Print
Comment
Rate
Much to be decided on Nov. 4 ballot
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Nearly 77,423 county voters are registered to vote in this year's general election, with county officials preparing for high numbers to hit the polls Nov. 4.
Residents will be voting on candidates for president, congress and deciding state and local races.
Local
In the San Pedro Valley, residents living inside the St. David School District will be voting on an override for the schools.
The district is asking voters to approve the continuation of the override that is currently in place. School officials said voting yes on the measure will not create any additional taxes in the coming year; it will keep the current amount being paid in place.
The override is needed to maintain employee salaries, maintain low class sizes, continue after-school tutoring programs for elementary students, continue summer school and remedial enrichment programs and continue to allow the school to keep the weight room available to community members after school and during the summer.
To put the tax rate in perspective, the school's override means a home valued at $100,000 would continue to pay $86 per year.
In other local races, Republican Richard Searle of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors is asking voters to approve a second term in office. Looking to unseat Searle is Democrat Sharon Thomas.
In the race for sheriff, it has been a heated campaign as Democrat Norm Bradley tries to unseat his Republican opponent, three-term incumbent Larry Dever.
National
At the top of the ballot, voters will be deciding between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
While their running mates are not listed on the ballot, this year's vice presidential candidates have played a big role in how people vote this year. Obama is running with Joe Biden, Democratic senator from Delaware, and McCain's Republican running mate is Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska.
The Green candidate in the presidential race is Cynthia McKinney. Bob Barr is running on the Libertarian ticket and Ralph Nader is running with no party affiliation.
In Congress, 8th District voters will be choosing between Democratic incumbent Gabrielle Giffords and Republican Tim Bee.
Bee has served the Arizona Legislature for the last eight years.
State
Besides eight propositions ranging from homeowners' rights to the definition of marriage, local voters will also be choosing a lot of new faces in the Arizona Legislature.
District 25 residents will be voting between Democrat Manuel Alvarez and Mary Ann Black for the Arizona Senate.
Alvarez is not new to politics as he has been serving the Arizona House of Representatives over the last several years.
In a campaign statement, Alvarez said, "I have represented the people of Arizona in the State House for six years. I am dedicated to maintaining a good quality of life in rural communities through properly addressing growth and water issues while improving education and economic opportunities for all of us."
Black said, "My background is in real estate and I am also a certified teacher. I specialize in rural real estate and teach earth science. My key issues are protecting private property rights, protecting and teaching about water rights, enforcing existing immigration laws to help secure the border, education funding and defending our second-amendment rights."
In the District 25 House of Representatives race, voters will choose two from among Republicans Timathy Davies and David Stevens and Democrats Richard Boyer and Patricia Fleming.
According to a campaign statement from the Boyer camp, "As a former senator, judge and veteran, Rich Boyer is a proven leader who will represent and fight for the people of Legislative District 25. Rich believes special and concerted legislative action is needed for policies that promote tax reform, protecting Arizona's air, water and quality of life, a vibrant economy for all Arizona businesses and a balanced energy plan."
Davies said he is looking for a common sense capital.
"As a longtime resident of Arizona, I have seen a need for this first hand," he said. "It is time to stop spending more money than the state has available. I believe everyone should expect a government that secures our borders, lowers taxes, provides school choice and respects the individual's right to the second amendment. I am willing to fight for these goals."
Fleming's statement said she is a longtime resident committed to strengthening Arizona's economy with 24 years experience as a budget and manpower analyst with the Department of the Army. The first-time candidate said Arizona taxpayers deserve a better return on their tax investments.
Stevens said, "My main concerns for Arizona are the budget, water/property rights, border security, health care and tax relief. This year's budget will have a deficit of nearly $1.2 billion. The budget deficit for 2009 is estimated to be $1.9 billion. There is a better way of funding the state's programs, balancing the budget and providing tax relief to all of the taxpayers in Arizona."
Polls on Tuesday will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. For polling locations log on to the Cochise County website at www.cochisecounty.com.
