The Arizona Republic’s understated endorsement of Terry Goddard for Secretary of State

The editors of The Arizona Republic today endorsed Democratic candidate Terry Goddard for Secretary of State, but the editors (again!) mislead voters by asserting that it’s “a close call.” Secretary of State: Goddard has the edge in close call:

Democrat Terry Goddard and Republican Michele Reagan are intelligent and competent to do a job that is largely about record keeping and overseeing elections. Goddard has an important edge, though, when it comes to experience and vision.

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Each supports reforms that would disclose who is providing the so-called “dark money” used to influence elections through organizations that do not have to reveal donors. Their strategies may be different, but the goal is the same: transparency.

The editors fail to point out, probably because Laurie Roberts was such a cheerleader for Reagan’s so-called “dark money” bill, that Sen. Michele Reagan’s dark money disclosure bill will accomplish little. It had so little support among her colleagues that the bill never advanced past her own committee (it’s good to be chair). In reality, this bill was just Reagan checking off a box to run for higher office. You don’t get credit for doing that. Goddard’s plan to deal with “dark money” is far more substantive and ambitious. Terry Goddard’s Plan to Get Dark Money out of Arizona.

Each decries the low voter turnout of independents and calls for using the bully pulpit of the Secretary of State’s Office to reach out to those who register without party affiliation.

Goddard has an ambitious plan that includes strategies to make voting easier, such as allowing voters to go to any polling place and educating voters on how to use permanent early voting.

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As a state senator from Scottsdale, Reagan worked with county recorders and launched a serious legislative effort in 2013 to reform the system and avoid future problems [HB 2305]. It began with good intentions, but partisan overreach by her fellow legislative Republicans turned it into something denounced as an exercise in voter suppression.

Reagan was either unwilling or unable to manage her bill.

You may recall that The Republic editorialized in favor of some of Reagan’s voter suppression measures, particularly those aimed at Latino voter activists and purging the Permanent Early Voter Lists (PEVL). After HB 2305, the GOP Voter Suppression Act, was signed into law by Governor Brewer, voter activists and political parties other than the GOP successfully managed to put a referendum (“citizens veto”) on the ballot.

As I recall, Robert Robb of The Republic was among the first to suggest the evil strategy that the legislature repeal HB 2305 to render the referendum moot (and thereby reduce the number of voters opposed to the GOP in November, itself a form of voter suppression), and to reintroduce portions of HB 2305 in the next legislature, something that Michele Reagan has vowed she will do if elected. These are details the editors hope that voters with short-term memories have forgotten.

This brings us to what distinguishes these two candidates.

Goddard has extensive leadership experience. He knows how to manage a large government office efficiently and effectively.

His two terms as attorney general were marked by impressive initiatives to go after money laundering by Mexican smugglers and to take on the entrenched cult practicing polygamy in far north Arizona. Under his leadership, the office was known for integrity, doggedness and accomplishments.

Goddard also demonstrated his management skills and creative thinking as mayor of Phoenix, expanding public involvement in city government and earning national recognition for his management style.

With deep roots in Arizona and a reputation as a moderate Democrat, Goddard has shown he can work with Republicans.

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Reagan . . . lacks the proven, relevant track record in an executive role.

That is particularly important in this race, because the secretary of state is next in line for the governor’s chair. Gov. Jan Brewer is only the latest in a series of former secretaries of state who ascended to the governorship. Goddard is far better prepared to take on those duties if the need should arise.

This was also true four years ago when the editors inexplicably endorsed Governor Jan “SB 1070/headless bodies in the desert” Brewer for governor. Perhaps they have a guilty conscience after all and are trying to redeem themselves with this endorsement.

This was not a “close call.” This should have been an unqualified endorsement of Terry Goddard.