Fall 2018 Election Guide

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Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - Tuesday, October 30, 2018

FALL 2018 ELECTION GUIDE

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Vote.

Vote like your country, your city, your campus depends on it EDITORIAL

BY DAILY WILDCAT OPINIONS BOARD @DailyWildcat

Here in America, we love to vote. On reality singing/dancing competitions and Family Feud, especially. But what if I told you that there was something you could vote on that — are you sitting down — actually matters?

It’s called the midterm elections and it touches on everything that could potentially affect your life: healthcare, education, national and international policy and everything in-between. But why should YOU vote?

Simple. There are things that you like and dislike, right?

Let’s start with tuition. For both instate and out-of-state students, tuition has been on the rise for years.

Well, since every Arizona congressional, and one senatorial, seat is up for grabs this year, there is

“

a chance the candidate running in your district is open to forgiving part of your student loans.

How about climate change? Maybe you’re the person that after a recent New York Times article, that spelled out how close society has taken the Earth to the edge of disaster, is ready to buy the newest Prius, eat Kale and drink kombucha for every meal and take an interest in your carbon footprint.

Well, here in Arizona we have a proposition that attempts to make some headway into the issue. Proposition 127 would require the states’ utilities to operate on 50 percent renewable energy resources by 2030.

Is educating future generations of Arizona’s students of interest to you?

Or are you heading into the highly rewarding and low-paying profession

If you want to have a say in how the country is run for the next two years, getting out to your designated polling place or sending your mail in ballot

by Nov. 6 is where to start.” of teaching in Arizona? Proposition 305 should peak your interest since it deals with school choice.

Even if the candidate you vote for loses, or the proposition you support fails, participating in a democracy by voting is the only way to ensure that on some level, your voice is heard and counted.

So if you want to have a say in how the country is run for the next

two years, getting out to your designated polling place or sending your mail in ballot by Nov. 6 is where to start.

Throughout this issue, you’ll come across stories to inform you about the propositions and candidates, both local and national, that could shape your life and the world for the next two years.

We hope you find it helpful and informative. From all of us here at the Daily Wildcat, we wish you a happy election season. Bear Down and vote!

Editorials are determined by the Daily Wildcat Opinions Board and are written by its members. They are Editor -in-chief Jasmine Demers, Opinions Editor Toni Marcheva, Managing Editor Marissa Heffernan, Engagaement Editor Eddie Celaya and Arts & Life Editor Pascal Albright.

V2 • The Daily Wildcat

Fall 2018 Election Voting Guide • October 24, 2018

VOTING GUIDE | VOTING PROCESS

How and where to vote of identification, instead of mailing them in.

BY RANDALL ECK @reck999

Arizona voters who registered to vote online, by mail or in-person before Oct. 9 are eligible to vote in the November elections.

Voters in Pima County have three options on how to cast their ballots. Voters can vote by mail, on election day at a polling station or in-person at an early voting location.

Voting at an Early Voting Location Starting Oct. 10, a number of early voting locations will open around Pima County where voters can go and cast their ballots before Nov. 6.

One such polling location will be at the University of Arizona. Every weekday from Oct. 15 to Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., voters will be able to cast their ballot in the Associated Students of the University of Arizona’s offices located on the third floor of the Student Union Memorial Center.

A full list of Pima County’s 12 early voting stations can be found online or by contacting the Pima Country Recorder’s Office. The latest early voting

SELENA QUINTANILLA | THE DAILY WILDCAT

EARLY VOTERS IN PIMA County wait in line to cast their vote in at the Associated Students of the University of Arizona office on Nov. 4, 2016.

locations remain open until Nov. 3.

Pima County and Tucson provide voters a number of opportunities for registered citizens to vote.

Voting by Mail Voters have until Oct. 26 to request an early voting ballot be mailed to their address.

additional form found online.

Once voters complete, seal and sign their ballots, they can drop their ballots in the mail for free. In order to ensure a ballot is counted, after Nov. 1 voters are recommended to bring their ballots to an early voting location or a polling station, along with valid form

Voters can request an early ballot online, by calling the Pima Country Recorders office at (520) 724-4330 or by mail.

Voters on the permanent early voting list will automatically be sent a mailin ballot. Voters can choose to opt in for the permanent early voting list when registering to vote or by completing an

Voting on Election Day Voters can vote by going to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 6, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters can find their designated polling station online or by contacting the Pima Country Recorders office.

When voting on election day, voters are required to present at least one valid form of identification. Voters must show an Arizona driver’s license, tribal enrollment card or valid government identification which displays both the name and address of the voter.

If voters do not have any identification that meets the above requirements, voters can produce two other forms of identification to vote. These include: a voter registration card, a recent bank statement, a recent utility bill or a tax statement.

The full list of acceptable identification can be found online or by contacting the Pima Country Recorder’s Office.

Voting day through a poll worker’s eyes

BY RANDALL ECK @reck999

What does democracy look like?

The best person to answer this question may not a politician or a television news anchor but instead someone who sees democracy firsthand, at its most fundamental level: a poll worker.

Every election day hundreds of polling stations open their doors in every Arizona county for citizens to cast their ballots.

These polling stations are operated by volunteers who are ordinary citizens.

Since moving to Arizona in 2001, Daniel Carman has spent his time on Election Day working at his local polling station in Pima County, sometimes helping oversee more than three elections a year.

“I see volunteering at my polling place as a civic duty, like jury duty,” Carman said. “To have the right to vote, we need to have folks who are willing to run our polling places.”

Every election day, Carman arrives at his polling place at 5

a.m., and often stays past 8 p.m., to ensure everyone has a chance to cast their ballots.

After so many years of volunteering, Carman cannot exactly remember the number of elections he has helped operate, but some elections are more memorable than others.

“The election year I remember most was the year Obama was elected to his first term,” Carman said. “I remember that year we had really heavy voter turnout and also a lot of very opinionated people at the polls.”

Over the years, voting at Carman’s polling place has, for the most part, run smoothly, leaving Carman time to socialize with his fellow poll workers or read a book during slow hours of the day.

Every now and then though, Carman has to politely remind voters of federal rules that prohibit the display of campaign material or political arguments within polling locations. Carman recalls one year when fellow poll workers almost called the sheriff’s department when an overly “boisterous” voter refused to leave the polling station.

