Disenfranchising Voters is not “Election Reform”

1700 W Washington

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Re: Business Leadership Opposition to Senate Bills 1485, 1593 and 1713

Members of the Arizona Legislature –

The following business leaders of Greater Phoenix Leadership have signed onto the Arizona Capitol Time’s opinion editorial titled Disenfranchising Voters is not “Election Reform” in opposition to the legislative bills listed below.

We encourage you to please vote no on these bills when they come up for a vote and appreciate your consideration.

Disenfranchising Voters is not “Election Reform”

Arizonans have an election system that is safe, secure, and convenient. Through the hard work of election officials and leaders from both parties, our voting system serves as a national model.  Despite this success, we are now witnessing legislative efforts aimed at not only undoing this carefully crafted system, but actually attempting to suppress the votes of Arizonans. These efforts are misguided and must be defeated.

And as private-sector business leaders who lead the Public Policy Committee of an organization of CEOs at the helm of hundreds of thousands of employees in Arizona, it is incumbent upon us to speak out against proposals that could interfere with any Arizonan’s right to vote.

In this legislative session, dozens of proposed bills would adversely affect the way that Arizonans vote and how those votes are counted. These proposed measures range from requiring a purge of voters from the Permanent Early Voting List, to introducing stringent new identification requirements for those voting by mail, to shortening the early vote period available for all voters. Some measures go even further and would do away with the Permanent Early Voting List in its entirety or would require all early ballots to be returned by a voter in person. Most egregiously, one measure would even permit legislators to overturn the will of the voters during a presidential election.

These proposals are a concerted effort from those in Arizona -and across the nation- who wish to sow additional doubts about our elections in the minds of voters, and feed into the paranoia that has plagued our political discourse over the past several months. Disturbingly, each of these proposals have one thing in common: making it more difficult for Arizonans to vote.

Despite claims made by the proponents of these misguided measures, Arizonans already have confidence in the integrity of our elections and, by and large, they find it easy to vote. This confidence in our election process has been validated by the ever-increasing numbers of registered voters in Arizona utilizing vote-by-mail (and other innovations). The creation and implementation of our election improvements have historically received significant bi-partisan support and represent our shared commitment to protecting the right to vote for all Arizonans.

We live in a very politically divided time, which underscores why we must protect the institutions that have been successful and have instilled voter confidence.  Win or lose an election in Arizona, we know that the system is accurate, fair and dependable.   We can, and should, regularly strive to make improvements to the way that we conduct this most vital component of democracy. However, these efforts in play at the legislature today will hinder, not enhance, the precious right to vote.

These measures seek to disenfranchise voters. They are “solutions” in search of a problem. They are attempts at voter suppression cloaked as reform – plain and simple.

The onslaught of voter suppression measures that have been introduced or entertained this session has been alarming. Attempts to disenfranchise Arizona voters is not “election reform” and cannot be tolerated. Further, pandering to those who willfully choose to perpetuate misleading or inaccurate information cannot continue. True leaders will play an important role in sharing the truth:  our election system in Arizona works.

Sharon Harper

President & CEO

Plaza Companies

Past Chairman of the Board, GPL

Co-Chair of the GPL Public Policy Committee

Adam Goodman

Chief Executive Officer

Goodmans Interior Structures

Co-Chair of the GPL Public Policy Committee

Neil Giuliano

President & CEO

Greater Phoenix Leadership

Bob Anderson

Chief Executive Officer

Prisma Graphic

Amy Armstrong

CEO

Support My Club

Reginald M Ballantyne III

Past Chairman

American Hospital Association

Jeff Benck

President & CEO

Benchmark Electronics

Michael Bidwill

Owner

Arizona Cardinals

Gonzalo de la Melena

Managing Member

Emerging Domestic Market Ventures

Bob Delgado
President & CEO

Hensley Beverage Company

Craig DeMarco
Partner

Upward Projects

Rich Dozer

Chairman of the Board

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Viad Corporation

Ed Eisele

Co-Owner

Southwest Baking Company

Mike Hoover

President & CEO

Sundt Construction

Matthew Feeney

Chair

Snell & Wilmer

Peter Fine

President & CEO

Banner Health

Phil Francis

Retired

PetSmart, Inc.

