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June 4, 2004/Sivan 15 5764, Vol. 56, No. 37
Napolitano challenges Arizonans
HANK NEYER
Contributing Editor
Gov. Janet Napolitano told an audience at The New Shul June 1 that Arizonans are "in many ways pioneers."
Some 100 people at the Scottsdale synagogue gathered to hear the governor speak about "Staying Ethically Grounded in a Political World."
She noted that Memorial Day has passed and June 6 will be the 60th anniversary of D-Day. She agreed that the men and women who fought in and lived during World War II were the "Greatest Generation." She asked, "What do we want to say our generation did? What will our generation be known for?"
Napolitano said Arizonans have begun constructing that kind of legacy. "We are in a very fundamental kind of way pioneers," she declared, because the state that she took over two years ago was in many ways unprepared for the 21st century. She said there was no economic infrastructure, no education infrastructure, and "we did not have a sense of togetherness because so many Arizonans had just become Arizonans."
The governor said she had to start with the basics - kindergarten, for example. Most states, she said had all-day kindergarten. When she proclaimed that Arizona "will have all-day kindergarten by 2010 - or sooner," the audience responded with applause.
She also touched on another area of concern - foster care. She said she's created a Youth Advisory Board (YAB) whose members include teenagers and young adults who have "matriculated" out of foster care. One topic to be discussed at the next YAB meeting will be how teenagers in foster homes get their driver's licenses, she said. She also noted the great need for more foster parents.
Napolitano also stressed that something must be done about the state's economy. She said people tell her that Arizona's unemployment rate is lower than the national average, to which she replies "so is the per capita income."
"Poverty is a constant in Arizona," she said. "Poverty and people living in very poor circumstances run through almost every state agency."
Napolitano told her audience that re-maining focused requires "a good sense of self."
"If you don't have a good sense of self," she told the aud-ience, "you're prob-ably going to become cynical."
She continued, "It is a struggle within one's self to not become mean and too cynical. I am very cynical about the press - not in the sense of how they do their jobs, but I know so much more about the stories they're writing or covering that it's hard to read or watch them anymore."
The audience laughed appreciatively when Napol-itano recounted winning several close elections - days after the vote, and declared, "My goal is to actually win an election on election day."
Napolitano said history wouldn't judge a governor by how many ribbons he or she cut or speeches they've made - or whether they balanced the budget. "History writes," she continued, "what you did for children, what you did for stewardship of the land and the air and the water in the state, what did you do to prepare for the aging population of the state."
During a question-and-answer session following her speech, the governor was asked about a variety of topics.
She said she deeply regrets that some bishops are telling Catholics not to vote for politicians whose views differ from the church's. Napolitano added, "There is a huge difference between following the teachings of a particular church in your personal life and making public policy based on what the church says."
Napolitano acknow-ledged that hate crimes are still a problem in Arizona. She recalled prosecuting hate crimes when she was the U.S. Attorney for Arizona, but said there has to be "community response."
There is a great deal of hate language being used, she said, and children are being exposed to "'we hate these people.' And 'these people' could be some-one who is Jewish, Muslim or gay."
After the question-and-answer period with the audience, Napoli-tano told the Jewish News that she is planning a trade mission to Israel, possibly in the fall. She said the mission would explore cooperation with Israel on such issues as solar energy, water, and education. The governor noted that Arizona and Israel have similar topo-graphy.
Eric Leibsohn of Phoenix was among those in atten-dance. He said afterward that her talk was "inspirational" and that Napolitano "exudes leadership."
Contact the writer at hank_neyer@jewishaz.com.
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