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Arizona election 2018: What's on your ballot?

The Arizona Republic | azcentral.com
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Early ballots have gone out for Election Day, Nov. 6. The ballots are packed with choices — from candidates to ballot measures.

The azcentral voter guide offers detailed information provided by candidates for each race. To see voting results in Tuesday's election, visit results.azcentral.com. 

Here is what's on your Arizona ballot, and where you can find more information about the options. 

U.S. SenateMartha McSally, a two-term Republican congresswoman from Tucson, is running against Kyrsten Sinema, a three-term Democratic congresswoman from Phoenix.

U.S. House, District 1: Democratic Rep. Tom O'Halleran is running against Republican Wendy Rogers. 

U.S. House, District 2: Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick is running against Republican Lea Marquez Peterson. 

U.S. House, District 3: Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva is running against Republican Nick Pierson.

U.S. House, District 4: Republican Rep. Paul Gosar is running against Democrat David Brill and Green party candidate Haryaksha Gregor Knauer.

U.S. House, District 5: Republican Rep. Andy Biggs is running against Democrat Joan Greene, a business owner. 

U.S. House, District 6: Republican Rep. David Schweikert is running against Democrat Anita Malik.

U.S. House, District 7: Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego is running unopposed.

U.S. House, District 8: Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko is running against Democratic Hiral Tipirneni.

U.S. House, District 9: Democrat Greg Stanton is running against Republican Stephen Ferrara.

The azcentral voter guide offers detailed information provided by candidates for each race.

GOVERNOR

Incumbent Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, was first elected in 2014 after billing himself as a successful businessman who could revive the state's economy. He has continued to focus on economic issues as he seeks a second term and has been a prolific fundraiser among key corporate and political players.

Democratic challenger David Garcia, who lost the 2014 state superintendent race, is an associate professor at Arizona State University and an education-policy expert. He has made public schools and community colleges the cornerstone of his campaign and is trying to draw young and minority voters to the polls.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Republican incumbent Mark Brnovich has touted his office's prosecution of "would-be terrorists" and perpetrators of sex crimes against adults and children as major victories. The office's civil division also has "returned a record amount of restitution to individual consumers here in Arizona," he said.

But he has taken heat for involving Arizona in divisive national fights, such as the 20-state effort to repeal part of the Affordable Care Act.

Democratic challenger January Contreras contends Brnovich is too "focused on partisan agendas" and special interests.

Contreras, a former prosecutor and policy adviser, has cited child welfare, consumer protection, health care, the opioid epidemic, environmental issues and "constitutional rights" as top areas where she would advocate for Arizonans.

The race has drawn national attention because state attorneys general have recently played a central role in challenging the legality of decisions made by the Trump Administration.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Republican Steve Gaynor faces Democrat Katie Hobbs in the race for secretary of state. Gaynor is a wealthy businessman and first-time candidate. Hobbs is the current minority leader in the Arizona Senate and a former social worker.

In Arizona, the secretary of state is the chief elections officer and the No. 2 statewide elected official, next in line to succeed the governor.

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

Republican Frank Riggs and Democrat Kathy Hoffman are vying to lead the Arizona Department of Education and oversee the disbursement of $6 billion to school districts. The two sparred over guns, money and teacher raises during an azcentral debate earlier this month.

Riggs is a former U.S. Congressman from California and a former charter schools development executive. During his time as a lawmaker, he expanded charters and championed vouchers.

Kathy Hoffman is a speech therapist who worked at two Arizona school districts but has no administrative experience. She says it’s time for a teacher to lead Arizona’s school system. Whoever wins will inherit one of the state’s most complex agencies.

TREASURER

Republican Kimberly Yee is the majority leader in the state Senate. The Republican represents a Phoenix district. She is running against Democrat Mark Manoil, a Phoenix property-tax lawyer.

Arizona's treasurer manages the state's approximately $15 billion investment portfolio, banking services and the state Permanent Land Trust.