While over the years poll workers’s responsibilities have decreased, as they no longer count the ballots at their polling places, a consistent shortage of poll workers has contributed to the long lines seen at the polls in recent years, according to Carman.

“I want to see younger people get involved in the voting process by working the polling places,” Carman said. “Anyone can be a poll worker, it just takes a little attention to detail.”

More information on volunteering at polling locations in Tucson can be found at the Pima County Recorder’s Office website.

What does Carman expect this upcoming election will be like?

“Since it is not a presidential election, and with more and more people mailing in ballots early, I don’t think it will be a super heavy turnout at the actual polling location,” Carman said.

Even with his prediction and the recent implementation of stricter voter identification requirements in Arizona, Carman believes more people will be voting this year, and he

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN VOTING

BY SHARON ESSIEN @sharonshareb

The right to vote is one of the most fundamental guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. With the midterm elections rapidly approaching, registered Arizona voters can learn about the state and federal law to know their rights when they go to the polls this November.

Voter identification requirements As of 2018, 34 states have laws requiring voters to show some form of identification when they vote in person. Arizona voters are required to show a form of identification with their current address displayed.

“The ostensible purpose of voter ID laws is to prevent voter fraud, but studies show that in-person voter fraud — the only sort that voter ID laws could prevent — is virtually nonexistent,” said Andrew Coan, associate director at the University of Arizona’s William H. Rehnquist Center on the Constitutional Structures of Government.

Under the voter identification laws in Arizona, if a voter doesn’t present any form of ID, then they can still cast a ballot called a provisional ballot. No one can be turned away from a polling station before casting a ballot.

Some voters will be given provisional ballots if they are voting at an incorrect polling location or because their information is not updated on voting registries. Provisional ballots will be counted only if the voter presents an acceptable form of identification to the county recorder within five days of the election.

“If a voter happens to be voting on election day at a polling center, and they are told that they need to cast a provisional ballot, [it] does not necessarily mean that their vote won’t count,” said Priya Sundareshan, legal director for the Arizona Democratic

Party’s voter protection hotline.

Language accessibility As required by federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, all polling stations must be accessible for individuals with limited English to vote. Arizona counties are required to provide translated election material in Spanish or Native American languages.

“By and large, the state of Arizona does an excellent job with providing the necessary assistance to people who do not know much English, both in terms of printed material and electronically or for those with handicaps,” said Bill Beard, former chairman for the Pima County Republican Party.

Mail-in ballot restrictions Arizona voters can choose to mail in an early ballot or drop an early ballot off at a polling location on Election Day. As of March 2016, Arizona voters made it a felony for people who are not a family member, household member or guardian of the voter to collect and turn in another voter’s ballot, even if they have permission from the voter.

“This came into an effect a few years ago and is designed to avoid any type of voter fraud and to make sure that the ballots being cast are, in fact, valid,” said Joseph Kanefield, a former Arizona State Election Director.

Checking voter registration Any voters who want to check if they are properly registered to vote with their current address and personal information, the Arizona Secretary of State website offers a registration information tab that allows voters to search for their voter information. The site will ask the voters for their voter ID or driver’s license number, date of birth, last name and county that they reside in.

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encouraged everyone who has the opportunity to vote to do so.

“Voting is so important, because that is your way of saying what you want for your

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country and how you want your government run,” Carman said.

That’s what democracy looks like.

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Fall 2018 Election Voting Guide • October 24, 2018

The Daily Wildcat • V3

VOTING GUIDE | ARIZONA GOVERNOR RACE

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

BY RANDALL ECK @reck999

With first-hand experience working within Arizona’s educational system, Garcia has promised to build consensus and increase the quality of Arizona education if elected governor. On the campaign trail, Garcia has positioned himself as an anti-Trump candidate and an advocate for immigrant and woman’s rights. Garcia has highlighted economic inequality in Arizona and declining opportunity. Garcia plans to create a fairer economy with living wages by fighting corruption, investing in new technology and clean energy and curbing tax exemptions for corporations and the wealthy.

ARIZONA GOVERNOR’S RACE

Campaigning for re-election as Arizona’s governor, Ducey has touted Arizona’s growing economy, balanced budget and lower taxes under his watch. During his tenure, Ducey increased funding to secure Arizona’s southern border, combat opioid addiction and clear the backlog of child safety cases.

During public debates, Ducey highlighted his support for K-12 education and the $2.7 billion increase in education funding during his first term. Ducey paints November’s election as a chance to maintain or else reverse Arizona’s economic momentum and greater security.

Education in the election

BY VANESSA ONTIVEROS @NessaMagnifique

An estimated 40,000-to 50,000 people marched at the Arizona State Capitol April 26 to demand better funding for public education. After the demonstration, the dismal state of education in Arizona became impossible to ignore.

“Arizona has never been good with public school support, but I’ve seen it get markedly worse as I’ve worked here,” said Arthur Almquist, a drama teacher at Tucson High Magnet School. “One of the things I’ve learned never to say is, ‘Well, it can’t get worse,’ because it can.”

Almquist has over 20 years of experience teaching in Arizona and was named one of People Magazine’s Teachers of the Year in 2013.

With education being a key issue in the state this November, nearly all candidates have promised to support education.

However, that promise means different things to different people.

Red for Ed marches forward After the April march on the capitol, supporters of Red for Ed focused their attention to legislative changes regarding education funding.

Their main strategy centered on an initiative for the November ballot called Invest in Ed. Invest in Ed was a plan to increase taxes for Arizonans who earned more than $250,000 annually to create a dedicated revenue stream for public schools.

The initiative made it on the planned November ballot after proponents gathered 270,000 signatures to get it on.

However, on Aug. 29, the Arizona Supreme Court ordered the initiative be taken off the November ballot, citing unclear language.

They said the petition misinformed signers into not knowing that the initiative would also get rid of indexing income tax brackets that help account for inflation. “[It] is ironic, because if you’ve ever read some of the bills that do make it on [the ballot], you can’t make sense of them. So, for them to say ours was confusing or poorly worded … it’s just so frustrating to us and so disrespectful,” Almquist said.

The removal of Invest in Ed from the ballot was a major blow to Red for Ed supporters, as it was the most comprehensive response to education issues in the election. The movement needed to switch its focus.

“We ended up having to really go into plan B,” said James Bourland, a newspaper and yearbook teacher at Tucson High Magnet School, who is involved with Red for Ed and Arizona Educators United.

