Conservatives' Choice for Governor: Len Munsil

EDITORIAL

Conservatives’ Choice for Governor: Len Munsil

Aug. 5, 2006

Early voting is about to begin in the Arizona primary. Conservatives have one legitimate choice: Len Munsil. He offers the greatest hope to beat liberal incumbent Janet Napolitano. In fact, he could be the best governor the Grand Canyon State has ever known, if elected.

Some Republicans are saying that Don Goldwater is the only GOP candidate who can beat Napolitano. Don’t buy into that hollow rhetoric. The truth be known, the Goldwater name has badly faded. This is not 1964 and these are not the days of Camelot for the Goldwaters.

With early voting set to begin next week, it appears that Goldwater will barely slip under the wire to qualify for Clean Elections funding, despite several months of attempting to do so. Munsil needed only 10 weeks to qualify and finished that up early this year.

Literally, millions of people have moved into this state since the late Sen. Barry Goldwater served in the U.S. Senate. Many people now of voting age were knee high to a pup when a Goldwater last held elective office. The name Goldwater means less to them than it did to their parents and grandparents.

“We have already eliminated the benefit of the Goldwater name – the most famous name in Arizona history -- and we have barely begun to spend money,” Munsil said recently.

Let’s face it. The Goldwaters of the 21^st century are not the most conservative bunch either. Barry’s widow Susan supports the pro-abortion WISH List. Don Goldwater was ardently pro-choice until he decided to get into the gubernatorial race. Click on the “Pro-Life” line on Goldwater’s Web site and nothing comes up. We can do better than that, and Munsil offers that chance. In a previous run at the legislature, the Goldwater name carried Don to third place in a race against John Huppenthal and Jerry Brooks.

Munsil is the real deal – a conservative’s conservative, and The Arizona Conservative endorsed him as soon as he entered the race. He has always been conservative – in the mold of President Reagan.

Munsil has been solidly involved in working with legislators to craft dozens of bills that conservatives have been backing for years. He founded the state’s leading pro-family/pro-life, conservative organization, the Center for Arizona Policy. Munsil is intelligent, articulate and able to think on his feet. He can ignite the Republican base, and he will beat Napolitano in debate. I shudder to think of Goldwater going up against Napolitano in a debate forum. Goldwater shot himself in the foot in a recent GOP candidates’ debate on KAET TV when he actually pointed out the state’s two leading conservative organizations – Arizona Right to Life and the Center for Arizona Policy – favor Munsil. Not a smart comment to point out your opponents’ successes and your own failures.

Goldwater’s major campaign issue seems to be that he is a member of the Minutemen Project. All fine and good, but conservatives need the whole package. Goldwater is more akin to a Bob Dole, a lukewarm Republican who cannot ignite the party base.

Munsil represents the complete conservative package. He said, “Our campaign has proven to be better organized, with better fundraising, better grassroots support, better support from elected leaders and a better grasp of multiple policy issues. I have proven to be just as tough on the need to secure the border, without the overheated rhetoric and the multiple gaffes being committed by other candidates. And I have 20 years experience as a policy expert and principled conservative leader that other candidates cannot match. That is why we have captured the momentum in this campaign, along with the support of four U.S. Congressmen and more than 30 state legislators.”

The congressmen supporting Munsil are John Shadegg, Trent Franks, Rick Renzi and Jeff Flake.

Munsil also has a background in law enforcement and has broader experience on a wider range of issues than Napolitano had when she ran for statewide office.

Napolitano’s campaign knows that Munsil is the more formidable of the GOP candidates and she is more focused on firing liberal “rockets” at him.

The unpolished Goldwater drew severe criticism earlier this summer for a reckless comment on the border invasion. Munsil speaks with a more reasoned and professional manner.

Munsil speaks clearly on issues important to the state. “As a conservative, I believe strongly that the most effective government is government that is closest to the people. We need to defend state sovereignty against continual incursion by the federal government. But at the state level, we need to respect the rights of rural counties and cities to self-determination. A "one size fits all" approach doesn't work, whether it's imposed by Washington D.C. on Arizona, or by Phoenix on our state's rural communities.”

The legislature has produced oodles of good, solid bills the past two years. Governor “Veto” Napolitano worked up a good case of “tennis elbow” vetoing them. Munsil would have signed those bills, thereby protecting women and children, families, taxpayers and victims of the border invasion.

The only Republican running for attorney general, conservative Bill Montgomery, and Munsil are supporting each other and tag-teaming during their respective campaigns. This dynamic duo offers Arizona effective, commonsense leadership on fiscal issues, social issues and solid crime fighting.

Montgomery said: “As I have traveled this state for nearly a year now, I have had the privilege of observing and listening to the many fine candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Governor...[O]ur party has the best candidate in Len Munsil. Len will be just as strong on securing Arizona’s border as any other Republican candidate. I have no doubt he will do whatever is necessary to help stem the ongoing negative impacts of illegal immigration and, as the next attorney general, I look forward to partnering with Len to protect and defend Arizona citizens’ freedom and security.”

Arizonans, you have a rare chance to elect two incredible, intelligent, highly-qualified candidates to the offices of governor and attorney general. Vote early and encourage family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to support Munsil and Montgomery. We can all benefit from their leadership.