Elaine Grant / Arizona Silver Belt Pictured from left to right: Bill Shumway (D), Prescott Winslow (D), Keith Alexander (R), Brenda Barton (R) and Chester Crandell (R).

GLOBE — Five assembly candidates lined up at the Gila County Community College Saturday to face local voters. A sixth candidate, Democrat David Rodriguez, did not attend.

Bill Shumway and Prescott Winslow are running under the Democratic ticket while Keith Alexander, Brenda Barton and Chester Crandell are Republicans.

Crandell introduced himself as “pro-life, pro-second amendment (the right to bear arms) and pro-state rights. He said he hopes to reduce regulations to make it easier for people to be entrepreneurs and build businesses.

Barton said she too is pro-life and supports the personal rights guaranteed through the second amendment.

Alexander introduced himself as being from Gila County, pro-life and a supporter of the second amendment.

Winslow introduced himself as an employment counselor. “I look at elections as an extended job interview,” he said.

Shumway said he will be finishing up a 40-year career as a rail road man on Sept. 1. He said his priorities are education and economics.

In answering a question about making Gila County Community College a permanent college, Shumway echoed a senate candidate saying that it is important to see what the cost is and how it would be paid for but ended with, “There are no good reasons to make that break.”

Winslow said he would support exploring independence for the college but also suggested a partnership with Arizona State University to establish a four-year degree in Payson which could result in lower rent and lower commuting costs for students.

Alexander said making the college independent would have to be done “prudently.”

Barton suggested that the college look into establishing a district with other community colleges.

Crandell said he is “very pro-independence” and wants to see the legislature set benchmarks for independent status that can be used by everyone.

The next question concerned a booklet of candidates’ statements that came out earlier this month. The document is published by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission which describes itself as an “independent state agency.” The questioner pointed out that the book could have been cut in half if it had been written only in English.

Crandell pointed out that printing the booklet in Spanish and English is among a number of unfunded mandates handed down from the Federal government.

Barton’s answer was straight to the point. “Yes. Americans speak English,” she said.

Alexander said the state has already put English into law.

Winslow said the argument should take a lower priority compared to requiring that the federal government cover a larger portion of AHCCCS, which pays medical costs for the poor, and restoring other services to local government.

Shumway said he favors English only but was concerned “we could be putting some of our own citizens at a disadvantage.”

When asked about whether Arizona has an adequate tax structure, Crandell said the state needs to look at the way it develops its budget.

“No one really wants to pay, do they?” asked Barton. She added that taxes need to be “appropriate and workable in the State of Arizona.”

Alexander said the state is getting the revenues it needs but pointed out that, when the state offices of education are considered, there is a one-to-one ratio of administrators to teachers in the state. He said he wanted to eliminate land tax and require a $5 copay for AHCCCS users.

Winslow said he applauded Janet Brewer for passing the 1 percent sales tax increase as an emergency measure.

Shumway said the state needs to do “some long-range planning” and that “may involve property taxes.”

“At least to some degree you have to pay your share to get your services,” he said.

When asked about the 1070 immigration bill, Shumway said, “It’s going to force the issue” and make the federal government take action.

Winslow referred to the bill as a “tragic distraction” which is “very dramatic and entertaining” but distracts from issues such as schools and state parks.

Alexander said he supports the need to focus on the problem which is the border.

Barton said she supports the bill. “The problem is the federal government is not enforcing the law they have,” she said.

She added that the bill is not about immigration, but national security.

Crandell said he supports the bill because it “requires law enforcement people to ask a question.”

Candidates were asked what agency or program they would push to privatize.

Crandell said he would look at education. He said the state is only looking at test scores now and not at what students are able to do when they leave the system.

He pointed out that education reimbursement is based on the number of students sitting in the seat rather than outcomes.

For the complete article see the 07-28-2010 issue.

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