Arizona
For almost all of my life, summer time has meant more time to spend with my horses. I used to wake up early to beat the heat in Phoenix to ride, or escape to the cooler parts of Arizona to enjoy the trails. Many of us would also use the summer to attend some of the top horse shows around the country. All in all, I have always enjoyed summers with my horses.
This summer is different. I decided to run for the Arizona House of Representatives for Legislative District 7. I have since put my horse in training, and have spent the summer campaigning. This was quite a change from my usual summer activities. While I remain at home, I eagerly await the latest and greatest stories from the horse shows and the vacations.
But I believe my time spent campaigning is important. It’s important to all of us who own and enjoy our horses. I am sure you are well aware of the economic crisis in Arizona. Our horse industry is not immune from this downturn. We have all seen or felt the effects of this recession, personally and for some professionally. Those working in the horse industry or a related field know that times are tough for everyone.
This is why the upcoming Primary Election is crucial for our equine interests. We need to elect representatives who understand that the most important agenda item facing Arizona right now is our economic recovery. We need a solid economic recovery plan for Arizona to get us back on track. Too long have we relied on the real estate and tourism booms to generate revenue. We need to diversify our economic base, and I believe we need to focus on several key industries, one of which is agriculture, including the horse industry.
But most importantly, what issues are important to you as a voter? I challenge you to make a list of the issues and begin contacting those running for office and ask them to answer your questions. Now is the time to get involved. We need active participation to ensure that we elect the right people to office. The first step is to vote in the Primary Election.
Who typically turns out to vote in the Primary Election? There are 170,719 people living in my legislative district #7, as reported in the 2010 Primary Election Guide, published by the Arizona Capitol Times. Forty-four percent of them are registered as Republicans. Twenty-four percent of them are registered as Democrats. Yet, thirty-two percent of the population in my district is not affiliated with the two political parties. Most of that group are either independents or identified as ‘unaffiliated.’ That’s a large number of voters. In the 2008 Primary Election, just over 25,000 people voted. In other words, 15% of the total population voted and made an important decision for the remainder of the district. It does not matter where you live in Arizona, these numbers tell the same story in most districts. A handful of people who vote in the Primary Election set the course for the State of Arizona. The real choice between candidates is in the Primary Election.
The Primary Election is August 24th. That’s this month! There are a large number of candidates running for each federal, state and local office. It is important for you to take the time and research each person running, to ensure that you make an informed decision on whom to vote for in each race. If you are registered to vote, you can vote in your party’s Primary Election, either the Republican or Democrat ticket, depending on the party you marked on your voter registration card. If you are registered as an Independent, or unaffiliated with a political party, you can choose to vote in either the Republican or Democrat Primary. Arizona is an ‘open primary’ state, meaning that people not affiliated with a particular political party can vote in the Primary Election of their choice. For example, if you are an independent voter, or unaffiliated, you can choose to vote in the Republican Primary Election. To do this, you can request a Republican Primary Election ballot to be mailed to you or go to the polls on August 24th. You can go to https://servicearizona.com for online voter registration and mail in ballot requests or contact your county election office at https://www.azsos.gov/election/county.htm
I am asking you to do your research and vote in this Primary Election. We need you to participate in this election. Otherwise, 15% of the people may be making a decision for you, and you may not like who advances to the General Election in November. If you are concerned about equine interests, remember, I am the only candidate in my race that owns and shows horses – I know what we need for our industry!
Heather Carter
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