The Arizona Republic today endorsed Doug Ducey for Arizona governor, calling his leadership strong, conservative and businesslike. The endorsement in its entirety is below: Doug Ducey, Arizonas Governor For Tough Times Endorsement: Strong, conservative and businesslike leadership. Those are Republican Doug Duceys calling cards Editorial October 10, 2014 For Arizona, the nagging, frustrating effects of the Great Recession refuse to go away. We thought we were beyond the pain. Beyond the shock of losing a full third of the previous years revenue, as Arizona did in 2010. Beyond those desperate scrambles to plug holes: Selling off state buildings. Raising the sales tax. Sweeping state agencies. Downsizing. Cutting. Struggling not to lose ground. We thought we were past all that. But were not. An exceedingly slow recovery and the lingering effects of the recession have opened an estimated $735 million deficit for the coming fiscal year. Once again, Arizona faces a struggle to make ends meet. Once again, we face daunting challenges — not just in mopping up the red ink, but in setting the state on a course of real economic recovery. Arizona needs leadership that can guide the state through the difficult terrain of budget deficits while helping foster real, lasting economic growth. The best candidate for the job facing Arizonas next governor is Republican Doug Ducey. Duceys business acumen is well known. In 12 years with Cold Stone Creamery, Ducey and his business partner expanded the franchise from a single Arizona storefront to an international operation with more than 1,400 franchises and $500 million in annual revenues. He has a keen understanding of how to set out a plan for growth — and the determination to stick to it. Just as impressive has been Duceys carefully planned and organized march toward the Arizona Governors Office. In the four years since he was elected state treasurer, Ducey has constructed a campaign operation that left nothing to chance. He studied the office, seeking out and learning from conservative-minded governors and other leaders, such as retired U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, about what it means — and what it takes — to guide a ship of state in troubled economic times. He speaks of the need to streamline an executive branch that sprawls across an organizational chart. He promises to be a vigorous and visible salesman for the state, speaking the language of CEOs. He knows what national business leaders look for, and thats why we have no fears that a Ducey administration would usher in anything like SB 1062, the right to refuse service bill. For one, when Ducey led Cold Stone, the company provided insurance for the unmarried partners of its employees. The things that are the right thing to do are good for business, he says. Thats how you attract good people. For another, he knows when SB 1062 did the most damage to Arizonas image: after it was passed but before Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed it. Id rather it not get to my desk than have it get there and have to veto it, he says. Ducey would likely shake up K-12 education. But, despite the fiscal challenges ahead, he promises not to cut education funding. That vow sets half of the Arizona budget off limits for trimming. He should be held to it. Too many elections become a choice between the lesser of two evils. This is not one of them. Two credible, strong-minded and articulate major-party candidates are running for governor. In an economic environment with room for growth and experimentation, Democrat Fred DuVal would be an excellent leader. A former chairman of the state Board of Regents, DuVal is a zealous advocate for improving public education at all levels. He vowed to use the states rainy-day fund to send $317 million to school districts, the amount a court said is owed under a constitutional mandate that education funding match inflation. Laudable as that promise may be, it leaves unanswered how to pay the bill the year after. And the year after that. And this is just one of many DuVal promises that carry price tags at a time when money is far from plentiful. Which brings us back to the candidate best equipped to tackle a budget bleeding red. The Arizona economy of the foreseeable future requires a governor with the tools that Doug Ducey would bring to the job. We recommend his election.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 05:21:11 +0000
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