Last spring, statewide teachers walkouts pressured the Arizona State Legislature into approving a boost in teacher pay.
With the Tuesday, Nov. 6, general elections approaching, the impact of the RedForEd movement and the heightened focus on education in Arizona state politics is still on clear display. Four candidates vying to represent Legislative District 6 met for a candidate debate at the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District office focused entirely on education issues.
The two Republican incumbents, Arizona Rep. Bob Thorpe and Arizona Sen. Sylvia Allen, did not attend.
With Allen and Thorpe absent, the GOP was represented only by Walter Blackman, who is running to replace term- limited Arizona Rep. Brenda Barton [R], who was disqualified in a challenge for Allen’s senate seat.
Blackman is running for one of two LD6 House seats against Democrats Bobby Tyler and Felicia French.
Wade Carlisle is running against Allen for Senate.
In a room that was heavy on educators, support for increased teacher pay was a given, with debate focusing not on whether pay increases such as those passed in the wake of Red for Ed protests were necessary, but whether they went far enough.
Blackman found himself on defense for much of the debate, such as in his assertion that the current state budget has room for the pay increases without raising taxes, something that the Democrats argued would likely mean a broken promise in the future.
“Do we have the money to do it? Yes we do,” Blackman said. “The revenue is there, we have a booming economy.”
The Democrats argued that Arizona education’s system still needs more work than just the pay raises. Carlisle cited the experience of his wife, a teacher, and argued that teachers in Arizona do not have the resources or the incentives to excel.
“I think one of the biggest policies that I would like to see that I think has the biggest impact on the students is focusing on class size,” Carlisle said. “When you’re focused on class size you’re talking about adding educators to the school system and making giving the teacher the utility to have one-on-one interaction at a greater level.”
“The reality is children who come in are ready and willing and able to learn, but the opportunity has to be there for them to get the education and get the one- on-one time between the student and the teacher in order to meet those goals.”
The candidates split down party lines on the issue of Proposition 305, which would expand eligibility for Empowerment Scholarship Accounts — vouchers for private school tuition that are offered to parents of children with disabilities and military parents — to all students.
“It’s taking away money from public education,” French said of the proposed expansion. She said she does support the program for its original recipients, but not expanding it.
“We have a moral obligation to educate [our students] properly, and we shouldn’t be robbing Peter to pay Paul, but that’s what we’re doing with ESAs,” French said.
“Expanding it — not only does it take money away from public education, it also doesn’t pay for or fully fund those students that are being pulled away from it.”
“Charter schools do not have the same accountability,” Tyler said. He said that without the same standards as public schools, charters often end up with less qualified teachers. “People are just taking the money and getting rich off of it. There’s no accountability and we need more accountability.”
Blackman advocated for increased school choice and charter schools.
Blackman expressed his appreciation of being able to sit in front of a room full of people who mostly disagreed with him, but who were polite and receptive.
“Simply because I’m a conservative doesn’t mean I don’t want to educate our children,” Blackman said.
“Education is the key to success. Education is what brings us forward into the next generation to do wonderful things in our country.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
