EDITORIAL

Secretary of State: Goddard has the edge in close call

Editorial board
The Republic | azcentral.com
  • With deep roots in Arizona and a reputation as a moderate Democrat%2C Goddard has shown he can work with Republicans
  • Michele Reagan is a talented and accomplished candidate with a promising future in Arizona politics
  • Goddard has extensive leadership experience and knows how to manage a large government office efficiently and effectively

Democrat Terry Goddard and Republican Michele Reagan are intelligent and competent to do a job that is largely about recordkeeping and overseeing elections. Goddard has an important edge, though, when it comes to experience and vision.

These two candidates recognize the challenges that have added a dose of politics and controversy to the office.

Each supports reforms that would disclose who is providing the so-called "dark money" used to influence elections through organizations that do not have to reveal donors. Their strategies may be different, but the goal is the same: transparency.

Each decries the low voter turnout of independents and calls for using the bully pulpit of the Secretary of State's Office to reach out to those who register without party affiliation.

Goddard has an ambitious plan that includes strategies to make voting easier, such as allowing voters to go to any polling place and educating voters on how to use permanent early voting.

Misunderstandings about early ballots resulted in an excessive number of provisional ballots being cast in 2012, which slowed vote counting.

As a state senator from Scottsdale, Reagan worked with county recorders and launched a serious legislative effort in 2013 to reform the system and avoid future problems. It began with good intentions, but partisan overreach by her fellow legislative Republicans turned it into something denounced as an exercise in voter suppression.

Reagan was either unwilling or unable to manage her bill.

This brings us to what distinguishes these two candidates.

Goddard has extensive leadership experience. He knows how to manage a large government office efficiently and effectively.

His two terms as attorney general were marked by impressive initiatives to go after money laundering by Mexican smugglers and to take on the entrenched cult practicing polygamy in far north Arizona. Under his leadership, the office was known for integrity, doggedness and accomplishments.

Goddard also demonstrated his management skills and creative thinking as mayor of Phoenix, expanding public involvement in city government and earning national recognition for his management style.

With deep roots in Arizona and a reputation as a moderate Democrat, Goddard has shown he can work with Republicans.

Reagan is a talented and accomplished candidate with a promising future in Arizona politics. But she lacks the proven, relevant track record in an executive role.

That is particularly important in this race, because the secretary of state is next in line for the governor's chair. Gov. Jan Brewer is only the latest in a series of former secretaries of state who ascended to the governorship. Goddard is far better prepared to take on those duties if the need should arise.

Who's in, who's out: Secretary of state: