Arizona Daily Star Endorses Gabrielle Giffords
TUCSON - The Arizona Daily Star has endorsed Gabrielle Giffords, joining the Tucson Citizen, Arizona Republic, Tucson Weekly, Green Valley News, Arizona Range News and the San Pedro Valley News-Sun.
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Giffords has solid record of building bridges
By the Arizona Daily Star Editorial Board
Our endorsement: Her commitment to service, moderate approach suit District 8
Gabrielle Giffords is the clear choice to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. Giffords has the conviction, leadership qualities and commitment to public service necessary to advocate for the district’s interest in Congress.
Her opponents are Republican Randy Graf, Libertarian David Nolan and independent Jay Quick.
District 8 is more than 9,000 square miles and covers the southeastern corner of Arizona, including all of Cochise County and eastern portions of Santa Cruz and Pima counties. In the Tucson area, the district wraps around the city’s core and includes Sahuarita, Vail, the East Side, the Foothills and the Northwest Side.
Giffords has served in both the Arizona House and Senate, where she proved herself to be a responsible and conscientious lawmaker. For example, she was a founding member of the Arizona Children’s Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators who established priorities to protect and educate children.
“It’s really important for the people to know that you can be successful in Washington by working with members of the opposite party. We don’t have enough of that,” Giffords told the Star’s Editorial Board. “That was the tradition of Barry Goldwater, Mo Udall, Congressman Kolbe. … I have that reputation.”
Congress needs more untethered thinkers who freely expend energy, build bridges, spark optimist and encourage compromise. We believe Giffords fits that ideal.
From small issues to major ones, Giffords has a track record of supporting meaningful legislation that improves the everyday lives of constituents. Frankly, she cares deeply about people — all people.
On immigration — perhaps the biggest issue in the District 8 race €” Giffords has staked out a moderate and reasonable stance. She favors comprehensive reforms that go beyond the politically charged, enforcement-heavy proposals advocated by others.
She wants more security along the border, but she’d also like to see the federal government implement a guest-worker program, enact sanctions for companies that knowingly hire illegal entrants and compensate hospitals and law-enforcement agencies that have been disproportionately affected by illegal border crossers.
Giffords disapproves of a blanket amnesty for all illegal entrants, but she does believe the government should offer a path to citizenship for undocumented families that have established roots here and throughout our nation.
In the Legislature, she fought to boost the state’s minimum wage and improve access to health care for the uninsured. She worked with the governor to promote all-day kindergarten and made sure the state did its part to secure Medicaid funding.
As a legislator, Giffords was visible and accessible — a necessary quality for a member of Congress who truly wants ongoing dialogue with the people they represent.
“I’ve served with a great amount of enthusiasm and passion because I really love my community,” she said.
At 36, Giffords is the youngest of the District 8 nominees, but her political and life experiences belie her age. She has packed a lot of activities into her life. As a businesswoman she understands and values a prepared and hopeful workforce. As a politician, she’s prepared for Washington and ready to be a congresswoman.
We believe Giffords would do an outstanding job representing the people of Southern Arizona and endorse her for U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona’s District 8.