Both are vying to replace Eileen Klein, the former president of the Arizona Board of Regents. Klein was appointed to the position by Ducey after former Treasurer Jeff DeWit left for a job at NASA. She is not seeking the post.

Yee and Manoil recently debated at The Arizona Republic.

MINE INSPECTOR

When Arizona voters go to the polls this year, in addition to casting ballots for big-name races, they'll also face a decision no other voter in the country gets to make: Who should inspect the state's mines?

Incumbent Republican Joe Hart is running against Democrat Bill Pierce.

ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION

Commissioners set rates and policies for regulated utilities such as APS and Southwest Gas. They also oversee securities, railroad crossings, pipeline safety and filings for corporations.

Republicans Justin Olson and Rodney Glassman face Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Kiana Maria Sears for two open seats on the Commission.

The candidates recently debated at The Arizona Republic.

All 30 Arizona Senate seats and all 60 Arizona House seats are up for grabs. 

Democrats hope they can flip control of the closely-divided state Senate, a battle that could be decided by seven potential swing districts.

Debate over funding for public education has dominated this year's legislative races.

For more information on the candidates in your district, check the azcentral voters guide. 

CENTRAL ARIZONA WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 

The nonpartisan board sets policies for the Central Arizona Project, which transports Colorado River water from Lake Mead to cities and farms in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties.

There are 14 candidates vying for five seats

MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES 

Four seats are open on the seven-member board that oversees the state's largest community college system. 

Two candidates are running for one seat in the "at-large" board position, which is an area representing all 10 colleges: Roc Arnett and Kathleen Winn.

Three candidates are running for one seat in District 3, an area which includes Phoenix College and Paradise Valley Community College: Sherman Elliott, Marie Sullivan and Debi Vandenboom.

Two candidates are running for one seat in District 4, an area which includes Glendale Community College and Estrella Mountain Community College: Stan Arterberry and Jean McGrath. 

RELATED:Should football be saved? Here's what the candidates say

CITY CANDIDATE RACES

Phoenix and El Mirage voters will vote on new mayors.

  • PHOENIX: There are four candidates running for Phoenix mayor — Democrats Daniel Valenzuela and Kate Gallego, Republican Moses Sanchez and Libertarian Nicholas Sarwark. This race may go to a March run-off.
  • EL MIRAGE:Mayor Lana Mook is being challenged by Alexis Hermosillo.
  • MESA, PEORIA, SURPRISE AND SCOTTSDALE: Voters will elect new city council members.
  • MESA: Voters will decide on two City Council runoff elections. Jake Brown and Jen Duff are competing to replace term-limited Chris Glover in District 4, which covers downtown. Incumbent Francisco Heredia faces challenger Mark Yarbrough in District 3, which covers the Fiesta District area.
  • PEORIA: Voters in south Peoria's Acacia district will choose between incumbent Vicki Hunt and challenger Brittany Burback
  • SCOTTSDALE: Five candidates are running for three seats. They are incumbents Kathy Littlefield, Linda Milhaven and David Smith and challengers Bill Crawford and Solange Whitehead.  
  • SURPRISE: District 1 voters will choose between incumbent Councilman Roland Winters and challenger Jim Cunningham. But if Cunningham wins that race, the outcome is likely to be challenged. The city announced last month that Cunningham is ineligible to run for the seat because he wasn’t a registered voter at the time of filing to run for office. He will remain on the November ballot, though.

Some cities are asking voters to weigh in on local ballot measures.

Gilbert has a $65.3 million bond request to build a public safety training facility.   

Mesa has six questions on the ballot:

  • Question 1: A request to renew an override of the state expenditure limit under the "home rule" option.
  • Question 2: A sales-tax hike to 2 percent from 1.75 percent for public safety.  
  • Question 3: An $85 million public safety bond request to build fire stations, an evidence facility and a police substation. 
  • Question 4: A $111 million parks and cultural bond request to provide more athletic fields, park amenities including dog parks, shared-use paths and library improvements. 
  • Question 5: A request to build the youth sports complex funded by the bed-tax increase. The proposed complex, adjacent to Red Mountain Park on Brown Road and 80th Street, would include about two dozen athletic fields at a total cost of about $55 million. 
  • Question 6: A 1 percent increase to the city's bed tax, which would take it to 6 percent and go to build and operate Mesa Plays, a proposed youth sports complex.