Nearly 77,423 county voters are registered to vote in this year's general election, with county officials preparing for high numbers to hit the polls Nov. 4.
Residents will be voting on candidates for president, congress and deciding state and local races.
Local
In the San Pedro Valley, residents living inside the St. David School District will be voting on an override for the schools.
The district is asking voters to approve the continuation of the override that is currently in place. School officials said voting yes on the measure will not create any additional taxes in the coming year; it will keep the current amount being paid in place.
The override is needed to maintain employee salaries, maintain low class sizes, continue after-school tutoring programs for elementary students, continue summer school and remedial enrichment programs and continue to allow the school to keep the weight room available to community members after school and during the summer.
To put the tax rate in perspective, the school's override means a home valued at $100,000 would continue to pay $86 per year.
In other local races, Republican Richard Searle of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors is asking voters to approve a second term in office. Looking to unseat Searle is Democrat Sharon Thomas.
In the race for sheriff, it has been a heated campaign as Democrat Norm Bradley tries to unseat his Republican opponent, three-term incumbent Larry Dever.
National
At the top of the ballot, voters will be deciding between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
While their running mates are not listed on the ballot, this year's vice presidential candidates have played a big role in how people vote this year. Obama is running with Joe Biden, Democratic senator from Delaware, and McCain's Republican running mate is Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska.
The Green candidate in the presidential race is Cynthia McKinney. Bob Barr is running on the Libertarian ticket and Ralph Nader is running with no party affiliation.
In Congress, 8th District voters will be choosing between Democratic incumbent Gabrielle Giffords and Republican Tim Bee.
Bee has served the Arizona Legislature for the last eight years.
State
Besides eight propositions ranging from homeowners' rights to the definition of marriage, local voters will also be choosing a lot of new faces in the Arizona Legislature.
District 25 residents will be voting between Democrat Manuel Alvarez and Mary Ann Black for the Arizona Senate.
Alvarez is not new to politics as he has been serving the Arizona House of Representatives over the last several years.
In a campaign statement, Alvarez said, "I have represented the people of Arizona in the State House for six years. I am dedicated to maintaining a good quality of life in rural communities through properly addressing growth and water issues while improving education and economic opportunities for all of us."
Black said, "My background is in real estate and I am also a certified teacher. I specialize in rural real estate and teach earth science. My key issues are protecting private property rights, protecting and teaching about water rights, enforcing existing immigration laws to help secure the border, education funding and defending our second-amendment rights."
In the District 25 House of Representatives race, voters will choose two from among Republicans Timathy Davies and David Stevens and Democrats Richard Boyer and Patricia Fleming.
According to a campaign statement from the Boyer camp, "As a former senator, judge and veteran, Rich Boyer is a proven leader who will represent and fight for the people of Legislative District 25. Rich believes special and concerted legislative action is needed for policies that promote tax reform, protecting Arizona's air, water and quality of life, a vibrant economy for all Arizona businesses and a balanced energy plan."
Davies said he is looking for a common sense capital.
"As a longtime resident of Arizona, I have seen a need for this first hand," he said. "It is time to stop spending more money than the state has available. I believe everyone should expect a government that secures our borders, lowers taxes, provides school choice and respects the individual's right to the second amendment. I am willing to fight for these goals."
Fleming's statement said she is a longtime resident committed to strengthening Arizona's economy with 24 years experience as a budget and manpower analyst with the Department of the Army. The first-time candidate said Arizona taxpayers deserve a better return on their tax investments.
Stevens said, "My main concerns for Arizona are the budget, water/property rights, border security, health care and tax relief. This year's budget will have a deficit of nearly $1.2 billion. The budget deficit for 2009 is estimated to be $1.9 billion. There is a better way of funding the state's programs, balancing the budget and providing tax relief to all of the taxpayers in Arizona."
Polls on Tuesday will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. For polling locations log on to the Cochise County website at www.cochisecounty.com.
 |
 |
|
| Attorney general's office mum on details | Candlelight Vigil brings to light |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
gb177 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 3:17 PM: