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The Arizona Republic
Our recommendations for Phoenix districts
Oct. 26, 2006 07:10 PM
Voters in four far-flung Phoenix districts will go to the polls on Nov. 7 to decide state legislative races. Here are our recommendations in those districts
Farther north, District 6 faces the prospect of electing a relatively new slate of lawmakers to both chambers. So its legislators need to be strong, rooted in their community, hard- working and independent. This is even more critical considering the electoral balance has shifted to Anthem, the suburb of young families, who are newer and often less rooted in Arizona traditions.
The district is lopsided Republican, so conservative state Rep. Pamela Gorman, a Republican, is the likely winner in a contested state Senate race. This newspaper recommended Gorman in the Sept. 12 primary. It was a recommendation based on potential and hope. Gorman is undoubtedly smart and energetic.
Yet, since her primary victory, Gorman has pursued her own priorities, confident of victory. She did not even bother to show up for the Clean Elections debate or the candidate interview with this newspaper.
Gorman is free to not meet with this newspaper, but candidates owe their constituents a full airing of their views, their experience, their performance. Gorman didn't even find it necessary to fill out a candidate's questionnaire that is available on azcentral.com.
It's not as though Gorman's first term was marked by either impressive achievement or careful diligence. Her voting record seemed to follow the lead of the combative former majority leader Rep. Eddie Farnsworth of Gilbert, apparently her mentor. Northern Maricopa County needs its own representation.
Her Democratic opponent, Jim Larson, might be a political novice and a big underdog, but he boasts a business career of substantial depth and international experience. He knows what it is to sit across a table and negotiate as he did in a dozen countries for Motorola.
A Moon Valley resident, Larson has been an independent longer than he has been a Democrat but generally supports the education and smart-growth objectives Gov. Janet Napolitano has pushed.
His views on immigration reflect the broad, comprehensive reforms pushed by Napolitano, U.S. Sen. John McCain and U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, both Arizona Republicans. Gorman, in contrast, has marched in lockstep with the punitive measures pushed by state Rep. Russell Pearce.
It would be an upset of staggering proportions, but Larson is the deserving choice.
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