Ducey, Garcia spar at first debate

Public-education system takes center stage for most of the event

Incumbent Republican Gov. Doug Ducey and Democratic challenger David Garcia pulled no punches in their first public debate Monday night, sparring over the future of Arizona’s public-education system for more than half of the forum.

The hourlong debate, broadcast on Arizona PBS in partnership with the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, also provided a platform for Green Party candidate Angel Torres to share his views.

He was repeatedly drowned out, however, by the interruptions, challenges and scripted digs flying between Ducey and Garcia.

The massive #RedForEd teacher walkout this spring, as well as the contentious decision to knock the #InvestinEd income-tax measure off the November ballot, gave Garcia ammunition to attack Ducey for “half-measures and broken promises” to teachers and schools.

After nearly four years, Garcia said, “we are still in an education crisis” and are “one of the worst places in the country for teachers.”

Ducey fired back, promoting the 20x2020 teacher-raise plan he pushed through this spring and repeatedly demanding a detailed education-funding proposal from Garcia.

“I’ll be held accountable for the last three-plus years, not the last 20 years,” the governor said. “People are saying it (the funding increases) is not enough and I agree with them: There’s more left to do.

“But like I said, I was in a straitjacket

Democrat David Garcia (from left), host Ted Simons, Green Party hopeful Angel Torres and Republican Gov. Doug Ducey at Monday’s gubernatorial debate at ASU’s journalism school in downtown Phoenix. PATRICK BREEN/THE REPUBLIC

four years ago. We had a billion-dollar deficit in our state budget. We had to dig out of that hole.”

Garcia provided the broad brush strokes of an education-funding plan, saying he would “challenge the Legislature and invite those 75,000 teachers who were out there to join me and put another initiative on the ballot” if elected.

He did not provide further details during the debate but told reporters afterward that increasing education funding would likely require both tax increases and spending cuts.

The candidates also jousted over charter schools, with Garcia calling Ducey a “follower” rather than a leader for only recently joining the call for reform. Proposed changes would require charters to be more transparent and comply with the procurement and conflict-of-interest laws followed by district schools.

The remainder of the debate centered on border security and the economy.

Ducey slammed Garcia as weak on border safety, saying he wants to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The governor heralded the work of his multiagency Border Strike Force, saying he has attempted to balance both education and law-enforcement needs when allocating state dollars.

Garcia dismissed Ducey’s ICE critique as untrue, saying he wants only immigration reform. He said a functional immigration system should include security, “lawful entry for those ready to enter the United States and contribute” and refuge for asylum-seekers.

Garcia also called Ducey’s Strike Force a political tool, saying the governor has failed to follow through on an early priority of returning Department of Public Safety highway patrols to pre-recession levels.

The lack of 24-hour coverage means local law-enforcement officers must try to pick up the slack during the early-morning hours. Ducey has said he expects to fully fund 24-hour coverage in his 2020 budget.

Garcia asked Ducey to address controversial attack ads put out by the Republican Governors Association, which is hitting Garcia on border security as it works to get Ducey re-elected.

One starts with photographs of a white family with two young daughters, then the images turn to pictures of human trafficking and drug smuggling. The mother in the family says that, “as a mom with two daughters, nothing is more important than keeping them safe — that’s why I’m worried about David Garcia.”

Garcia supporters have blasted the ads as racist. Ducey described the ads as “public-service announcements” during the debate. The candidates will meet again at 7 p.m. tonight. Arizona Public Media, the Arizona Daily Star and KJZZ-FM (91.5) will collaborate on that debate, at the Arizona Public Media studio in Tucson. Phoenix-area residents can listen on KJZZ.

The Arizona Republic invited Ducey and Garcia to participate in a third debate. Only Garcia accepted.