Tea-Publican candidates diss Tucson, the League of Women Voters, and AZPM

Tea-Publican candidates apparently believe that they never have to leave the crazy confines of the state of Maricopa and appear before voters in the rest of this state, in particular, the liberal blue island of the City of Tucson in Baja Arizona.

Dicey Doug Ducey dissed Tucson, ASUA and AZPM (PBS Channel 6) on Sunday, and now the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson has issued this press release today:

MEDIA RELEASE

September 23, 2014

League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson Forced to Rethink Candidate Forums After Office-Seekers Decline to Participate

The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson announced early in the summer of 2014 a series of six forums involving candidates for statewide office in Arizona. Partnering with Arizona Public Media, one of the forums was held prior to the August primary election and five were scheduled over three nights in early October.

Invitations to all the candidates with their names on the ballot in the general election for Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Arizona Corporation Commission were sent the day after the primary election. The candidates were given a deadline of September 12^th to respond.

I was very disappointed to learn that a large number of the candidates declined to participate,” says LWVGT President Judy Moll. “The League both locally and nationally has been hosting candidate forums for decades. They are an important part of the process a voter uses to make an informed decision in the voting booth.”

When candidates decline to participate in a televised debate in Tucson, it shows disrespect for Pima County and its voters,” says LWVGT Voter Service Chair Sue DeArmond. “Invisible candidates are running for public office. A brief TV commercial is the only way by which we know our candidates. To say the least, democracy is compromised under these conditions.”

Moll says actual candidate forums will be held only for the offices of Governor and Arizona Corporation Commission. And even with those two, some candidates will not be present.

For the other three, Moll says the League has opted to host a “Conversation with the Candidate”. It will allow voters to interact with and question candidates who have agreed to appear. A complete schedule of the candidate forums and conversation sessions is attached. All the events will be held at the Pima Community College Center for the Arts, West Campus.

Arizona Public Media has indicated it will schedule the two candidate forums for broadcast, but will not broadcast the conversation events.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Here is the revised list of LWVGT forums for candidates for statewide office:

Candidate Forums

October 6, 7:45 pm. Arizona Corporation Commission

Pima Community College Center for the Arts Proscenium Theatre, West Campus

October 9, 6:30 pm, Governor

Pima Community College Center for the Arts Proscenium Theatre, West Campus

Conversations with the Candidate

October 6, 6:30 pm, Felecia Rotellini, candidate for Attorney General

Pima Community College Center for the Arts Recital Hall, West Campus

October 8, 6:30 pm, David Garcia, candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Terry Goddard, candidate for Secretary of State

Pima Community College Center for the Arts Recital Hall, West Campus