“We’ll turn our focus to [candidate] elections at this point,” he said. “I’ve basically

COURTESY VALERIE THOMAS

A MURAL ON THE side of a building displays an artistic show of support for the Red for Ed movement. The photo was take by Valerie Thomas, a teacher from Gilbert who is involved with Red for Ed.

been trying to get people ... invested in what we’re trying to do with the idea of the education wave, supporting pro-education candidates.”

Candidates’ claims Both candidates vying to become Arizona’s governor, Republican Doug Ducey and Democrat David Garcia, promised voters that they are committed to improving the quality of education in Arizona during their first gubernatorial debate.

Seeking a second term, Ducey argues his 20by20 plan shows his commitment to increasing education funding. The plan, which Ducey released this April, aims to increase Arizona teachers’ pay by 20 percent by the year 2020.

Ducey has promised Arizonans that he will not increase taxes to help fund his 20by20 plan. Instead, his office said projected staterevenue increases and strategic cuts to the government operating budgets will provide the necessary funding.

Some remain skeptical of Ducey’s ability to deliver on his promises. The Arizona Education Association endorsed his opponent, David Garcia, for governor.

“Governor Ducey is ignoring our state’s teacher-shortage crisis, leaving our students without teachers in crumbling buildings,” said Joe Thomas, president of the Arizona Education Association, in a May press release announcing his organization’s endorsement of Garcia.

Garcia has a background in education and served as the associate superintendent of public instruction for Standards and Accountability for the State of Arizona.

Garcia’s plan for Arizona education includes increasing teachers’ pay, addressing the needs of all students and shifting the focus of schools away from profits and back toward students. Yet, according to The Arizona Republic, Garcia has remained sparse on details.

Proposition 305 While Arizona voters will not have the opportunity to increase funding for public education directly this November, they will have the choice to expand Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program.

Proposition 305 would expand student eligibility for the ESA program from students with disabilities or in poor performing school districts to almost all public school students, providing parents or guardians who apply for the program the financial resources to send children to private schools.

These scholarships are sometimes referred to as vouchers, though there is a legal difference between the two. Vouchers were deemed unconstitutional by the Arizona Supreme Court in 2009.

Ducey, a proponent of charter schools in the state, voiced his support of the proposition during a gubernatorial debate.

“I support the move to expand [ESAs] …

We have 1.1 million children in the state of Arizona. I want them all to have access to an affordable, accessible and excellent education,” Ducey said.

Garcia and Angel Torres, the Green Party’s governor candidate, both voiced their opposition to Proposition 305. The Arizona Education Association and Save our Schools are also opposed to the proposition.

“Public money should not be pulled away from public schools to be used for private schools,” said Jo Holt, chair of the Pima County Democratic Party.

Holt also expressed concern that, if the proposition passed, voters would have less oversight and accountability of public education spending.

Voting this November The Arizona Education Association puts out a voting guide, telling Arizonans which candidates they say best support public education. All candidates on the list are either Democratic or Independent.

AEA President Joe Thomas expressed his hope that young voters will make their voices heard in the November election, despite Invest in Ed no longer being on the ballot.

“If 20-year-olds understand how important their state government was … they would always vote like 60-year-olds. And the problem is a 60-year-old isn’t thinking about the same things a 20-year-old is thinking about ,” Thomas said. “Vote and elect the people that share your interests.”

Budget cuts: what can go and what should stay OPINION

BY CHUCK VALADEZ @DailyWildcat

T

he idea of a cut and balanced budget always seems to be the battle cry for the conservative. I, a left-leaning liberal, agree with the premise but disagree with the execution of the idea by the GOP. The GOP is well known for making cuts to healthcare, education and benefits to the unemployed.

On the flipside, they allow defense and government institution budgets to skyrocket out of control. By no means is the GOP the party of small government and economic freedom but rather the party of self-interest and window peepers. Let’s take a look at what can be cut and recognize this recovered money could go toward the previously mentioned healthcare, education and benefits to the unemployed.

CUT: NSA Yes, it is time to take back our liberty by cutting the already-proven-to-be-corrupt agency known as the National Security Agency.

First exposed by Edward Snowden, the NSA has been highly controversial. Although the actual budget of the NSA is confidential, the budget is estimated to be worth around $10 billion, while some experts, like Gordon Adams, a former White House budget official for national security, claim it is “well north” of $20 billion.

been given travel and a place to stay, but Paul is on to something. The old saying goes “cut Government pay and watch how quickly things change.” Senators, congressman, the president: they are all public servants and should take the job not because it pays well but rather because it allows them to pass policies for the benefit of the people. A quick cut of salaries and the addition of term limits to senators and congresspeople should help put them in their place.

CUT: IRS Cost: $11.7 billion a year. This means the government has to use an amount equal to one quarter of what the Internal Revenue Service finds a year to fund it. For the most part, the IRS hassles small businesses and individuals, because they have already received kickbacks from the big time offenders of tax evasion.

REMAIN: Military budget Yes, we could make cuts to our military budgets, but if we cut the budget on paper it will be the soldier that takes the hit. If we continue to send men and women out to the Middle East in the name of oil and opium, they need to be taken care of when they come back home.

This means legislation to reevaluate the budget would be the smarter option if you really care about the troops, and it is not just a bumper sticker on the back of your gas guzzler.

CUT: Government salaries Ron Paul offered to take $39,000 if elected president in 2008. Of course, he would have

State level issues Arizona, what is your budget? Why must you tax us as well? We see $5.7 billion going towards ASU, UA and NAU. Taking a first step is looking for other places to spend that $26.6 million you added to the Border Strike Force budget. There is already a border patrol that, well, patrols the border. Since marijuana is the No. 1 item seized at the border, marijuana must be addressed. Marijuana is not a public safety issue if you legalize and tax the plant. You might find this extra tax revenue helpful. The Arizona governor’s office also holds public hearings.

They are held in five major cities and claim to be for residents to speak their minds about the budget. No matter what people say, an already elected official is not going to change spending patterns. These public hearings simply sound like tax-funded travel, stay and meals; oddly enough, there is no figure on the total amount of dollars spent on these public hearings. I wonder why?

— Chuck Valadez is a junior studying ethics, economics and public policy.

