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The Primary Election was Tuesday, did you vote? The Candidate Forum was a great chance to meet twenty-two of the thirty-two running for offices throughout the Congressional District 1, Legislative District 8 and the Pinal County offices. Behind the scenes, the Ray Schools maintenance crew worked hard all day pumping out water that had run into the auditorium the night before.
Moderator for the evening was Joe Fuerstenberg, Ray High Social Studies teacher. Each group of candidates drew lots for the order they were to speak. Group 1 consisted of Corporation Commission candidates Marcia Busching and Christopher Gohl; Orlenda Roberts, County School Superintendent; Steven Boyd and Delores Doolittle, Pinal County Treasurer; James Walsh, Pinal County Attorney; Barbara Kelly, Recorder. Each of these candidates had three minutes each to introduce themselves and state their platform.
Representing the newly formed Legislative District 8 were Ernest Bustamante, George Arredondo & Barbara McGuire. Each candidate had five minutes to introduce themselves and answer the following questions:
(1) What is your position on bill 1070 including the Dream Act, (2) Our education system is in a crisis. What plans do you have to insure financial changes statewide?
Congressional District 1 includedPatrick Gatti, Kim Allen and Clair Van Steenwyck. Their two questions were (1) We have heard about Obama Care, what changes do you plan to submit if any (2)We are in trillions of dollars in debt, what are your suggestions for balancing the National budget.
Alicia Bristow, Mary Espinoza Bateman and Pete Rios all running for Pinal County District Supervisor were asked to respond to (1) The San Pedro River Valley is of major concern for those living along this important water way. How do these discussions with the BLM concernKearnyresidents (2) we seem to have many problems with water rights inEasternPinalCounty, what are your suggestions for helping the Copper Corridor solve these problems.
Sheriff Candidates Kevin Taylor, Tyrone Morgan, Jack McClaren and Derek Arnson were asked the following questions: (1) The Sheriffs Dept seems to be under scrutiny on many issues, which are all related. Please explain your position on the counties immigration policy and its impact along with human and drug trafficking.
(2) How can you ensure that the Copper corridor is recognized as being as important inPinalCountyas all the cities and town in the western portion of the County?
The ballot has narrowed down considerably for the November election. This is an important year to get out and VOTE.
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