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Oct 27, 2010

The case for Arizona secretary of state

Chris Deschene vs. Ken Bennett

Every day until Election Day, we will lay out the clear choices in Arizona's statewide races*

PHOENIX – In the race for Arizona secretary of state, the choice between Chris Deschene and Ken Bennett is clear.

Chris Deschene:

Deschene is not a career politician, but he has the leadership experience to get the job done right. As a commanding officer in the Marines for 10 years, Deschene oversaw a $110 million dollar budget and 160 combat infantry troops, a budget and staff five times larger than the Secretary of State’s Office. [Deschene for Arizona bio]

In public office, Deschene has proven he's on the side of hard-working Arizonans:

• As a state representative, Deschene has been a strong voice for his constituents amid an uncooperative, Republican-controlled Legislature. He has sponsored or co-sponsored legislation to protect homeowners affected by foreclosures, establish a sustainable state parks fund, and require that state buildings and schools shift toward green energy sources.
• Deschene sponsored legislation to protect voters’ rights and improve the standards and technical qualifications for officials who oversee Arizona’s electronic voting machines.
• During his campaign for state House of Representatives, Deschene's nominating petitions were challenged, but he knew that inconsistencies in state election laws could allow rural P.O. Box voters to be disenfranchised by limiting their rights to select and nominate their own candidates. Deschene didn’t hesitate to take the fight for voter rights to court -- and he won. [The Arizona Republic, 6/26/08]

Chris Deschene will bring a “no nonsense, no excuses” brand of leadership to the Secretary of State Office by curtailing lobbyist influence, cracking down on waste and bringing honor and responsibility back to our government.

Ken Bennett:

Despite being the state's top elections chief and lobbyist watchdog, Bennett has cozied up to the very lobbyists he is supposted to be regulating. In fact, nearly 60 percent of campaign contributions to Bennett this cycle are tied to lobbyists. [lobbyistsloveken.com]

Bennett is not on the side of hard-working Arizonans:

• One of Bennett's first acts after taking office was to give a free pass to 492 registered lobbyists for not following the rules. The taxpayers lost out as he made sure his friends in the industry would not have to pay fines for their actions. [Arizona Capitol Times, 5/1/09]
• Bennett is so close to lobbyists, he’s even running his current campaign from a powerful lobbyist's office. [The Arizona Republic, 10/17/10].
• Bennett and his family's oil company benefitted significantly at taxpayer expense. From 1993 to 2004, Bennett Oil received nearly $336,000 from the State Assurance Fund, which Arizona funds through a gas tax, to clean up its gasoline tank leaks. The company even sued the state in an attempt to get even more money. [Bennett Is Paid $336,000 by state for gas cleanup, Arizona Republic, 02/13/04].
• As Senate president in 2004, after the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality turned down Bennett Oil’s request to receive another $46,433 from taxpayers, Bennett cosponsored legislation that would have changed state policy to enable Bennett Oil to collect the additional funds [Bennett backs legislation to help family firm, The Associated Press, 02/09/04].
• As secretary of state, Bennett was unwilling to challenge fraudulent Green Party candidates despite overwhelming evidence they had been recruited by Republican operatives. [The Arizona Republic, 9/16/10]

Bennett has shown time and again that lobbyists and special interests, not voters, are his priorities. Bennett is wrong for the job.

*Learn more about the AZ GOP "Slippery Slate."