Keith Galbut

CEO

Galbut Beabeau, P.C.

Greg Geist

Managing Director, Commercial Banking

BMO Harris

Joe Gysel

President

EPCOR Water USA

Nancy Hamm

CEO

WebPT

Dr. Heidi Jannenga

Co-Founder and CCO

WebPT

Paul Johnson

Co-Founder and CEO

Redirect Health LLC

Pam Kehaly

President & CEO

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Sheila Kloefkorn

President & CEO

KEO Marketing

Craig Krumwiede

CEO

Harvard Investments

Drena Kusari

General Manager, Southwest and Hawaii

Lyft

Beau Lane

Partner & Executive Chairman

LaneTerralever

Kimber Lanning

Founder

Local First Arizona

Todd LaPorte

Chief Executive Officer

HonorHealth

Bill Lavidge

President & CEO

The Lavidge Company

Nick Mansour

President

Arizona College

Tammy McLeod

President & CEO

Flinn Foundation

Charles Mitchell

President & CEO

All About People

Mike Medici

President & Managing Partner

SmithGroup

Christy Moore

Founder & Owner

Social Spin

Jahm Najafi

CEO

The Najafi Companies

Mary O’Grady

Partner

Osborn Maledon

Kevin Olson

Partner

Lewis Roca

Mi-Ai Parrish

President & CEO

MAP Strategies

Javara Perilliat

Area President

Republic Services

Vince Perla

CEO and Owner

PF Technologies

Scott Pompe

Regional President – West

The Arizona Republic/USA TODAY Network

Jeff Pruitt

CEO

Tallwave

Steve Purves

President & CEO

Valleywise Health

Eric Roudi

CEO

OpenWorks

Steven Schwarz

Founding Partner

ViaWest Group

Steve Seleznow

President & CEO

Arizona Community Foundation

Scarlett Spring

Chief Executive Officer

Taproot Intervention & Solutions

Jim Swanson

President & CEO

Kitchell Corporation

Jorge Quintero

President

QCM Technologies

Lisa Urias

President Emeritus

Urias Communications

Kate Wells

President & CEO

Children’s Museum of Phoenix

Ed Zito

Managing Director

Black Point Ventures

 

 

 

 

 

1700 W Washington

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Re: Business Leadership Opposition to Senate Bills 1485, 1593 and 1713

Members of the Arizona Legislature –

The following business leaders of Greater Phoenix Leadership have signed onto the Arizona Capitol Time’s opinion editorial titled Disenfranchising Voters is not “Election Reform” in opposition to the legislative bills listed below.

We encourage you to please vote no on these bills when they come up for a vote and appreciate your consideration.

Disenfranchising Voters is not “Election Reform”

Arizonans have an election system that is safe, secure, and convenient. Through the hard work of election officials and leaders from both parties, our voting system serves as a national model.  Despite this success, we are now witnessing legislative efforts aimed at not only undoing this carefully crafted system, but actually attempting to suppress the votes of Arizonans. These efforts are misguided and must be defeated.

And as private-sector business leaders who lead the Public Policy Committee of an organization of CEOs at the helm of hundreds of thousands of employees in Arizona, it is incumbent upon us to speak out against proposals that could interfere with any Arizonan’s right to vote.

In this legislative session, dozens of proposed bills would adversely affect the way that Arizonans vote and how those votes are counted. These proposed measures range from requiring a purge of voters from the Permanent Early Voting List, to introducing stringent new identification requirements for those voting by mail, to shortening the early vote period available for all voters. Some measures go even further and would do away with the Permanent Early Voting List in its entirety or would require all early ballots to be returned by a voter in person. Most egregiously, one measure would even permit legislators to overturn the will of the voters during a presidential election.

These proposals are a concerted effort from those in Arizona -and across the nation- who wish to sow additional doubts about our elections in the minds of voters, and feed into the paranoia that has plagued our political discourse over the past several months. Disturbingly, each of these proposals have one thing in common: making it more difficult for Arizonans to vote.

