Candidates express disdain for Prop 200 By MIRSADA BURIC-ADAM The Daily Courier PRESCOTT - Eight candidates running for seats in the Arizona Legislature and U.S. House of Representatives were very vocal on Sunday about their positions regarding certain issues including Proposition 200 and immigration laws. Approximately 450 people attended the "Candidates Accountability Session" at the Sacred Heart School Auditorium in Prescott, which the Northern Arizona Interfaith Council sponsored. In response to a question about how to fix a broken immigration system, Democrat Paul Babbitt of Flagstaff, who is running against Libertarian John Crockett of Phoenix and Republican incumbent Rick Renzi for the U.S. House of Representatives in congressional District 1, said that this country has a long tradition of inclusion. "This nation can treat people with dignity," he said. "The immigration system is not working today for a lot of reasons." Reffering to low-paying jobs in agriculture and tourism, he said that this country needs to change "the attitude toward those who respond to our call for help." Crockett said that the U.S. is the land of opportunity and "it pains my heart that we are changing from that tradition. "I would radically loosen immigration policy," he said, although some security measures should be in place. "Let them (immigrants) across the border and let them have the jobs." The opinion that this is taking jobs away from Americans is wrong because "if they are taking the jobs from Americans, the jobs wouldn't be available in the first place because Americans would be filling those jobs." Renzi did not attend the forum on Sunday. In response to that, Ligia Umana, one of the two moderators of the forum, said in regard to Renzi's absence, that "we've confirmed with Mr. Renzi three times and he is not here." The audience reacted to this announcement with loud booing. According to Kyle Moyer, Renzi's campaign manager, Renzi, who is a Catholic, prefers not to work on the Sabbath. Congressional and state candidates in attendance said they all strongly disapprove of the Protect Arizona Now initiative, Proposition 200. Babbitt said he opposes the proposition because he finds it ridiculous to ask a firefighter, for example, for proof of citizenship. "We are doing very well today," he said. "The proposition imposes fear." Crockett said the proposition will cost a tremendous amount of money and is not going to change anything. Republican Ken Bennett of Prescott, who is running for the Arizona Senate for legislative District 1, said he doesn't believe that "the implementation aspects of that proposition are anything that can be successfully accomplished in this state. "I think Prop 200 was born out of frustration over some of the things of not being able to control our borders, which the federal government needs to do a better job," he said. His opponent, Democrat Susan Friedman of Prescott, said if it passes "it will be a black mark on the name of Arizona" and it would most likely be declared unconstitutional. Four out of five candidates running for two seats in the Arizona House of Representatives for legislative District 1 shared similar views. Republican incumbent Tom O'Halleran of the Village of Oak Creek said, "our society is about bringing ourselves together instead of separating ourselves." He said he hasn't supported it in the past and he doesn't plan to support it in the future. Republican incumbent Lucy Mason of Prescott said, "Proposition 200 is not a respecter of the people and it will be costly. It was supposed to protect our freedom of speech through our voting process. It will not be able to do that." Democrat Wes Edmonds of Chino Valley said, "the proposition will result in the increase cost to the taxpayers, expand bureaucracy, affect public employees and crowd the courts." "It will hurt business and job development," he said, and "it will change our voting procedures. We do not need any changes in our voting procedures." Democrat James Kimes of Prescott Valley said there is no evidence of voter fraud in Arizona. "Having been a state employee for 33 years, I can tell you state employees do not need additional work," he said. "We do not need anymore propositions that serve only to devalue." Libertarian Allan Briney of Sedona didn't attend the forum.

All Rights Reserved - 2006
Arizona Interfaith Network