“We Need a Governor Who Can Get Arizona Working Again”
A group of prominent Republicans announced its support for Attorney General Terry Goddard’s race to be Governor of Arizona. The co-chairs of Republicans for Goddard are former U.S. Attorney for Arizona Paul Charlton and former Mayor of Scottsdale Sam Campana.
“While I was the US Attorney, I had a first hand look at Terry’s work as an Attorney General for a number of years.,” said Charlton. “Terry is a smart and hard working prosecutor who successfully pursued drug cartels, and attacked illegal immigration by going after the ringleaders and their money. As a Republican, I want a Governor who will use that same good judgment and leadership to aggressively take on our State’s budget problems. I’ve always known Terry to do what is right as AG. I want to see him do the same as Governor.
Campana added, “I have been a Republican for a long time, but I also believe in choosing the best person for the job at hand. Jan Brewer has squandered her opportunity to take solid action. Terry Goddard has the intellect and the expertise to bring new investment to our state, encourage entrepreneurs to achieve success, and put the people of Arizona back to work.”
Terry Goddard has real experience managing through difficult times. As Mayor of Phoenix, he created what is now the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), an organization whose mission is to attract quality business to the area and to increase international competitiveness. Goddard also led the transformation of downtown Phoenix to the civic, cultural and entertainment hub it is now, earning him the title, “Municipal Leader of the Year” in 1988.
As Arizona’s Attorney General, Terry was again singled out this year by his peers as Attorney General of the Year based on his work to protect our families. He took on drug cartels, mortgage companies, payday lenders and meth dealers. Now, Terry will use his experience to grow our economy, ensure we educate our children, create jobs and build a stronger, safer Arizona.
From a Republicans for Goddard member:
I have been a registered Republican for 41 years and interested in politics since age three in 1952 when my parents had me licking stamps for Eisenhower at the Republican headquarters in Des Moines. My father ran for the legislature a couple of times and my mom worked in the Iowa Legislature as a secretary. While at the University of Iowa, I served as State Treasurer and State Vice-Chairman of College Republicans. My grandmother was a diehard Republican who loved Friday night wrestling on TV and thought FDR was the devil. Therefore, I proudly come from a long line of Republicans. One important idea my parents believed was that it was important to look for the best candidate and that neither party held a monopoly on them. Since moving to Arizona in 1978, I have been a small businessperson helping to create good jobs for Arizonans. One of my criteria to look for in a candidate for office is whether I would hire them to work for in our company. There is an elusive quality you look for in hiring that is hard to define, but you know it when you see it.
Whatever that "it" is, Jan Brewer just does not have it. She is not someone I would hire for my business, much less for the job of running Arizona. We need leadership to help our state reinvigorate itself as we come out of the worst economic slump since the Great Depression. Jan Brewer does not have what it takes to move Arizona back to prosperity. We need someone who is more than Russell Pearce’s lackey. We need proven leadership; someone who can work with all interests so that Arizona moves forward as one.
Terry Goddard is that someone. Terry was the attorney we hired to incorporate our business in 1982. He has the right combination of education, experience, practical understanding of how government works, and ability to work across party lines that our State needs to move forward.
We need educated leaders with a vision for what Arizona can become. And, as long as my party keeps offering us mediocre right-wing fringe candidates, we moderates, while not as noisy as the far right fringe, will continue to vote for the best candidate regardless of party affiliation.
I am proud to be one of many Republicans for Goddard.
