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.
- Senate Bill 1485: S/E NOW: early voting list; eligibility
- Senate Bill 1593: early voting; time limits; envelope
- Senate Bill 1713: early ballots; identification; mailing
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.
- Senate Bill 1485: S/E NOW: early voting list; eligibility
- Senate Bill 1593: early voting; time limits; envelope
- Senate Bill 1713: early ballots; identification; mailing
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
