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October 11, 2002/Cheshvan 5 5763, Vol. 55, No. 7
Apathy cause for low turnout?
Arizona candidates debate at local synagogues
BARRY COHEN
Editor
On consecutive evenings, an array of Arizona political candidates presented their views to Jewish audiences at local synagogues.
Candidates for governor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, secretary of state, corporation commission, treasurer and U.S. House of Representatives, Districts 2-6, met Oct. 6 at Temple Beth Israel in Scottsdale. The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix sponsored this Candidates Forum, along with 25 other organizations, including media sponsor Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Approximately 250 people attended the event.
The next evening, Oct. 7, three of the four gubernatorial candidates met at Temple Beth Sholom, sponsored by the Chandler synagogue and attended by approximately 50 participants.
"You had great access to all the candidates," said Phillip Sheinbein, chairman of the JCRC.
In all, 27 candidates were present.
At the Candidates Forum, gubernatorial and attorney general candidates had a chance to address the entire audience. Participants then chose between hearing from the remaining candidates in three break-out sessions.
Participants also had the opportunity to talk to candidates who were not attending sessions, said Cathy Wolf, JCRC director.
"It is much more informative to hear and see them in person," said Lois Schloss, member of Temple Solel of Paradise Valley. She said that she wanted to attend to hear candidates' views about education and prescription medication for seniors.
"However, I was disappointed with the turnout," she added.
She pointed to the entrance fee of $10 as a reason that more people did not attend. Arnold Rabin, participant and Temple Solel board member, agreed.
"Extra efforts should have been made to cover costs," he said.
Those participants who could not afford the costs received a complimentary entrance, Wolf said. The admission fees covered half of the costs for security, maintenance and publicity.
Wolf cited voter apathy as a reason more people did not attend.
"If you know about the possibility of voter apathy, that is all the more reason to remove every obstacle to attendance," said Rabin.
Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Barry Hess noted, at the conclusion of the event at Temple Beth Sholom, that the Candidates Forum was less attended than other debates with a Jewish audience, but he disagreed that Jewish voters are apathetic.
"I am absolutely convinced that (Jewish voters) reflect a much higher voting percentage than the general public," he noted.
Gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon, at the conclusion of the Oct. 7 debate, also praised the Jewish community.
The Jewish voters are "a vibrant and important constituency that I have tried to work very closely with through the years," he said.
Also in attendance at the Oct. 7 event was Independent Richard Mahoney. Attorney General Janet Napolitano, democratic gubernatorial candidate, attended neither event.
"She had planned engagements months in advance that she could not cancel," said Noah Kroloff, Napo-litano's policy director.
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