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MESA – The Mesa Chamber of Commerce today announced its endorsements for the upcoming Mesa City Council Elections. The Mesa Chamber Board of Directors endorses:

Trista Guzman Glover – Mesa City Council District 4

Eva Burch – Candidate for Legislative District 9

“Burch has proven herself to be someone the Mesa business community can work with in the Arizona Legislature.”

Kevin Thompson – Candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission

“Thompson has been an outstanding elected official in Mesa. The Mesa Chamber knows he will represent the business community well in the Arizona Corporation Commission.”

JR Wright – Candidate for the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board

“In addition to being a small business owner, Wright has served on the Mesa Public Schools Planning and Boundary Committee and as a Booster Club President at Westwood High School. Wright has arguably earned a seat on the Governing Board.”

Marcie Hutchinson – Candidate for the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board

“Marcie has served the community well in her first term on the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board. She focuses on students and practical outcomes that benefit our children.”

EVCCA 2022 Ballot Measure Recommendations

Prop 128 – voter protection act; court determinations (VOTE YES)
Legislature may do the following if the measure is found to contain illegal or unconstitutional language by the Arizona Supreme Court or the United States Supreme Court:
a) Amend an initiative or referendum measure approved by a majority of the votes;
b) Appropriate or divert funds created by initiative or referendum; and
c) Adopt a measure that supersedes any initiative or referendum measure.

REASONING: The net effect of this ballot measure is that it allows the Arizona Legislature to modify voter-protected statutes that are ruled illegal or unconstitutional with a simple majority.

Prop 129 – initiatives; single subject; title (VOTE YES)
Requires each initiative to only address one subject.

REASONING: This ballot measure provides transparency in the initiative process.

Prop 132 – initiatives; supermajority vote; requirement (VOTE YES)
Requires 60% +1 supermajority of the electorate for tax initiatives to pass at the ballot.

REASONING: A supermajority is required to pass new taxes in the Arizona Legislature. The same should be required at the ballot.

Prop 211 – Voters’ Right to Know (VOTE NO)
Any person spending over $50,000 on statewide campaigns or $25,000 on other campaigns must disclose the original sources (people or corporations who actually earned the money) of contributions over $5,000.

Reasoning: The Legislature should be the body that sets rates and amounts, not a ballot measure that cannot be changed.

Prop 209 – Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act (VOTE NO)
Caps interest rate on “medical debt,” as defined in the Act; applies this cap to judgements on medical debt as well as to medical debt incurred. Increases the value of assets — a homestead, certain household possessions, a motor vehicle, funds in a single bank account, and disposable earnings — protected from certain legal processes to collect debt. Annually adjusts these amended exemptions for inflation beginning 2024. Allows courts to further reduce the amount of disposable earnings subject to garnishment in some cases of extreme economic hardship.

Reasoning: This initiative originates in California. It limits the ability of someone to file a property lien or garnish wages to collect a debt. Policies like this need to be considered in the legislature not on a ballot.

Prop 308 – tuition; post secondary education (VOTE YES)
In-state tuition for illegal immigrant children.

REASONING: In-state tuition for undocumented students is a matter of workforce development.

Prop 310 – fire districts; funding TPT increment (VOTE NO)
Increases the state transaction privilege tax (commonly known as the sales tax) from 5.6% to 5.7% to provide funding for fire districts.

REASONING: The rural fire districts are supported by property tax like urban fire departments. This statewide tax increase would fund fire districts regardless of how well or mismanaged they may be.

Additional Information

The Mesa Chamber’s Good Government Committee interviewed each of the candidates and made endorsement recommendations to the Chamber’s Board of Directors last week. The committee based their recommendations on how well candidates aligned with Mesa Chamber positions and their ability to represent the business community on the Mesa City Council.

“Mesa is extremely lucky to have such outstanding candidates running for these offices,” said Mesa Chamber President/CEO Sally Harrison. “The Chamber is supporting these three candidates because of their leadership abilities and support for small business.”

General Elections will be Tuesday, November 8, 2022. More information about the election and candidates is available at the Mesa City Clerk’s Office at www.mesaaz.gov/government/city-clerk/election-information/primary-election. The Mesa Chamber of Commerce represents more than 1000 businesses. For more than 130 years, the Mesa Chamber of Commerce has existed to improve, promote, and advocate for businesses in Mesa. The Chamber offers a wide variety of programs and events throughout the year to ensure local success.