No Republicans showed up to a debate in an East Valley GOP stronghold on Aug. 31, leaving Democratic, independent and third-party candidates to make their pitches to voters uninterrupted.
The Legislative District 10 Republican slate of Sen. David Farnsworth, Rep. Justin Olson and House candidate James Rogers declined the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission’s invitation to debate three Democrats, a No Labels Party candidate and an independent.
So far this year, more than half of the Republicans who are running for seats in the Legislature have declined invitations to debate their opponents. Monday marked the fourth out of 10 general election debates where no Republican attended. Only one Democrat hasn’t shown up.
Olson and Rogers are running for the district’s two seats in the House against Democrats Helen Hunter and Brian Calaway, and No Labels Party candidate David Scott.
Farnsworth is seeking reelection to the Senate against Democrat Blair Moses and independent Nick Fierro.
Election Day is Nov. 3, and early ballots go out Oct. 7.
The district is anchored in east Mesa and stretches into parts of Apache Junction and west Mesa. It’s roughly bordered by the Salt River and Tonto National Forest to the north and the U.S. 60 to the south.
Legislative District 10
Registered Republican voters significantly outnumber Democrats and voters who aren’t registered with either party.
Scott, the No Labels Party candidate who works as a banker, said he’s running because he believes constituents need representation by people who are accountable to them and not a political party or ideology.
“I think that leaders should also be willing to listen and change their position once they've had a chance to learn more about a particular issue and how it impacts the people that they serve,” Scott said.
No Labels House candidate David Scott
He also commended his Democratic opponents for showing up.
“I think that it is very important that we show a commitment to being present with the people that we're asking to vote for us,” Scott said.
Hunter, an assistant pastor and community advocate, said she doesn’t think lawmakers care about the problems Arizonans face. The Democratic candidate said she’s upset that Republican elected officials are doing nothing as the federal government tries to restrict voting rights such as mail-in ballots.
Democratic House candidate Helen Hunter
“I will fight for all of these issues when we get into the House,” Hunter said. “It’s pitiful that we have to do this.”
Calaway, who runs after-school enrichment programs, said he wants to model government after President Franklin Roosevelt’s Economic Bill of Rights. As a Democrat, he would push for policies that support the right to a job with a “living wage,” the right to safe and affordable housing, the right to clean air and water, healthy food and healthcare, and the right to an education.
“These are the things that we can have if we work together and change the system,” Calaway said.
Democratic House candidate Brian Calaway
The current system extracts people’s money so they can’t own anything and end up as “indentured servants” the rest of their lives, he said.
Fierro, a physical therapist who is unaffiliated with any political party, said during the district’s Senate debate he wants to see the Legislature come up with bipartisan solutions.
“I wasn't satisfied with the proposals being given from either side because I felt it lacked a bipartisan view,” Fierro said.
Democratic Senate candidate Blair Moses
Moses, a retired lawyer who worked in healthcare for 30 years before going to law school, said she’s alarmed at the bills the Legislature has passed the last few years that negatively affect constitutional rights and access to healthcare, and that attack public schools and teachers.
“I'm eager to use my healthcare and legal experience, my education, and my knowledge to introduce bills that actually address the concerns I have heard during personal conversations with the people in my district,” the Democrat said.
Calaway, Scott and Hunter differed on what the Legislature can do to make life more affordable for their constituents.
For example, Calaway said the Legislature should tax grocery stores to “incentivize them to bring the prices down,” and Hunter said she wants to see an income-based sales taxes.
Scott said some cities and towns rely on sales tax, so restricting those taxes could lead to higher property taxes or cutting services.
“We have to be very careful when it comes to regulating how those individual communities are taxing their residents, because it may have some unintended consequences for some of our smaller communities,” Scott said.
Independent Senate candidate Nick Fierro
Moses and Fierro also said they would limit the number of homes investors could buy to keep the housing inventory stable. Fierro added that he would offer 55-and-older communities a tax credit to cap their rents.
Moses said she also would support rent-control legislation that caps the annual rent increase landlords can charge tenants for apartments, rental homes and mobile homes.
“Right now, if you can't afford a house, you're trying to live in an apartment, but rent increases have been so high,” Moses said. “People are struggling even to get into apartments.”