V4 • The Daily Wildcat

Fall 2018 Election Voting Guide • October 24, 2018

Fall 2018 Election Voting Guide • October 24, 2018

The Daily Wildcat • V5

VOTING GUIDE | STATEWIDE RACES

Frank Riggs (R) A former U.S. Congressman, Riggs hopes to expand access to quality education in Arizona. If elected, Riggs would form a parent advisory council and increase the civic education students receive in Arizona schools. Riggs also said physical activity is critical to learning, and he plans to ensure physical activity is incorporated into Arizona schools. Riggs said he wants to focus school resources to help students falling behind in reading and other essential skills and supports expanding access to electives and technical career courses and programs for students.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Kathy Hoffman (D)

Until running for political office, Hoffman was an educator in Arizona’s public schools. If elected, Hoffman said she plans to give more voices a say in policy. Hoffman will also increase support for pre-schools, bilingual education, special education programs and career and technical education programs.

Hoffman supports providing teachers paid maternity and paternity leave to attract and retain high-quality teachers as well as fighting LGBTQ discrimination in schools. Hoffman said she wants to stop the expansion of ESA school “vouchers” and ensure all Arizona schools are fully funded.

Mark Manoil (D) An Arizona small-business owner, Manoil’s campaign centers around helping the average Arizonan. If elected, Manoil said he plans to fight for affordable borrowing for university students, shifting the tax burden from families to corporations and providing favorable, local capital to small businesses and cities looking to improve their infrastructure. Manoil said he wants to root out corruption and his campaign does not accept corporate donations.

Kimberly Yee (R) State Treasurer

Yee, Arizona’s Senate majority leader and small business owner, said she plans to protect Arizonans’ pocketbooks if elected as state treasurer. When campaigning, Yee touted her work to lower taxes, reduce unnecessary regulations and improve public education in the state legislature. According to Yee, she will continue to be guided by her ethical, fiscally conservative principles and her experience working on Arizona’s budget.

Statewide races

Steve Gaynor (R)

Secretary of State

Gaynor, an Arizona businessman, has focused his campaign on restoring confidence in Arizona’s elections. If elected, Gaynor said he would require proof of citizenship to vote, work with the state’s cybersecurity team to protect election integrity and streamline operations and reduce cost.

According to a 2016 report from ASU’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy, 49 percent of millenials are not registered to vote. Of those that are registered only 29 percent voted in the 2016 general election.

Katie Hobbs (D)

January Contreras (D) Contreras, a former assistant US attorney general, founded the Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services to provide victims of abuse and sex trafficking access to legal representation.

During her time as a prosecutor, Contreras fought cuts to healthcare, elder abuse and healthcare fraud.

If elected, Contreras plans to end Arizona’s defense of corporate special interests. Contreras said she will ensure the civil rights of all Arizonans are protected and the powerful are held accountable.

Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) Before being elected as Arizona’s attorney general in 2014, Brnovich worked as an assistant US attorney general for the District of Arizona. During his tenure, Brnovich won $40 million in settlements for Arizona consumers from corporations and prosecuted would-be terrorists inspired by the Islamic State. Brnovich also sued the Arizona Board of Regents over the high cost of attending a public university in Arizona. If elected, Brnovich has said he will seek justice for all Arizonans.

Hobbs, a former social worker and state legislator, has focused her campaign on ensuring every Arizonan has their voice heard.

If elected, Hobbs plans to reduce the long lines and incompetence at polling stations that stymied Arizonans’ right to vote.

According to the same report, 74 percent of baby boomers were not registered to vote. Of those that were registered 62 percent voted in the 2016 general election.

– STATEWIDE RACES COMPILED BY RANDALL ECK

GOING FOR GOLD

BY MEKAYLA PHAN @DailyWildcat

This November, one election is more unique than all the others. Arizona voters will choose a State Mining Inspector, the only in the country, at the polls.

Arizona’s mine inspector race is often overlooked and easy to miss in the confusion of what some might call more important campaigns. This year, though, the race is drawing attention. Democrat Bill Pierce, 70, will challenge Republican Joe Hart, 74, the first competitive race in eight years.

Mine inspectors are responsible for overseeing the regulation, training and legal compliance of Arizona’s mines according to James Werner, assistant director for UA’s San Xavier Mining Laboratory.

According to Werner, Arizona has 600 active mines and an estimated 100,000 or more abandoned mines. With a majority of these mines being over 100 years old, mining inspectors are responsible for monitoring and securing these mines.

Mining remains relevant and critical to Arizona’s economy to this day, especially in Tucson, which is home of many of the state’s copper deposits.

Arizona is the only state in the country that still elects a state mining inspector.

“The State Mine Inspector in Arizona, being an elected position and not an appointed position like in other mining agencies in other states, is an effort to free the inspector and governor from pressures from interest groups,” Werner said.

For John Lacy, UA director for the Global Mining Law Center, Arizona electing its mine inspector is deeply rooted in Arizona’s history and the spirit of those involved in the mining business.

“Miners have classically implemented their own rules, and so the idea of having a state mining inspector elected is probably an outgrowth of that,” Lacy said.

While electing mine inspectors may politicize the office, Lacy believes that for this particular race, qualifications trump political affiliation in the minds of voters. According to Lacy, candidates usually come from a background of mining labor organizations or have other qualifying experiences.

Electing a mine inspector also provides other benefits Lacy said.

“I think with a lot of offices like these, an elected official

Vote on Prop 306

Vote on Prop 127

Prop 306 would require Arizona’s Citizen Clean Election Commission to receive regulatory approval from a governor-appointed council and public comment before voting on new rules. It would also prevent publicly funded campaigns from paying political parties or private election organizations. Proponents argue the proposition would increase transparency and ensure publicly funded candidates are independent of political parties and special interests. Opponents argue the changes would reduce the independence and oversight of the commission, placing it under partisan control and placing publicly funded candidates at a strong disadvantage.

Prop 127 would amend the Arizona Constitution to require utility companies regulated by the state to increase the amount of renewable energy they provide consumers beginning in 2020.

Proponents argue this amendment would result in cleaner air and water, new jobs and lower electricity rates in the long term. Opponents argue the amendment leaves utilities with no flexibility and would result in increased electricity rates, thereby hurting the economy while producing only marginal environmental benefits.

