The debate on whether the Legislative District 26 Senate candidates will debate has become like a cash cow for The Range. Every few weeks, there’s a new development, a new promise and a new complaint, but we still haven’t seen a debate.
We thought the good times were coming to an end, though, when Dave Perry, the editor and publisher of the Explorer newspaper, set up something that both candidates agreed on: a nonpartisan debate hosted by the paper between state Sen. Al Melvin and his rematch contestant, Democrat Cheryl Cage.
Perry says he wanted to run the debate himself to make sure it was fair and informative and didn’t get hijacked by either party or any special-interest groups.
Melvin apparently trusted Perry to do just that, and wrote a confirmation email saying, “Dave, Count me in. I’m sure you will give this a lot of thought and that you will do your utmost to make the event fair and balanced.”
But Melvin now says he won’t attend the debate unless his two new requirements are met: 1) The debate also includes the three House of Representatives candidates. and 2) it is held at one of four places he has chosen.
“I attempted to put together a debate between the two Senate candidates, and they both initially agreed to do it but on further reflection Senator Melvin has concerns about the venue and he has concerns about not including the House candidates,” Perry says.
Perry had originally scheduled it at Mountain View High School, which Melvin says he didn’t like because
it was outside his area and because it was a public high school.
“I would prefer, frankly, not a public high school,” Melvin said when we tracked him down at the GOP Unity Rally over the weekend. “(Because of) the AEA (Arizona Education Association). Every year they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat everybody in this room.”
Perry says he might consider changing the venue to accommodate Melvin, but he has no interest in inviting the candidates for the House of Representatives race.
“I said I wanted a debate between the two of them… I did not want to bring in the House candidates. I believe that those forums where there are five or six people—they’re not debates,” he says.
Cage, who has been trying to get her debate on since long before the primary election, has had about enough. She says she will be at Mountain View High School on Sept. 30, whether Melvin shows up or not.
“The bottom line is it’s not that complicated,” Cage says. “You put your dress shirt on, you get in your car, you drive to the public high school and you have a public debate to share with the voters your views.”
“I will not be manipulated by this man,” she continues. “He’s manipulating the voters, he’s manipulating the press in order to not have to defend his horrific voting record.”
For his part, Perry says he just wants to get balanced information out, like the newspaper is supposed to.
“This race, in and of itself, is of enormous significance,” Perry says. “I don’t care who wins, it’s just of enormous significance.”
This article appears in Sep 9-15, 2010.
Guess with his pathetic voting record on education (0% for education in 2009), ole’ Melvin is afraid to go near any school.
Melvin’s comment about why he won’t debate in a public school is outrageous.
The vast majority of his constituent families send their children to public schools. The very idea that he is trying to paint the school as a union bastion is pathetic — our schools are the focal points of our communities.
Melvin and his ilk are trying to use the type of union stereotype from out east to undermine the schools here. It is pure BS. Arizona is a Right-to-Work state and unions here have very little sway. Most of the teachers in my child’s public school aren’t even union members.
Senator Melvin’s sneering disregard for both his constituents and the schools he is supposed to represent is deplorable. I fail to see how any parent living in his district – or any senior who benefited from a public education themselves – could cast a vote for this kind of unproductive rhetoric.
Does Melvin really care about Southern Arizona? Of actual votes cast on TWENTY-ONE (count ’em, 21) pieces of legislation in 2009 during regular and special sessions affecting public education, Melvin OPPOSED state funding for public education every single vote. Seems he’s fighting Southern Arizona families, not supporting them with Melvin’s 0% voting record for public education in 2009. Some say his allegiance is to the GOP party leaders of Maricopa County.
Our quality of life depends on voters making informed decisions on who they elect to represent their best interests long-term. Will the priorities in this state be prisons OR state universities?? Do you want your state senator to focus on Independence Day sparklers & future nuclear power plants (we don’t have the water resources) OR public education K-12??
Make a difference and get out the vote for the November 2nd election. Even if you live outside of LD 26, who gets elected in LD 26 matters to Southern Arizona. Why? There are 16 state senators who make up the majority and who determine what bills make it to the Governor’s desk.
On Thanksgiving “Eve” 2009 in special session, the Governor and leading majority in the Arizona State Legislature slashed a whopping $144 million to AZ public education K-12. School districts are still reeling from the budget cuts and have no choice but to ask voters to pass budget overrides and approve bond issues. If the state won’t pay, taxpayers will pay at the local level or services will cease to exist (resulting in lay-offs and more unemployment).
Cheryl Cage knows and values the long-term investment of providing state funds to our state universities and our public schools K-12, as well as state resources to adult education.
Tell your friends and family and work colleagues in LD 26 to VOTE CHERYL CAGE FOR STATE SENATE. Arizonans, you owe it to your beloved state, to notify ANY AND ALL registered voters who reside in Legislative District 26 –East of I-10, the voters of Village of Catalina, Catalina Foothills, Oro Valley, Marana, Tortolita and a portion of the City of Tucson — to stop the re-election of State Senator Al Melvin. Know someone 18+ that has not yet registered to vote? Voter registration deadline is October 4th. Early ballot voting begins October 7th. Call 740-4330 to request your early ballot.