providing security for Riggs…” Talking Points Memo, July 2014

· “Riggs has also staked out some conservative stances that could appeal to red-meat primary voters… voicing concerns about Muslim extremists and Sharia law.” Phoenix Business Journal, June 2014

· “I’m honored to receive Ted Nugent’s endorsement,” said Riggs. “Nugent has unparalleled courage of his convictions.” Tucson Weekly, July 2014

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Yesterday vs Tomorrow: Two Views of Arizona Education converge at AZ Board for Education

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Lame duck Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas lashed out at her critics.

More than 150 people jammed into the September 24th Arizona State Board for Education Meeting to witness or speak about proposed new academic standards. It pitted the activists wanting to move education forward with an agenda for tomorrow against the enthusiasts who wanted education to reflect the nostalgic features of yesterday.

It had one group of educators and their allies advocating for tomorrow, wearing shirts that said “students deserve an accurate science education” holding up signs before the meeting that said, “Protect Science Fact, not Science Fiction (one sign said fairy tales).” They wanted the Board of Education to approve the proposed higher and creative thinking Science and History Standards that were unmolested by the inner review team comments of the lame duck Superintendent, Diane Douglas, and her reviewers.

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Creationists have no place participating in developing Public School Science Standards.

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The Phoenix New Times revealed today that a noted creationist from the Arizona Origin Science Association (Joseph Kezele) was retained by soon to be former Superintendent of Public Education Diane Douglas to help revise the new Arizona K-12 Science Standards. This country has a separation of church and state. While the development of religions and belief … Read more

Vote Democratic in Arizona in the General Election 2018

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  Arizona Democratic Party posted this flyer recently for Federal (CD 1 to 9) and State candidates in Arizona. More info on their website, www.azdem.org.  Incumbent Democratic  Congressmembers are running in CD 1, 3, and 7 (Tom O’Halleran, Raul Grijalva, Ruben Gallego). If you don’t know much about the state candidates, watch the upcoming Arizona … Read more

What Kathy Hoffman will do as Superintendent of Public Instruction?

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Democratic Nominee for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman

At the same Coffee Bean in Glendale where we first interviewed her in early April, Democratic Nominee for Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman (dressed in red in support of the Red for Ed movement) relayed what she would do for public schools as Superintendent if she wins over her Republican opponent in the November 6 elections.

A Pro-Public Education Agenda 

If victorious, she will make immediate plans to get to know the people who work in the Department of Education. One of her first acts as Superintendent would be to conduct a thorough financial audit to see how the funds have been disbursed to all stakeholders inside and outside the Department. A Clean Elections Candidate, she has already moved to develop relationships with the County Superintendents of Education.

After her impressive win over noted public servant David Schipara in the August 28 primary election, Ms. Hoffman and her growing campaign team (which will include former Schipara volunteers) has immediately launched a campaign to win the election in November and transition to taking charge of the Department of Education in November.

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