Vote on Prop 126 Prop 126 would amend the Arizona Constitution to prohibit the state or cities from increasing or creating new sales taxes or service-based fees. Proponents argue the amendment protects local businesses, families and seniors from new taxes on services like healthcare or childcare. Opponents argue the change ignores current safeguards to prevent a rush of new taxes and permanently restricts ever-changing revenue sources, hurting future funding for education and other services.

is more likely to pay attention to public opinion opposed to someone appointed by the government,” Lacy said.

Meet the Candidates After witnessing a fatal mine accident while working in 1985, Pierce became an activist for mine safety until his retirement in 2012. Pierce decided to challenge Arizona’s current mine inspector, Hart, because Joe Hart he said he believed his experiences and qualifications would be more beneficial to the public and to make the race for mine inspector a competitive one. “I would love the opportunity to look for violations in the mines, and [to do] my part to help clean up the air, the groundwater and to reduce the injuries in accidents,” Pierce said. “I want to help not only save lives but work with mining companies and various entities involved in mining to maintain their profitability while keeping their actions clean and environment-friendly as they can.”

Hart has been Arizona’s state mining inspector since 2006. He has worked Bill Pierce in many aspects of the mining industry for decades, including as safety inspector for Duval Mining Corporation. Hart echoed Pierce’s goals of safety and service during his campaign.

Both Hart and Pierce strive to fulfill the Arizona State Mining Inspector role’s motto: “Committed to safety.

Protecting the lives of Arizona miners.”

General election voting in person starts Tuesday, Nov. 6. For more information, visit Arizona Clean Elections or Arizona State Mine Inspector websites.

Vote on Prop 305 Prop 305 would expand eligibility for Arizona’s Expansion of Scholarship Account program, commonly refered to as the voucher program, to include all public school students and increase its funding and oversight. Proponents argue the expansion helps provide more parents more choices for their children’s education, increasing quality and outcome.

Opponents argue the expansion does not expand school choice but transfers funding from public schools to private schools, thereby hurting public education and reducing accountability for spending and curriculum standards.

V6 • The Daily Wildcat

Fall 2018 Election Voting Guide • October 24, 2018

VOTING GUIDE | SENATE RACE

SENATE RACE FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA

Martha McSally (R)

Kyrsten Sinema (D)

McSally, a former colonel in the United States Air Force and the first woman to fly fighter jets in combat missions, has represented Arizona in Congress since 2014. McSally has formed her Senate campaign around her record in Congress, highlighting her efforts to secure Arizona’s southern border, provide veterans with the job protecting the border, funding U.S. military projects and passing 18 bills in her three years in Congress.

A Tucson native, Sinema has represented Arizonans in the state legislature and, since 2013, in Congress. Sinema has formed her campaign around her bi-partisan spirit. In Congress, Sinema plans to fight for affordable healthcare, veteran benefits and defend Medicare and Social Security. Sinema has promised to work to close the gender pay gap, fully fund the armed forces, fight sex trafficking and support a path to citizenship for undocumented children brought to the U.S.

Power to the consumers OPINION

BY ARIDAY SUED @DailyWildcat

R

egardless of what many Americans may believe, conservatives also believe that their healthcare is important. Everyone can agree that the American healthcare system is broken and something must be done. What opposing parties just cannot really agree on is what is broken and how to fix it.

Conservatives believe that the healthcare system can be fixed by encouraging competition between pharmaceutical companies and health insurance and also by changing our system of damages payments, which makes their distribution almost a “lottery.” Conservatives are often strong believers that individuals

are in charge of improving their own lives as much as possible.

The Affordable Care Act took away all power from consumers. It ended up raising costs in the long run and harmed America’s economy. Prices for healthcare should instead be transparent so that small businesses are able to offer healthcare at a low cost, instead of the government pounding us with high costs.

Americans should also have the right to have a say if they want health care, and if so, what kind. Many people are better off having health care plans through their jobs or different organizations at low or no cost. However, if that is not allowed, many Americans are stuck with high-cost plans that they may not even be taking advantage of.

A higher cost of healthcare amounts to pay cuts for working families around the United States. Americans should view healthcare as a patient-first type of deal. Conservatives empower citizens to choose the kind of affordable

insurance that is best for themselves.

Our broken system has created a crisis that has resulted in out-of-control cost which, in turn, unfortunately also resulted in less access to health services and Americans without insurance. This has occurred because people are losing their current plans. President Obama promised Americans that they could keep their current health insurance plan if they wanted. Businesses decided to pay tax penalties to not provide health insurance because it was cheaper than providing their employees with the ACA insurance.

This is not what Americans want or need, but many people are blinded because they believe that a government that provides health care for everyone is a good government. Americans need to recognize that we have a fragile economy, and until we have a better plan or situation, it is not in our best interest to pursue “healthcare for all” acts, because it eventually results in many Americans losing their plans or

not being able to afford them. Choice and competition are two aspects that will regulate healthcare costs and significantly enhance outcomes.

Being fair is all Americans ask for.

Every reasonable person would agree that saving Medicare is crucial because those citizens that have it have worked extremely hard all of their working years; it is truly a benefit they have earned.

If Americans allow government to control healthcare, potentially less people will enter the medical profession because of the risk of inadequate compensation. If there is a shortage of doctors along with a high demand of them, there will be a longer wait period for health care sessions.

This can potentially result in Americans not getting the help they need on time.

The rest can be left to imagination, because it is not pretty; it is a scary position to be in as an American.

— Ariday Sued is a junior studying journalism and political science.

The Future of DACA in Arizona

BY LAUREN ALBRECHT @DailyWildcat

In Sept., 2017, President Donald Trump ended DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama-era program that gave undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children and met a number of other requirements relief from the threat of deportation.

“DACA granted work permits and relief from deportation to folks who qualified based on very selective requirements,” said Darío Andrade Mendoza, University of Arizona alumnus, DACA recipient and communication director for Scholarships AZ. These requirements included being under 31 years of age as of June, 2012, residing in the U.S. since June 2007, having no criminal background and currently being in school or being a graduate of high school, according to the information from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

DACA recipients also are CARMEN VALENCIA | THE DAILY WILDCAT required to pay federal taxes, PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROTEST to defend DACA hold up signs on Sept. 6, 2017. Around 600 people gathered for the protest in Downtown Tucson. but they are not entitled to government welfare benefits were DACA recipients and rely The uncertainty created only know the U.S., many of such as Social Security or Food said Andrew Silverman, UA on that program in order to by the national debate over them have very little or no professor of immigration Stamps. navigate their college journey,” the legal status of the DACA connections to their country. law.