RELATEDMany Ariz. cities use home rule. Here's what you need to know before voting

With Phoenix's Prop. 419, a yes vote would require individuals and organizations to disclose any campaign donations valued at more than $1,000 that are intended to influence a Phoenix election. 

In Scottsdale, voters will decide on a funding issue the City Council sent to the ballot and another that residents worked to get there. Question 1 is a 0.1 percent sales-tax hike to fund transportation projects. The increase would take the city's sales-tax rate to 1.75 percent. 

A "yes" vote on Proposition 420 would bar development in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve other than trails and trailheads and limit preserve funding to buying land and preserving trails unless authorized by voters. A "no" vote would leave the city charter unchanged, which would allow a majority vote by the City Council to move forward with a proposed center, once called the Desert Discovery Center but now called Desert EDGE. 

Tempe has two requests on the ballot. Proposition 417 is to renew a 0.1-percent sales tax to fund operations at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Prop. 418 is a charter amendment. A "yes" vote would allow the City Council, with a super majority vote, to remove a city elected official if there is clear evidence of unlawful moral turpitude, fraud or corruption.

RELATED:20 Maricopa County school districts are asking voters for more money

SCHOOL DISTRICTS 

Voters in a number of school boards will select new school board members. The Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent provides information about each of those candidates. 

Voters in 20 school districts will also decide whether to approve bonds and overrides for school funding. Those funds cover things like school construction and maintenance, teacher salaries, buses and technology. 

OTHER RACES

Some voters will also have candidates for fire districts, justice of the peace, constable, community college district and healthcare district on their ballots. 

Prop. 125: Prop. 125 would amend the Arizona Constitution to make changes to the benefit increases paid to retirees in two state-run pension funds that are in serious financial trouble. It could save taxpayers up to $275 million, but some union members oppose it, calling it an unfair reduction in benefits.

Prop. 126: A yes vote would prohibit the state from enacting any new taxes on services. It is primarily supported by real-estate professionals. A bipartisan group opposes the measure because it would limit the state's flexibility in dealing with the budget.

Prop. 127: A yes vote would require electric companies to get half their power from renewable sources like solar and wind by 2030. A large coalition lead by Arizona Public Service Co. opposes the measure while renewable-energy proponents and health advocates support it. Spending on both sides of the issue has set a new state record.

Prop. 305: Asks voters whether they want to keep or repeal the 2017 expansion of the Empowerment Scholarship Account program, which expanded the program to all public school students but capped it at 30,000 students. About 5,000 students currently have ESA accounts.

 A "yes" vote keeps the expansion; a "no" vote overturns it.

Prop. 306: This measure asks voters to require that the Arizona Clean Elections Commission's rules be OK'd by the Governor's Regulatory Review Council, a board of political appointees chosen by Ducey.

Prop. 306 would also prohibit candidates who receive financing for their campaigns from paying money to political parties or private tax-exempt groups that try to influence elections.

Each county votes on a slightly different group of judges. The Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review provides results of evaluations from jurors, attorneys, litigants and witnesses about each judge. 

According to the review, all of the judges in all of the counties this election met the standards. The standards include ethics, fairness, promptness in making decisions and legal knowledge. 

All Arizona voters will vote on whether to retain two Arizona Supreme Court justices:

  • Clint Bolick was appointed by  Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in 2016. 
  • John Pelander was appointed by Republican Gov. Jan Brewer in 2009.

VOTING PROBLEMS? We’re part of ProPublica's Electionland project, a collaboration of newsrooms around the country tracking voting problems on Election Day. You can help us by signing up now. Text VOTE to 81380. You can also use WhatsApp to contact us at +1 850 909-8683 or reach us through Facebook Messenger here: http://m.me/electionland.

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