Katie Hobbs’ ‘Accountable Arizona’ Plan Makes Government Work for the People

Katie Hobbs’ ‘Accountable Arizona’ Plan Makes Government Work for the People

“Completely an Arizona issues agenda.”
“You’d be forgiven for mistaking as a Republican platform from the Before Times.”

PHOENIX — Just one week after announcing her “Accountable Arizona” plan, it is clear that Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is focused on making Arizona the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

Hobbs’ proposal outlines her agenda to make opening a business easier for Arizonans, eliminating wasteful spending, government transparency and efficiency, and long-term planning — none of which are plans in the Arizona Republican playbook to serve everyday Arizonans.

“As your next governor, I pledge to build a government that is of, by, and for the people,” said Katie Hobbs. “We will reform your government and work to build the most ethical and accountable administration in history. Our government has to work to bring people together and get stuff done to help Arizona.”

Arizona Central: Arizona Republicans have no idea what it takes to win the governor’s race
Robert Robb Glenn

Youngkin’s victory in the Virginia governor’s race supposedly offers a roadmap to how Republicans can win competitive elections.

I think that’s the case here in Arizona. However, none of the state’s GOP candidates for governor are currently on the Youngkin path.

[…]

Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs, currently secretary of state, issued her first policy paper. It is remarkable for being almost entirely free of Democratic red meat. In fact, it is a wonkish discussion of state government reforms. Completely an Arizona issues agenda.

Someone is keeping an eye on the Ducey-Sinema voters.

Arizona Agenda: The Daily Agenda: The potential governor sounds like the current governor
Hank Stephenson & Rachel Leingang

Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Katie Hobbs held her first press event of the campaign season Friday to roll out her “accountability” platform — which (except for the lack of tax cuts) you’d be forgiven for mistaking as a Republican platform from the Before Times.

The talking points:

“We will cut red tape.”

“We will eliminate wasteful spending.”

“We will make your government more transparent.”

“We will make your government more efficient.”

“We will embrace long-term planning, not short-term partisan point-scoring.”

Fox 10: Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs pivots campaign for governor beyond ballot audit
Jonathan J. Cooper

Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs presented herself on Nov. 4 as an advocate for government efficiency, striking a centrist tone as she ramps up her campaign for Arizona governor in the wake of losses in Virginia that spooked Democrats around the country.

[…]

In one of the first prominent actions of her campaign, Hobbs outlined an agenda that includes cutting red tape, eliminating wasteful spending, boosting transparency and improving long-term planning. Her focus on government efficiency, wasteful spending and making it easier to start a business echoed themes often espoused by Republicans.

“We will reform your government and work to build the most ethical and accountable administration in history,” Hobbs told reporters during a news conference at the state Capitol.

 

Arizona Capitol Times: Hobbs steps into the sun as gubernatorial candidate
Wayne Schutsky

In her first major event as a gubernatorial candidate, Katie Hobbs spoke before the press and handful of supporters in the rose garden at the Arizona Capitol to introduce her plan for “an accountable Arizona.” The plan includes a dozen policy goals that mostly focus on “cutting red tape” for Arizona small businesses and making the government function more efficiently and transparently.

“I’ve always believed that government can be a force for good, and for too long your state government has been working for the powerful, the partisan and the special interests,” Hobbs said, adding that “we will reform your government and work to build the most ethical and accountable administration in history.”

Hobbs, the current secretary of state, has seen her profile rise with a wave of interest in Arizona’s 2020 presidential election and the subsequent partisan audit effort. Thursday’s event marked her initial foray into formal campaigning.

 

AZ Mirror: Hobbs: Parents should be ‘partners’ in the education system, not adversaries
Jeremy Duda

Asked about parental control and the effect the issue had on the Virginia governor’s race, Hobbs, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in next year’s gubernatorial race, told reporters during a press conference Tuesday that curriculum is a local issue — and one that school districts and school boards should work with parents to determine.

“We absolutely need parents as partners in our education system. We need to do everything we can to make sure that every student in Arizona, no matter where they live, has access to high-quality public education, and that starts with bringing our teachers and our parents together to work together to make that happen,” Hobbs told reporters.

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