Florez withdraws from governor's race

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Florez Withdraws from GOP Governor's Race

Read Former Candidate's E-Mail to Supporters

May 12, 2006

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Today, I announce the closure of my campaign to become governor of the State of Arizona, despite my having garnered sufficient signatures to get on the ballot. I have not, however, collected enough $5 contributions to qualify
for taxpayer funding. So, this is a day of sorrow and joy -- but no regrets.

When I began this campaign, I was responding to the evident need for Arizona to move in a different direction from that our incumbent governor pursues. We must move in a direction that includes a healthy relationship between
the executive and legislative branches of government and a direction that bodes well for the long-term vision of our state security, schools, forests, environment, health and the economy in general.

After months of vigorous campaigning and hard work by myself and my supporters, I have come to realize that public financing undermines the early requirement of any realistic statewide campaign. Building name identification is impossible when campaigns need it most. Qualified candidates are forced instead to spend their time and resources collecting contributions for the Clean Elections
Commission. Despite the fact that my record and qualifications as a former appellate judge and elected county attorney made me a uniquely qualified candidate, the lack of ability to build name identification has made me realize
that pursuing public financing for my campaign at this time would be a waste of taxpayer money.

As I close the campaign, I have no intention of ceasing my efforts to positively change the direction of our great state -- I just plan to do it from a different perspective.

One of the ways in which I will do that is to help people understand that the admirable idea of "clean elections" has turned out to be impossible of execution. What I have witnessed of the process under the rules as enacted
is that the people of Arizona were swayed by the name "clean elections."

Who could be against such an idea? However, voters understood too little about the actual process of funding political campaigns with public money. The traditional system is far from perfect, but it does allow everyone who
wishes to participate to do so -- and, most importantly, it does not coerce every taxpayer into participation in the campaigns, especially those the taxpayer vehemently opposes. The traditional system does not attempt to
micromanage every aspect of the campaign and yet it has sufficient safeguards to result in an ethical election process. Remember, when the government provides you with one dollar, it intends to control every other dollar you have. Our state needs to reexamine the wisdom of this experiment of "clean elections" and I will actively encourage that.

I look forward to spending more time with my husband Ray, who has been my stalwart supporter and cheerleader, and with our family and friends; to encouraging the elected officials and leaders in every community, and especially in my own, to do the right thing in the right way for the right reason. I also look forward to providing pro bono legal services in my community of Nogales and Santa Cruz County, especially with Southern Arizona Legal Aid and the
ministries of Emmanuel Baptist Church. I am profoundly grateful to God for the countless blessings He has given me and it is my desire to give back to this wonderful state.

Perhaps when you have previously heard politicians thank their supporters and volunteers, you may have felt that was just perfunctory speech. Please know that in this case that is not true. I truly thank the many, many people who demonstrated their faith in what I and my campaign were about by putting their time, energy, reputation and money on the line. I do not have words to adequately express my gratitude and sincere appreciation to all our volunteers
and supporters.

Thank you,

Jan Smith Florez