“There needs to be After signing the executive recipients has threatened their said Natalynn Masters, ASUA They really are Americans in some permanent solution order ending the program, president. access to higher education. many ways. This is really their that Congress enacts and the Trump called on Congress In this time of obscurity for National politics have local country.”

President signs.” to create legislation to the future of current DACA effects that stretch all the way Republican and Democrats The uncertainty created by resolve the status of those recipients, Masters stressed to Tucson. alike agree that Dreamers the Trump administration’s in the DACA program for the importance of ensuring “When President Obama positively contribute to the policy and congressional the long term. Attempts by all students are welcome to created the executive order country and should not be inaction extend all the way Democrats to revitalize the continue and complete their that created DACA, it helped sent back to places they know to the UA, where around 50 DREAM Act, which would educational paths. students attend the UA,” said nothing about.

The parties’ DACA recipients are enrolled give DACA recipients a path “ASUA is the student Matthew Rein, Associated to earn a college degree. As the approaches to a solution to U.S. citizenship, have gone government, so we represent Students of the University to end the uncertainty of November midterm elections nowhere. the needs of all students. of Arizona executive vice Dreamers’ status differ approach, questions about the With the Trump We will continue to serve, president. “Having DACA and often has clashed with status of DACA recipients has administration threatening to engage and empower DACA students is an immense part the larger immigration been renewed as politicians stop renewing DACA recipient students,” said Masters. “We of our campus and culture, debate galvanizing election lay out their campaign protections, the clock is ticking are working to help provide and they are important to campaigns this cycle. promises. for Congress to step in or risk whatever support they need. the University of Arizona The next Congress, no “The country clearly has the potential deportation of We are here to help ensure community.” matter its political makeup, thousands of DACA recipients, an obligation to try to do that DACA students are getting ASUA believes in will be forced to reckon with something to give Dreamers many of them students or the education they came to inclusiveness for all UA the uncertainty of DACA a permanent status in this United States armed service the University of Arizona to students and wants to help recipients and their status country,” said Silverman. members. receive.”

DACA students pursue their in this country, be it with “They were brought here by “DACA’s future is really education at UA. legislation or further executive their parents and grew up unclear at the moment,” “We have students who action. in the U.S., many of them

Fall 2018 Election Voting Guide • October 24, 2018

The Daily Wildcat • V7

VOTING GUIDE | HOUSE RACES

House races for Southern Arizona

BY RANDALL ECK @reck999

Arizona’s Third Congressional District includes southwest Tucson. The congressional seat has been solidly Democratic since won by eight-term Congressman Raul Grijalva in 2013.

Arizona’s Second Congressional District includes northeast Tucson. The competitive congressional seat, formerly held by Republican Martha McSally, will be critical to Democratic efforts to retake Congress.

University of Arizona

Raul Grijalva began his political career as a community organizer in Tucson and, since 2003, has represented Arizona in Congress. While campaigning for his ninth term, Grijalva has touted his support for expanding social security, universal health care, campaign finance reform, increasing the federal minimum wage and comprehensive immigration reform. Grijalva has portrayed himself as an advocate for tribal and LBGTQ communities as well as Arizona’s national parks.

Lea Márquez Peterson has served as President and CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce since 2009. In Congress, Márquez Peterson will seek to empower businesses, lower taxes and balance the budget to grow the economy. Márquez Peterson will also vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act while keeping care affordable for those with pre-existing conditions, as well as secure Arizona’s southern border and help veterans return to civilian life.

Nicolas Pierson, a Nogales native, grew up on living with relatives on both sides of the U.S.Mexico border. Before running for Congress, Pierson worked as a financial advisor. In Congress, Pierson plans to secure Arizona’s southern border and then work to reform the immigration system. Pierson is an advocate for expanding public and private vocational and job training opportunities as well as youth and community programs.

After a failed Senate bid, Ann Kirkpatrick is seeking to rejoin Congress. Kirkpatrick has promised to advocate for universal healthcare, paid family leave, campaign finance reform and public support for higher education. Kirkpatrick supports regulating Wall Street, common-sense gun reform and a path to citizenship for undocumented children brought to the U.S. as children.

Kirkpatrick also wants to balance the budget, support U.S. veterans and improve Arizona’s infrastructure.

YOUTH, GUNS AND VOTES

BY EDDIE CELAYA @reporterEddie

In an election cycle dominated by President Donald Trump, the issue of gun violence might be the deciding factor for who or what young potential voters support come Nov. 6.

After a year that saw the killing of 19 people at Parkland High School and a response to the tragedy that included the national March for Our Lives, student voices on the issue of gun control are leading the conversation.

Arizona is a unique state when it comes to guns. After the Grand Canyon, the place at the forefront of most out-of-staters’ minds is probably Tombstone, with its famous shootout at the OK Corral serving as the basis for an entire generation to imagine the Wild West around.

Here in Tucson, that legacy extends to two recent tragedies involving handguns: The January 8, 2011, assassination attempt of thencongresswoman Gabrielle Giffords that claimed six lives and the 2002 shooting at the University of Arizona nursing school where two instructors were shot dead.

It’s the dichotomy of guns as both creators and destroyers that exposes the deep divide on the issue of gun control in the Tucson community.

For Tucson city councilman and UA associate athletic director Steve Kozachik, that divide led to his switching parties in 2013.

Kozachik hosted a gun buy-back for the city of Tucson two years after the Giffords shooting. It became an object of derision from gun-rights advocates immediately, and the backlash eventually led to Kozachik switching parties and registering as a Democrat.

“Gun control was very much a factor in that [changing parties], because of the tired old refrain that things like background checks and checking blood alcohol content and reporting lost or stolen weapons, those are far too often used by the far-right as anti-second amendment,” Kozachik said. “And that’s just bullshit.”

Kozachik also touched on Arizona Revisited Statute 13-3108, which allows the state of Arizona to prevent municipalities like Tucson from destroying guns they may acquire, whether through gun buy-backs or seizure by police. Currently, municipalities must re-sell any arms.

“We have to flip the state legislature to get that rescinded,” Kozachik said. He and two other councilmembers voted last year against a city measure to adhere to the law.

