Arizona

Arizona Democrats
by Katerina Barnova

          Arizona is a state in the southwestern United States. It is one of the youngest states, admitted to the Union on February 14, 1912. Arizona, known as the Grand Canyon State, is the sixth largest state with a rapidly growing population. It is one of the most beautiful and naturally diverse states in the nation. There are valleys, plateaus, mountains, narrow canyons and deserts. Arizona has a clear and sunny climate that is ideal not only for residents, but also for tourists. Tourism is a major enterprise creating larger social and consumer services. Arizona’s economy gradually expanded from “the five C’s" -cattle, copper, cotton, citrus, and climate- to manufacturing. Especially after the Second World War, military production was changed into electronics and electric power and Arizona became a major producer of televisions, radios, aircraft, printers, etc. However, the greatest economic expansion occurred during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Arizona developed production in electronics and aviation. Industrial expansion and climate caused a great migration and quick population growth. The number of Arizona population raised from 750,000 in 1950 to 3,665,220 in 1990. Arizona is now the 24th most populous state in nation. The largest group is white, about eighty percent. Native Americans are the second largest group, comprising nearly six percent. Three percent of population are black, and one and a half percent are Asians and Pacific Islanders. Hispanics, considered of any race, comprise nearly nineteen percent.
          Until the 1950’s, Arizona was mainly a Democratic state. The first state governor, W.P. Hunt, was a Democrat. Hunt strongly supported the farming industry, particularly construction of dams and irrigation projects. Hunt also fought for a new system of highways against the railroad leaders. The Republican trend began in the 1950’s. One of the first and the most significant Republicans was Barry M.Goldwater. Goldwater was elected to the U.S. Senate and in 1964 unsuccessfully ran for President. During the 1960’s and 1970’s it was the Hispanic population that demanded greater political role. Its efforts were reflected in the election of a Hispanic governor Democrat Raul Castro in 1974. Castro was succeed by Wesley Bolin, also a Democrat. A Democratic trend continued and after Bolin’s death, in March 1978, Bruce Babbitt became governor. Babbitt was nominated by Clinton in 1993 to be secretary of the Interior. Republicans took over the governorship in 1986 when Evan Mecham was elected. Mecham was a remarkable personality. Mecham did not only make racist comments, ridicule and mock at homosexuals and women, but he also illegally transferred public money to his own purposes. Found guilty of obstructing justice and misappropriating state funds, Mecham was the first U.S. governor impeached and removed from office since 1929. He was succeeded by a Democrat, Rose Mofford. After Mofford Republican J. Fife Symington took the governor seat. Symington had also political problems. The government charged Symington with actions violating conflict-of interest law. However, the lawsuit ended up with Symington’s acquittal.
          At 1999 Caucus, Democrats addressed six important issues. Their strongest focus is on children and families and on education. Democrats seek a safe, stable and happy home for Arizona children. They push for a larger Healthy Families Program and for reinstallation of Health Start funding. Attention is paid to children who are under state protection to find a permanent and loving home. They call for immunization of young children. In order to strengthen childcare, Democrats also focus on job training. They help families that are trying to be self-sufficient to successfully transfer from welfare to financial independence.
          Better education for all Arizona children is an imperative for Arizona Democrats. In the mid-1990’s, Arizona spent about $4180 on each student’s education. A national average was about $5310. Also, average class size was larger than the national average. Children need a conducive environment and effective tools to become successful in their learning. Democrats, therefore, push for better learning conditions. It is necessary to reduce the teacher-student ratio, to get more computers and technology into classrooms, make quality and appropriate tests to fairly measure student’s knowledge. Democrats introduced a significant plan to make schools’ standards better – the B.E.S.T. plan, or Build Excellent Schools Today.” The plan seeks to create a new system of capital funding without raising taxes and to equally divide it among school districts. An emphasis is also made on early learning, and Democrats propose full-day kindergarten. Considering the Hispanic population in Arizona, almost 19 percent, and the globalization trend, Democrats also highly enhance bilingual education. They support a preservation of high quality academic education and easy student’s access to the community college and university systems. Arizona Democrats are against vouchers for private or parochial schools.
          Democrats underline another important issue in their platform: Arizona’s economy. They support economy policies that will all parts of the state prosperous, seeking a balance between urban and rural areas. Therefore, they promote Arizona’s infrastructure, better transportation and additional roads in urban and rural areas to attract business and to expand industry, creating high paying jobs. Democrats desire to preserve not only a fair, progressive income tax, but also support child and dependent care tax support. Democrats also fight for an increase in unemployment insurance and for worker’s compensation benefits. Service improvement to increase tourism, the major Arizona industry, is not left out of Democratic platform.
Democrats are concerned about Arizonans’safety. They are strong supporters of county sheriffs and city police. Moreover, their support is also given to the Attorney General to find effective tools to fight child abuse and violence. They also focus on strengthening of community relationships, particularly in schools and neighborhoods. Attention is also paid to urban blight.
Another important issue that Democrats address with great attention is health care. Arizonans need affordable and quality health care. Democrats have been fighting to pass legislation that increase HMO’s accountability. On Thursday, October 12, 1999, congressional Democrats finally worked out a way with moderate Republicans, and the U.S. House passed a strong Patients’ Bill of Rights. Patients have the right now to sue their HMO for refusal of needed treatments. Democrats try to improve the Health Care Group. They propose more efficient solutions to provide inexpensive health options for small businesses. Another Democratic aim is to have tabacco tax serve as a fund for health care coverage for Arizona’s children and families.
           Democrats want to see Arizona’s magnificent natural resources protected. They concentrate on efficient environmental strategies, especially to continue to improve air quality in the urban areas and the Water Quality Assurance program. Democrats strongly oppose any polluter protection bill.
          Arizona Democrats stand for an effective state government, where citizens are part of decision-making process. As eager democracy supporters, Democrats care for and pursue greater voter participation. Efforts are made to enlarge the number of voting sites, especially given the high number of senior citizens. Also to facilitate and make the voting more accessible, Democrats will hold internet voting in addition to traditional walk-up balloting. On March 11, 2000, for the first time in the world internet voting will be used in election. At the same time, the Democratic Presidential Preference Primary will get great attention; overall, it should be the greatest experience in Arizona’s history. Using new technology, Democrats also focus on protecting state data from the Y2K computer virus. Democrats support the creation of a bipartisan redistricting commission as an important step to a government balance. There is also an impetus to strengthen relationships with Native American tribes. Democrats stand for balanced and effective spending, especially on education, safety and health care. In order to measure Arizona's outcome, state audits are also proposed. Also to make government efficient and to secure good public service, Democrats desire and seek qualified people to serve in public offices. Therefore, they push for state employees’ compensations that reflect temporary economic situation.