Mesa Legend - ARCHIVES - Vol. 40, Issue 5


Volume 40, Issue 5. Today is .

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Volume 40, Issue 5
October 29, 2002

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Legend's View

Exercise your right

Voting is a right that many Americans fought and died to obtain.

This is a fact that everyone should keep in mind for the upcoming election.

Those of you who are aware of how important this is, good for you, but who are you going to vote for?

It has become evident many people are unsure of who they are voting for and what the issues are.

In hopes that everyone will take advantage of their right to vote; the public should know some information about this election's gubernatorial candidates.

Economic development is a huge topic of discussion at the moment.
Recent events have damaged our economy but, of course, a solution is in sight, according to all the politicians currently running for governor.

Janet Napolitano, Democrat, has a lot to say.

She is interested in funding small and growing businesses with incentives for capitalists who make seed fund investments in Arizona firms. Napolitano wants to create more productive job training programs and increase in minimum wage.

An amended tax system would be in order for expanding local businesses and the changing needs of a growing population.

Education plays a huge roll in Napolitano's ideas for improving the economy.

She wants to build a "world class" education system in hopes of producing a highly skilled labor force to attract industries that can raise standards and quality of life of all Arizonians.

Raising minimum wage, along with strong leadership of an active government are only a few of her insightful ideas on the subject.

Matt Salmon, Republican, is interested in developing a more educated work force as well as increasing funding for higher education, specifically, scholarships intended for some four-year degrees in certain fields.

With Salmon as Governor, parents would be encouraged to have a choice of schools for their children, making it easier for the parent to become more involved with their education.

Better health care for children and senior citizens; while addressing high cost of drug care and insurance is another focus for Salmon.

Richard Mahoney, Independent, says more weighted investments into the high tech industry clusters and small businesses along with better leadership of those businesses will result in improving economic development.

Libertarian Barry Hess, thinks stimulating the economy with new jobs, immediate cuts in corporate income tax rates, a suspension of business payments into unemployment trust funds, and eventually eliminating all individual income taxes is the best way to benefit Arizona.

On the subject of health care, candidates agree on lowering out of pocket cost for prescription drugs.

Making drug care affordable is one of Mahoney's main points.

He supports congruent pricing with Mexico and Canada for prescription drugs.

Mahoney will promote a low cost option for uninsured individuals.
Affordable in-home care for the elderly and children is Napolitano's focus along with going straight to the prescription drug manufacturers and cutting out the middleman.

Hess mentioned briefly removing red tape and some regulation to save money; then reevaluating HMOs.

The most important issue we, as students and citizens, should contemplate is the future of our education system.

Mahoney would like to see all day kindergarten with a maximum class size of 19 students.

Money for scholarships would be allocated, giving a free college education to students graduating high school with a "B" or better grade average.

Pay raises would be on his agenda for teachers along with a plan to equalize teachers and administrative salaries.

An increase in pay for teachers will create incentives for more willing and highly qualified educators to join Arizona's school systems, says Salmon.

A support voucher program will be put in place for low income families in need of special schooling for their children.

"The Constitution provides for education, not day care," says Hess.

Hess is interested in getting parents more involved in their children's education and tax relief to ease financial burdens by redirecting current funding to increase financial support for schooling.

His absolute priority is the progress of the individual student not the preservation of the administrative process.

Mahoney's idea about free college for high achievers in high school is great, but what about the students that did not do well?

Would it not make sense to give the students that had a hard time more incentive to continue schooling?

Anyway, here some facts on the issues, please do not stop here, there are so many other places to get information on this subject, get facts, and make your opinion, vote.