Charles Heller, the media coordinator for the Arizona Citizen’s Defense League, disagreed with Kozachik’s assessment. He argued that voters who were educated on the constitution would not support any policies or politicians that limited legal citizens’ access to firearms.

SYDNEY RICHARDSON | THE DAILY WILDCAT

A VARIETY OF GUNS on display at Second Amendment Sports on Pima Street in Tucson, Ariz. Firearm identification, background checks on firearm purchases and background checks on ammunition have been shown to reduce gun-related fatalities.

“I believe the ones in their right minds understand that ‘gun violence’ is a loaded political term and there is no such thing because guns don’t cause violence,” Heller said.

Heller also said he supported the elimination of gun-free zones as a way to help reduce the number of mass shooting incidents. He was also sharply critical of Kozachik for wanting to overturn A.R.S. 13-3108.

“They have more fealty for political optics than for following the law,” said Heller. “The three people that voted in favor of violating state laws for political reason have disqualified

themselves from public office. They voted to violate the law.”

The chasm between Kozachik and Heller could be solved by the votes of millennials and Generation Z. However, Kozachik isn’t encouraged with the potential for a youth wave this election cycle.

A poll Kozachik conducted last year for his re-election campaign found that, of the students polled, less than 10 percent counted themselves as likely voters.

“I would hope the fact you have people running into schools and university nursing schools and

elementary schools and movie theatres and shooting and murdering people, I would hope that would be enough to get young people engaged.

But I’m not going to be a believer until I see it at the polls,” he said.

In the shadow of Parkland and the March for Our Lives, the level of engagement by young voters due to the issue of gun control remains to be seen. The results of the upcoming election could indicate how involved the youth of today are in the politics of the future.

A blue Arizona is a voting Arizona

OPINION

BY ANIKA PASILIS

@DailyWildcat

I

s this Arizona’s year to go blue?

The answer from me is, it very well could, depending on if the new majority decides to vote or not.

For as long I’ve been alive, Arizona has been a red state. I can’t remember a time when the state government wasn’t Republican majority.

However, with changing demographics, this could turn everything we know about Arizona politics on its head. The group that could change everything in 2018 are the Latino/Latina voters in Arizona.

According to Politico, in the 90s and early 2000s Republicans had over 40 percent of the Latino vote.

However, many point to SB1070 as

the beginning of ethnic polarization in Arizona. Now, the Trump era has forced the Latino voter base to question their lack of representation within Arizona politics, especially this election cycle.

Nowadays, people are reclaiming their heritage. According to Politico, David Garcia, the Democrat up against Governor Doug Ducey this election, believes the younger generation of Arizona Latinos is far more ethnically conscious than their parents and grandparents. The state is getting more ethnically polarized, like many states south of the MasonDixon line.

Caucasians are trending far more Republican, while Latinos tend to vote Democrat. According to Politico, the median age of Latinos in Arizona is 27, while whites are roughly 20

years older.

So, in a state that has always largely been controlled by white retirees, the everlasting border debate and racist laws such as SB1070 — which hasn’t been repealed, by the way — may be what spurs a new generation of voters into finally turning Arizona blue. The other issue that could turn the tide is education. Arizona ranks low in education, with some metrics like WalletHub putting Arizona second from the bottom.

School funding per pupil is the second lowest in the nation. Teachers are some of the lowest paid, and TUSD in particular has made both local and national news for various issues pertaining to corruption and student walkouts a few years ago.

Propositions, like 305, that impact Arizona’s public schools contribute

to the rising tide of Democrats in Arizona after the teacher strike that occurred earlier this year.

Another factor that should bring Democrats to the polls is the amount of women running for Arizona office.

In the primary, 20 of 43 Arizona candidates running for national office were women, about 46.5 percent. An even higher percentage made it to the general election, 9 of 19, or 47.4 percent. Many of these candidates, like Lea Marquez Peterson, are Republican, so people on both sides could be motivated to vote. However, Democrats’ commitment to gender equality could mean they are pulled to the polls in larger numbers than their Republican counterparts, contributing to a larger blue wave.

In a state that had its first-ever statewide walkout this year, people

are becoming more and more tired of a Republican government that routinely shafts young people and minorities alike in failing schools.

Actions such as these point to a slow transition to a bluer government.

Of course, the only way to actually turn Arizona blue is if Democrats go out and vote. We know retirees will show up at the polls in masses. While in theory Arizona could go blue, it all depends on how many Democrats show up at the polls.

The demographic shift coupled with the severity of Arizona’s education problems demonstrate the beginnings of change. Only time will tell, but Arizona has a good chance of finally turning blue in 2018.

— Anika Pasilis is a sophomore studying Middle Eastern Studies and journalism.

V8 • The Daily Wildcat

Fall 2018 Election Voting Guide • October 24, 2018

VOTING GUIDE | POLITICAL SIGNS

Creating impressions: How political graphic design sways voters

BY MIA HERRERA @miaherreraUA Who you vote for may be influenced by what you see. Graphic designers in the political science field must take a number of factors into account when creating campaign posters and protest signs.

In America, political posters act as a supplement to the advertisements that run on radios, televisions, phones and the internet. On the other hand, in countries such as Japan, posters are the primary tool used to promote campaigns by those running for office.

According to Nathaniel Smith, an assistant professor of East Asian Studies at the University of Arizona, “Japanese elections are highly regulated [with] no television and radio ads. Instead, for just one or two weeks prior to the parliamentary vote, there are public boards erected to feature similarlysized posters from each candidate.”

In such a politically media-restricted country, Japanese graphic designers need to find a balance of creativity and sophistication if they want to draw the attention of voters.

“There is a distinct genre to graphic design, although there are sometimes whimsical departures,” Smith said.

To produce these genres, Smith said designers should know how to get into the minds of people.

Digital media marketer and visual design blogger Shyrose Vastani shared the applied psychological techniques behind graphic design to trigger emotions and build an audience in her blog. According to Vastani, “different shapes stimulate different emotions.”

Vastani’s blog said that circular graphics convey positive emotions and imply a sense of community, love and unity. Meanwhile, straight edges, like in squares, indicate stability and consistency.

Vastani said that colors convey similar effects to audiences, and each color conveys a different message. She shared that warm colors, such as orange, red and yellow, convey messages of love, prosperity and energy, while cool colors, such as purple, blue and green, symbolize tranquility, grace and nobility.