Despite claims made by the proponents of these misguided measures, Arizonans already have confidence in the integrity of our elections and, by and large, they find it easy to vote. This confidence in our election process has been validated by the ever-increasing numbers of registered voters in Arizona utilizing vote-by-mail (and other innovations). The creation and implementation of our election improvements have historically received significant bi-partisan support and represent our shared commitment to protecting the right to vote for all Arizonans.

We live in a very politically divided time, which underscores why we must protect the institutions that have been successful and have instilled voter confidence.  Win or lose an election in Arizona, we know that the system is accurate, fair and dependable.   We can, and should, regularly strive to make improvements to the way that we conduct this most vital component of democracy. However, these efforts in play at the legislature today will hinder, not enhance, the precious right to vote.

These measures seek to disenfranchise voters. They are “solutions” in search of a problem. They are attempts at voter suppression cloaked as reform – plain and simple.

The onslaught of voter suppression measures that have been introduced or entertained this session has been alarming. Attempts to disenfranchise Arizona voters is not “election reform” and cannot be tolerated. Further, pandering to those who willfully choose to perpetuate misleading or inaccurate information cannot continue. True leaders will play an important role in sharing the truth:  our election system in Arizona works.

 

Michael Bidwill

Owner

Arizona Cardinals

Chairman of the Board, GPL

 

Sharon Harper

President & CEO

Plaza Companies

Past Chairman of the Board, GPL

Co-Chair of the GPL Public Policy Committee

 

Adam Goodman

Chief Executive Officer

Goodmans Interior Structures

Co-Chair of the GPL Public Policy Committee

 

Neil Giuliano

President & CEO

Greater Phoenix Leadership

 

Bob Anderson

Chief Executive Officer

Prisma Graphic

 

Reginald M Ballantyne III

Past Chairman

American Hospital Association

 

Jeff Benck

President & CEO

Benchmark Electronics

 

Gonzalo de la Melena

Managing Member

Emerging Domestic Market Ventures

 

Bob Delgado

President & CEO

Hensley Beverage Company

 

Rich Dozer

Chairman of the Board

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Viad Corporation

 

Ed Eisele

Co-Owner

Southwest Baking Company

 

Mike Hoover

President & CEO

Sundt Construction

 

Matthew Feeney

Chair

Snell & Wilmer

 

Peter Fine

President & CEO

Banner Health

 

Phil Francis

Retired

PetSmart, Inc.

 

Greg Geist

Managing Director, Commercial Banking

BMO Harris

 

Joe Gysel

President

EPCOR Water USA

 

Pam Kehaly

President & CEO

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

 

Sheila Kloefkorn

President & CEO

KEO Marketing

 

Beau Lane

Partner & Executive Chairman

LaneTerralever

 

Kimber Lanning

Founder

Local First Arizona

 

Todd LaPorte

Chief Executive Officer

HonorHealth

 

Bill Lavidge

President & CEO

The Lavidge Company

 

Nick Mansour

President

Arizona College

 

Tammy McLeod

President & CEO

Flinn Foundation

 

Mike Medici

President & Managing Partner

SmithGroup

 

Kevin Olson

Partner

Lewis Roca

 

Mi-Ai Parrish

President & CEO

MAP Strategies

 

Javara Perilliat

Area President

Republic Services

 

Scott Pompe

Regional President – West

The Arizona Republic/USA TODAY Network

 

Steve Purves

President & CEO

Valleywise Health

 

Steven Schwarz

Founding Partner

ViaWest Group

 

Steve Seleznow

President & CEO

Arizona Community Foundation

 

Scarlett Spring

Chief Executive Officer

Taproot Intervention & Solutions

 

Jim Swanson

President & CEO

Kitchell Corporation

 

Jorge Quintero

President

QCM Technologies

 

Lisa Urias

President Emeritus

Urias Communications

 

Ed Zito

Managing Director

Black Point Ventures

 

Paul Johnson

Co-Founder and CEO 

Redirect Health LLC 

 

Vince Perla

CEO and Owner 

PF Technologies