Monthly Meeting, May 13th 2006
Democrat Slade Mead Tells Goals for AZ Schools
By Karen Schickedanz
Former Arizona State Senator Slade Mead, who is running in the September Democratic primary for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was the featured speaker at the May meeting of the SaddleBrooke Democratic Club.
Mead, who chaired the Senate Education Committee, was a member of the Republican caucus while he was in the Arizona Senate. But while there, he said he realized the Republican leadership in the legislature was “out to dismantle public education in Arizona.” As a result, he became allied with Governor Napolitano in blocking legislation that he believes would have pushed bad public policy on the state. On the education committee, he thwarted all voucher bills and worked to maintain adequate school funding.
Mead’s position resulted in his being defeated in the 2004 Republican primary, and he then joined the Democratic Party at the invitation of Napolitano and then Arizona Democratic Party Chair Jim Pederson, who now is running for the U.S. Senate.
Mead told SBDC members his priority is “saving education in Arizona.” Specifically, he would work to fix certification problems connected with the No Child Left Behind act and improve the way the AIMS test is administered. In addition, he would break down the AIMS test into strands to identify a student’s weaknesses so that Arizona’s dropout rate—currently the highest in the country—improves. With Arizona having a teacher shortage of approximately 4,500, Mead said he also thinks the state should make it easier for highly qualified teachers from other states to come here without having to be recertified.
Mead, who is running against Jason Williams in the Democratic primary, has been endorsed by the Arizona Education Association.
Another speaker at the May SBDC meeting was Ruben Gallego, the campaign manager of the Arizona Together coalition. This is a group of civic organizations from across the state who have come together to defeat the proposed “Protect Marriage Arizona” amendment to the state constitution. Gallego explained that the amendment not only would stop gays and lesbians from marrying—which already is prohibited in Arizona—but would prevent gay or straight family members who are not legally married to their partner from receiving medical and other benefits if their partner works for the state or an Arizona city or school district.
Mark Manoil, who is running for a seat on the Corporation Commission, also spoke briefly. A fourth-generation Arizonan, he has a law degree and an MBA with 19 years’ experience as a real estate lawyer. Arizona does not have a comprehensive energy policy, Manoil said, and, “We need leadership in Phoenix for renewable energy such as solar power.”
The Corporation Commission, which currently is all Republican, is the regulatory commission for utility and telephone rates, private water and sewer, the securities industry and large power plants.
The next meeting of the SaddleBrooke Democratic Club, featuring U.S. House candidate Gabrielle Giffords, will begin with a half-hour social time at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10, in the SaddleBrooke Activities Center, 64518 Galveston Lane. All are welcome to attend.