Psychological strategies such as these aid graphic designers in their conquest to create compelling political campaign posters. An American example of this is evident in Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign poster entitled “Hope.” The poster employs a balance of the country’s trademark colors of red, white and blue to symbolize unity.

Graphic designer Shepard Fairey, who created “Hope,” said in The Harvard Journal of Law & Technology, “I thought a good way to convey the convergence of red states and blue states was to illustrate Obama with a shadow dividing his face down the middle with blue tones on one side and red on the other.”

The use of such colors was aimed to create lasting impressions, as well.

“The benefit of illustrating an image in a few colors is that the high-contrast layers yield a very iconic image that looks like a statue,” Fairey said. “A statue suggests to the viewer that the subject is noteworthy enough to have earned such depiction.”

Japanese graphic designers use similar techniques to produce their political campaign ads. Smith pointed to Mikawa representative Satoshi Shima’s winning campaign poster as a prime example.

PASCAL ALBRIGHT | THE DAILY WILDCAT

DOUG ROBSON IS A candidate for the TUSD board. His sign conveys the message that he wants to ‘reboot’ the direction of the school district.

Shima’s poster received a lot of attention for its rather unique mix of colors and images. The photo revealed a picture of a white cat, named “Spence,” with one blue eye and one green eye in the background behind a smiling Shima. According to his Twitter, “If you find one of my white cat posters, you’ll be happy.”

Creative design techniques are also vital to protesters.

“Right-wing groups in Japan often use posters as part of their activism [and keep them] pasted all over town,” Smith said.

“Unlike candidate posters, they do not feature the face of a person but instead strikingly rendered slogans.”

The expansion of the internet and modern artwork has influenced the design techniques used in Japanese protest signs today, according to Smith.

“Graphic arts in political protest have a long history. What has been interesting to see in Japan is how certain mediums, like online art, memes and manga, have informed two- and three-dimensional political art in the ‘meat-scape,’” Smith said.

One example of a Japanese protest graphic design includes the logo for Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy, which used contrasting black and white backgrounds to emphasize images of powerful tools used in government, such as a megaphone, a book and a pen.

Despite the large amount of creative methods available to these political graphic designers, they are not invulnerable to extremist beliefs.

“The tricky part is that abusive and trolling slogans that might emerge easily in anonymous online forum have a very different feel when a real person has [them] emblazoned on a sign they hold in their hands,” Smith said.

While candidates and protests in societies like America and Japan come and go, the impressions created from their artwork provide a lasting impression in history. As Vastani wrote in her blog, “We as humans respond differently to different elements of design” – what we create now influences what we may see in the future.

PASCAL ALBRIGHT | THE DAILY WILDCAT

RAUL GRIJALVA D IS an eight-time congressman from Tucson campaigning for reelection. The simplistic design for the sign conveys a message that he is a relateable candidate.

PASCAL ALBRIGHT | THE DAILY WILDCAT

CHRISTIAN R. KOMAR I has a simple design for his sign. The sign clearly states his plaform for why he should be considered for Governor.

VOTING GUIDE | REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE

During contentious elections, civility a key issue

BY SETH MARKOWSKI @DailyWildcat American politics is ugly. Polarization appears to be on the rise, and some argue civility is no longer possible or even necessary.

This election season, the National Institute for Civil Discourse, based at the University of Arizona, is working hard to change that, with the help of voters across the nation.

NICD has an ally in Pima County Democratic Party Chair Jo Holt.

“Political civility is very important,” Holt said. “It is a critical component to serving the needs of the people.”

Holt is not alone. Many Americans do not believe the tone of their politics is headed in the right direction.

A poll conducted by CBS News in June of 2017 found that 93 percent of Americans believe that the tone and civility of U.S. political debate was either getting worse or not actively improving. In that same poll, 73 percent of Americans believed that the current tone of political debate encourages violence.

The political incivility present throughout national politics has a negative, trickledown effect on state and local politics, according to Holt.

While politics in Tucson has remained civil, we see high levels of incivility at the state-level, starting with election campaigns, in Holt’s opinion. Holt pointed to Arizona’s senate race as an example.

“Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema are being particularly nasty to each other,” Holt said.

Ted Celeste, director of state programs for

the National Institute for Civil Discourse, sees a similar trend to what Holt observed, but at a national level.

“Incivility is on display in our national elections. Candidates are being nasty towards each other, making demeaning comments or even making up allegations,” Celeste said. “When other politicians see this model succeed, they adopt it themselves, and suddenly the entire country is using negative tactics to gain media attention.”

While individual candidates provide the most obvious examples of incivility in politics, political parties have also embraced incivility.

Celeste, who served as state representative of the 24th District in Ohio from 2007 to 2012, knows firsthand that no political party is above weaponizing incivility for political gain.

“There was a bill that I was trying to pass while my party, the Democrats, had a majority. I had an influential Republican representative as my co-sponsor, but the Democratic party said I couldn’t do that … they didn’t want people to think that Republicans actually care,” Celeste said.

In this political climate, how can politics become more civil and politicians be encouraged to reached across the aisle?

Celeste believes he has a solution.

Celeste wants candidates to step up and run positive campaigns, denouncing negativity both on the campaign trail and in office.

For politicians, Celeste’s strategy is not always a recipe for success. For Celeste, his principles outweighed political expediency, and voters responded, according to him.

“Citizens in my district consistently told me how refreshing it was to have someone run a campaign based in positivity,”

COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF Civil Discourse was founded following the shooting of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords at a “Congress On Your Corner” event. The institute’s goal is to restore civility to politics.

Celeste said.

Celeste’s positive campaigns earned him three consecutive terms in the Ohio State House.

Celeste’s emphasis on civility and his work at NICD have yet to spread nationwide.

Thomas Volgy, a professor in the School of Government & Public Policy and former mayor of Tucson, believes the national media’s large appetite for negative rhetoric is a key reason for the persistence of incivility.

For civil discourse to truly make a

comeback in politics, candidates, but more importantly voters, have to step up, Volgy said.

Tucson’s former mayor said citizens have to refuse to vote for political candidates, who actively utilize incivility in their campaigns, and stay involved in politics, no matter how ugly it may become.

The path to civility in politics is not an easy one in America’s entrenched political situation, but the work of the NICD and others has made sure civility is a central issue in voters’ and politicians’ minds as they head to the polls in the coming weeks.